
Jaynie Leung
Host: Children's Law Center of Minnesota
Sponsor: Robins Kaplan LLP
Anna provides client-centered legal representation and systemic advocacy to reduce undue institutionalization and ensure adolescent youth in congregate care have connections to trusted adults.
In New York City in 2018, over half of the 649 youth who aged out of foster care without family had no permanent connection to a caring adult, against statutory requirements. Research shows that the single most common factor in youth who develop resilience is a stable relationship with a committed adult. Older youth in group settings are particularly isolated from opportunities to create and maintain long-term supportive relationships.
In her five years as a foster parent, Anna witnessed the child welfare system habitually devalue the lives of older foster youth. She knew these youth would attain justice only through a specialized legal strategy that honored their lived experience and engaged them as leaders on their own path.
In the first year of the Fellowship, Anna has:
In the next year, Anna plans to:
Host: Children's Law Center of Minnesota
Sponsor: Robins Kaplan LLP
Host: Public Counsel
Sponsor: Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Host: Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County, Inc.
Sponsor: Greenberg Traurig, LLP, The Florida Bar Foundation
Host: Public Counsel
Sponsor: Latham & Watkins LLP, Spotify