Volunteer attorneys affiliated with the Children's Justice Center represent children in removal and termination proceedings pursuant to Chapter 262 of the Texas Family Code. In addition CJC attorneys represent children in special education proceedings under the Education of Children with Disabilities Act, and in immigration proceedings in the Federal Court system. Currently, there are 59 open cases involving over 90 children. Since April 1, 2004, the 65th District Court has assigned an average of two more cases each week indicating that in the coming 6 months CJC's caseload will increase another 50 percent or more.

Contributions received by the CJC will be multiplied by the organizational activities of the volunteer Board; further added to by the contribution of administrative costs underwritten by the Clinical Director and the Executive Director's separate funds; and given meaning in the volunteer hours of practicing attorneys. It is not an exaggeration to state that each dollar received by the CJC is multiplied 10 times over in the services which are delivered to children.

CJC attorneys in El Paso are among the most prominent and experienced attorneys in the legal community and also include less well known attorneys who come from extraordinarily diverse backgrounds which enhance their ability to understand, relate to, and advocate for the children under their care. Many CJC attorneys are bilingual. One CJC attorney found himself representing a child from a family whose parents spoke an oriental language; a language for which he was once fluent and now passably proficient. Several CJC attorneys were raised in the El Paso region; others chose El Paso for their professional career because of the opportunity to grow in their personal and professional lives through representation of persons with mental health, drug, or abuse issues. Among CJC's volunteer lawyers are attorneys whose "regular" representation includes: tax, bankruptcy, malpractice, product liability, criminal defense, administrative law, Federal criminal prosecution, business formation and transactions, family law, and immigration. One CJC volunteer is a former El Paso television Broadcaster; another is the President of the El Paso Bar. By the way, two former El Paso Bar Presidents represent children through the CJC.

The El Paso region presents unique challenges for legal representation of children. El Paso possesses several of the poorest zip codes in the United States. Children who come into care may have learning and linguistic deficits. Some children in care require representation to obtain legal status in the United States. Though children are taken into care from infancy, current CJC children include children approaching the age of majority who require a voice in the legal proceedings involving their current care and plans for their future.

The burden on the Regional, State, and Federal economy of quality representation of children in El Paso is great. Absent the volunteer hours, the El Paso governmental units could not provide the same level of professional attorneys hours. Absent the organizational and recruitment efforts of the CJC, the quality of professional services would surely suffer.

Continuity in professional representation is vital to El Paso's children. The Children's Justice Center has developed volunteer assets which are applied to the representation of children which might not otherwise occur absent this organization.

CJC has identified these goals for the upcoming year:

• A. Continue to recruit attorneys and support them by education, clinical therapeutic expertise, and administrative excellence.
• B. Develop accessible web and video based educational tools to enhance the professional development of attorneys who are currently engaged in representation of children and those who are considering undertaking representation.
• C. Dialogue with Judicial and Social Service leaders to identify areas for growth and new initiatives.
• D. Attempt to broaden the financial base of the CJC through solicitation of private foundations and individuals.
• E. Support the activities of the Clinical and Executive Director to write and teach on subjects within the mission and purpose of the Children's Justice Center.