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Abstract

This Working Group considered the role of race, ethnicity, and class (hereinafter "REC") in the attorney-client relationship. Participants recognize that, in American society, children in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems are disproportionately poor and of color while the lawyers for those children and the decision makers are overwhelmingly white and middle class. This racial disparity may affect attorney client communication, perpetuate stereotypes, foster distrust of the legal system and contribute to bad outcomes for the affected children and families. Issues related to REC, which often are ignored both in the attorney client relationship and more generally in the administration of justice, must be identified, confronted, and resolved.

Increasing the racial and ethnic diversity of the child advocacy and justice professional community (i.e. attorneys, judges, legal academics and clinicians, policy analysts, institutions, and public interest organizations, etc.) is a step in the right direction. As important, some would argue even more important, is training and education regarding the impact of REC on all those engaged in the policy and decision-making processes. Including more people with personal experience with the child advocacy community can help in understanding how REC affects advocacy. Finally, children's advocates, concurrent with individual representation, must also be engaged in the struggle to eliminate poverty and racism and broaden their advocacy to support youth in their efforts to become educated and productive citizens. The following recommendations are offered in the spirit of enabling all poor youth and youth of color to receive fairness and equity in the fullest sense of those words.

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