About CYRAH

Legal Counsel for Youth and Children (LCYC), a Washington State legal services nonprofit organization, launched an online community-building space for attorneys representing children and youth in dependency and termination cases. The Children and Youth Representation Advocacy Hub (CYRAH), aims to support individual attorneys in Washington, to improve holistic children’s representation statewide, and bolster systemic advocacy efforts to elevate much-needed services and support to young people in the child welfare system. 

CYRAH is intended to support the rollout of 2021 legislation, House Bill 1219, which guarantees youth the right to counsel in dependency and termination cases. The State Office of Civil Legal Aid (OCLA) is charged with implementing the Children’s Representation Program (CRP) statewide by January 1, 2028. CYRAH will complement this work, and LCYC has consulted with OCLA throughout the project’s development. 

CYRAH will support CRP’s expansion by creating an online community space for the growing number of attorneys who will represent children and youth in dependency and termination cases. CYRAH offers a variety of tools to support attorneys including an online resource library, a community forum, and advocacy updates.

CYRAH Membership is free and open to eligible attorneys who currently represent children and youth in Washington State and/or attorneys who supervise other attorneys who represent children and youth in dependency cases.