Family Defense Center

The Family Defense Center (FDC) is an award-winning legal advocacy organization whose mission is to advocate justice for families in the child welfare system. The FDC is counsel in class action and individual civil rights litigation in addition to numerous individual cases that have the potential to become important precedents. It conducts training for attorneys, social workers and other professionals and family members affected by child welfare policies and practices. It operates a pro bono case handling program with major law firms in the Chicago area. It also has a policy agenda and engages in community education/outreach efforts to inform the public regarding the harm to children and families caused by unfair and unlawful child welfare policies. While most of the FDC work is based in Illinois, its litigation and advocacy has precedential impact on policies throughout the United States, and it works with a number of attorneys in other states, including in amicus curiae briefs.