Kinship Caregivers

Mobilization for Justice helps children stay with family members and avoid placement in foster care.

Mobilization for Justice helps to provide legal stability to hundreds of families each year through representation in custody, guardianship and adoption matters, access to public benefits, and in Special Immigrant Juvenile Status cases. We also represent caregivers in Family Court and administrative proceedings aimed at preventing a child’s entry into the traditional foster care system.

In New York City, approximately 200,000 children are being raised by grandparents, other relatives and friends because their biological parents are unable or unwilling to care for them. By formalizing these relationships, Mobilization for Justice promotes children’s wellbeing and helps to secure additional supports for caregivers, all of which prevents children from entering the foster care system. In addition to handling custody, guardianship, and visitation cases, MFJ attorneys train private pro bono lawyers from law firms and corporations to provide assistance in adoption proceedings. MFJ attorneys provide advice and counsel to caregivers who call our hotline and meet directly with caregivers at clinics at Family Court in the Bronx and at community-based organizations.

Mobilization for Justice advocates for policies and programs that improve the lives of kinship caregiving families, providing leadership to the New York City Kincare Task Force (PDF) and the New York State Kincare Coalition and testifying before city and state legislative committees.

CALL OUR INTAKE LINE FOR HELP: 212-417-3850, WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY, 10 am – 5 pm

Or come to a legal clinic:
Bronx Families: Bronx Family Court, 900 Sheridan Ave., Bronx, NY 10451, 1st floor Help Center, 2nd & 4th Mondays, 9 am – 12:30 pm (walk-in)
Bridge Builders, 156 West 164 St., Bronx, NY 10452, 1st & 3rd Monday, 10 am – 5 pm; 2nd & 4th Monday: 1 pm – 5 pm. (walk in or call 212-417-3850 for an appointment)

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