Children’s Law Center celebrating 35 years of protecting vulnerable youth, since its founding by Kim Tandy

Thirty-five years ago, Children’s Law Center, Inc. (CLC) opened its doors in Newport. CLC’s founder, Kim Tandy, created the unique organization to protect the rights of vulnerable youth — and with tremendous perseverance, knowledge, and vision, she led the organization for more than 28 years.

The initial concept behind CLC grew while Tandy was still in law school. She was drawn to the idea of integrating her background in social work into her legal career.

“By my last year [of law school] I started thinking, wouldn’t it be great to be able to still deal with children’s advocacy work, but do it through a legal service-type center?”

Tandy founded CLC when she graduated from Northern Kentucky University’s Salmon P. Chase College of Law in 1989.

CLC set out to serve children, teenagers, and young adults across the child welfare, education, juvenile justice, and criminal justice systems. Since its founding, CLC has served kids in each of these systems through direct legal representation, community education, and policy reform.

In the 35 years since CLC’s founding, CLC attorneys have represented thousands of children across Ohio and Kentucky. CLC has reached even more people through community education and engagement activities, making sure all youth and youth-serving stakeholders are informed about youths’ rights — and, ultimately, contributed to the creation of better outcomes and brighter futures for young people in our region.

The Center’s headquarters are now located on Russell St. in Covington.

CLC’s current Executive Director, Sasha Naiman, is successfully building on the legacy that began with Kim’s vision in 1989. With Sasha at the helm, the current team is serving nearly 600 young people annually through free legal representation — removing their barriers to health, safety, education, wellbeing, and more. They are educating at least 1,000 people annually, across Kentucky and Ohio, about youth-law issues and best practices for serving youth—creating communities that are better able to support the next generation.

It bears mentioning that a roster of incredible staff members has, through the years, created such a strong legacy for CLC. Those who have worked at CLC since its founding have gone on to become leaders in youth law, public policy, and family-centered services in the region. To this day, the caliber of staff at CLC speaks for itself.

There are also so many board members, volunteers, donors, and community members who continue to make CLC’s work possible.

While child-facing systems have changed, the need for CLC’s services has not diminished. In fact, in many ways, the need has only grown.

CLC remains committed to the principles upon which it was founded and will continue to protect the rights of young people — with free high-quality legal assistance, with community education to create better-informed services for youth — and with policy advocacy to improve systems that don’t work for kids.

CLC continues to create a better future for all children.

For all who want to be part of our broadening network of partners, donors, and supporters who are helping kids, celebrate CLC’s 35th anniversary milestone on September 14, at the Boots, Bourbon, & Biscuits Brunch.

“We are excited to celebrate the 35 years’ worth of dedication, care for young people, and incredible effort that got us to where we are today,” says Naiman. “We also see it as an opportunity to launch the next 35 years of success for Children’s Law Center and the youth we serve.”

Tickets are available at www.childrenslawky.org/boots-bourbon-and-biscuits .

Children’s Law Center

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