When clients have the resources to accomplish necessary tasks, all parties benefit. Judges can make better decisions, and cases are resolved more expeditiously and fairly.
—Judge Margaret S. Fearey
One Can Help is a small nonprofit, but we are in a unique position to be able to help an almost invisible and disenfranchised population at a critical time in their lives.
80% of children and families in the Juvenile Court system live below the poverty level and many cannot access the basic resources they need to improve their lives and move forward.
One Can Help wants all needy parents and children involved in the Juvenile Court system to have the opportunities they need – and deserve – to succeed. Poverty should not be the factor that impedes success.
As court-appointed professionals, we know the ways that the juvenile court system can falter. Overloaded dockets, inadequate staffing, a social service system overwhelmed by caseloads—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
But at One Can Help, we want everyone to have a chance to succeed. If no other resources are available, fellow court professionals turn to us for resources to avert or resolve crises in their clients’ lives.
When clients have the resources for stable homes, necessary transportation, school support or the basics of daily living, the results can be dramatic for the individual, for the court system and for society as a whole. Here’s how:
- Less recidivism
- Shorter court cases
- Fewer no-shows for court dates or social service appointments
- Improved chance of follow-through for counseling, substance abuse programs or parenting classes
- Increased odds of success for family reunification
- Reduced rate of truancy and other school problems
- Higher probability of completing high school, GED or job training program
- Improved odds for finding employment and getting off welfare
- More effective and efficient use of tax dollars for court professionals’ time
- Morale boost for court professionals, who now can help their clients to accomplish real change