Justice in the Schools Project - Kansas City, Missouri

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Stacy is a single parent of three. She reached out to our Justice in the Schools project for help with a custody arrangement regarding two of her children. Her oldest child had significant mental and physical health issues that required medical and therapeutic intervention. The children's father was uncooperative with treatment and refused to bring the child to therapy and doctor's appointments.

With the help of Justice in the Schools, Stacy was able to gain full custody of her children with 100% control over her eldest child's medical decisions giving her peace of mind and stability.

THE JUSTICE IN THE SCHOOLS PROJECT provides legal services to families in the Kansas City Public School District, Hickman Mills C1 School District, and Center School District who are affected by the high student mobility rates caused by housing, financial, and family instability.

The school-based legal clinics are staffed by licensed Legal Aid and volunteer attorneys who help with issues that negatively impact students and their families. All legal services are free of charge to eligible families.

Background: The Justice in the Schools project was inspired by a community-wide desire to protect families from eviction and the destabilizing pressures that cause high mobility rates. Families too often, by force or necessity, move in and out of neighborhoods, changing schools, many times going through episodes of homelessness.

Why it matters: Students who move have poorer attendance and lower academic achievement than classmates who remain in the same class. Before the pandemic, one-fifth of students in MO school districts in the Kansas City area moved at least once during the school year.

If you are not sure whether the Justice in the Schools project can help you, go ahead and call (816) 945-7736.

Reprinted from LAWMO September 2021 newsletter.