Our Program

ACCT's mission is to recruit, equip, and empower competent, passionate attorneys to meet the varying legal needs of children in the Mid-Missouri foster care and juvenile justice systems. This can only be accomplished by providing the resources, training and support that allows attorneys to focus on delivering life-changing legal intervention for the youth they represent.

ACCT attorneys are well-trained, skilled litigators who have specialized knowledge of child welfare and juvenile law. Using their legal acumen and child welfare knowledge, they hold the system accountable, promoting the youth's best interest and emphasizing efficiency throughout the case process. 

Our Standards

 ACCT attorneys are held to rigorous standards that promote a child's best interest . These standards are meant to direct the focus and resources of the system toward the child while decreasing unnecessary delays in the court process.  At a minimum, ACCT attorneys acting in the role of Guardian ad Litem:

• Visit the youth they represent at least once between court hearings

• Attend monthly foster care case team meetings

• Advocate at all court hearings 

• Advocate in Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings and school disciplinary hearings

• File legal motions with the court to advance the child's best interest when necessary

• Complete a minimum of 15 hours of annual child welfare law continuing education

Our Impact

Evidence from across the United States indicates engaged advocacy leads to better outcomes for children including:

• Less time in foster

• Less likely to reenter foster care

• Less placements while in foster care

• More resources delivered to children and families