Our Programs
TJP provides comprehensive support services to system-impacted young people aged 10 to 25. Our services include culturally-responsive mental health support, legal advocacy and representation, and education assistance. We are dedicated to empowering young people with the tools and resources necessary to overcome challenges, advocate for their rights, and build a brighter future.
Education First
Education First is one of the cornerstone programs of TJP. Education First works to address and prevent the school-to-prison pipeline. This program provides legal representation and advocacy to youth facing school-related legal issues and disciplinary actions. The objectives of Education First include:
Legal Representation in School-Related Incidents: Education First advocates for students in disciplinary hearings and legal matters related to their education.
Preventing Unjust Disciplinary Actions: Education First works directly with families to prevent suspensions, expulsions, and other disciplinary actions that disproportionately affect marginalized youth and can lead to further legal system involvement.
Educational Advocacy: Education First collaborates with educational institutions to ensure the educational rights of youth are respected and upheld.
Training and Awareness: Education First conducts training sessions for educators, parents, and students on their rights in the education system and crafts strategies to advocate for fair treatment.
For information on how parents who successfully filed a State Complaint and are now forced to respond to a school district Due Process Complaint, please click below to find more information and learn if you are eligible for pro bono representation in that Due Process Complaint proceeding.
Community Cares Program
The Community Cares Program merges mental health support with other end-to-end services, offering a holistic approach to supporting the needs of system-impacted youth. This program is dedicated to addressing the multifaceted needs of young people, ensuring they receive comprehensive support. Key aspects of the Community Cares Program include:
Mental Health Services: Community Cares provides culturally responsive and decolonized mental health services, including counseling, crisis intervention, and support groups.
Court and Education Advocacy: Community Cares offers court and education advocacy services to ensure youth rights are upheld and needs are met. Advocates support young people with school navigation, IEP and 504 development and adherence, court transportation, community support/release plan development, probation requirements and communication with legal and school teams.
Resource Navigation: Community Cares assists young people by providing guidance and support in accessing resources. Through personalized support plans, young people receive assistance on job applications, resume building, post-secondary education access, housing navigation, and more.
Community Nights: Community Nights are a monthly event hosted by the Community Cares program, bringing together young people and their loved ones for a night connection, support, friendship and joy.
Learn Your Rights in the Community (LYRIC)
Learn Your Rights in the Community (LYRIC) is a new program at TJP, entirely composed of passionate attorney and law student volunteers that donate their time to empower young people to exercise their constitutional rights. LYRIC’s curriculum brings constitutional law to life for young people in schools, youth justice facilities, and community workshops. Key aspects of LYRIC include:
Constitutional Rights and Remedies Workshops: LYRIC works with passionate volunteers to educate youth about their Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights when faced with police encounters.
Volunteer Training: LYRIC provides volunteers with training on constitutional rights to prepare them for working in the community.
Together, these programs embody TJP’s commitment to dismantling systemic barriers, advocating for justice, and providing the necessary tools and support for young people to thrive.
Believe In Youth
The Believe in Youth program empowers young people impacted by the legal system. Through record expungement and legal advocacy, Believe in Youth provides essential support to youth who face future barriers due to their past involvement in the youth legal systems. The key components of Believe in Youth include:
Legal Support for Record Expungement: Believe in Youth assists young people in navigating the complex process of clearing their criminal records. Record expungement can be a significant obstacle to future opportunities; Believe in Youth aims to change that.
Advocacy and Representation: Believe in Youth offers young people legal representation and advocacy to ensure their rights are upheld during the expungement process.
Skill Building and Education: Believe in Youth offers community workshops and educational resources to equip young people with the skills and knowledge they need to successfully reintegrate into society. These resources include job readiness training and life skills education.
