04/13/2022
Dear Juvenile Law Section Members,
As we all know April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. It is also the 25th Anniversary of Oklahoma Lawyers for Children. This milestone is significant for many reasons. 25 years ago the state of children in care was at a critical level. Our extremely capable Public Defenders in the two largest counties, Tulsa and Oklahoma County were faced with overwhelming case loads that were 10 times over ABA recommendations for case loads. Our dedicated Public Defenders were grossly overwhelmed and children were disappearing, without protection and adequate representation.
Something had to be done to help the overburdened and underfunded system. In response to this dire need, Oklahoma Lawyers for Children was formed to recruit and train volunteer attorneys to assist the Juvenile Public Defenders in Oklahoma County and Tulsa County. This grass roots nonprofit undertook cases, the effort to seek out kinship placements for children and traveled out of state and took depositions of witnesses at no cost to the Public Defenders or the counties to defend the children otherwise lost in the system.
For 25 years Oklahoma Lawyers for Children has been faithful to the cause of protecting abused and neglected. It has answered the call to assist the Juvenile Justice System whenever asked.
For this one time as we celebrate 25 years of service to children and familes, we humbly ask the Juvenile Law Section to consider being a sponsor at our 25th Anniversary Celebration & Annual Footsteps of a Child Luncheon which will be held on April 22, 2022.
The Juvenile Law Section will be recognized in print materials, acknowledged at the event and will have a table at the event for any member that would like to attend.
Your thoughtful consideration is humbly requested as we celebrate this significant milestone.
There are more than adequate funds in the Section’s account to support the event at the Advocate Level of $1,000.00
If you as a member are inclined to support this request, please so indicate by sending an email to [email protected].
Thank you for your consideration of this one time request.
Very truly yours,
Tsinena Thompson
