Youth Justice Team Receives Unsung Heroes Award

Bay Area Legal Aid’s Youth Justice Team received Youth Law Center’s (YLC) 2020 Unsung Heroes Award for their work advocating for youth in the foster care and juvenile justice systems. YLC celebrated the tireless work the Youth Justice Team has done to protect vulnerable young adults in the Bay Area, especially during these critical times.

According to YLC Staff Attorney Sabrina Forte, “Bay Area Legal Aid’s Youth Justice Team was quick to respond to the new challenges presented by COVID-19 and have fought zealously to preserve housing, public benefits, and other vital resources for their teenage and young adult clients. They have been valuable partners in shaping YLC’s advocacy for former foster youth clients who were facing a loss of transitional housing right in the middle of the pandemic and in ensuring that young people in extended foster care could remain in care past the age of 21. These civil legal advocates have been on the front lines this year, and we are so grateful for the work they are doing.”