Family Legal Center

The Family Legal Center (FLC), LIFT's newest innovation, is the first of its kind in New York City. The FLC provides ongoing, individually tailored legal information and emotional support to mothers and fathers who, without a lawyer, are involved in child support, custody, or visitation cases in Family Courts citywide.

The goals of the FLC are to empower participants with the tools to: (1) represent themselves in Family Court; (2) enhance and improve their relationships with their children; and (3) secure the tools necessary to achieve economic self-sufficiency so that they may support their children and themselves.

The first phase of the FLC, which launched on September 4, 2007, specifically assists non-custodial fathers over the age of 24 who are involved in Family Court and are interested in improving their relationships with their children. In the second phase, the FLC will serve mothers and fathers who are proceeding through Family Court without the benefit of legal representation.

Led by an attorney, the FLC is staffed by a team of social workers, program associates, and paralegals who possess expertise in family law, counseling, and financial literacy education. The team enables participants to secure positive outcomes for themselves and their families by providing:

• Legal Information
• Individual, family, and group counseling
• Father-to-father Mentoring
• Custody/Visitation assistance
• Referral services
• Workshops on:
  o Family law topics such as custody, visitation and child support
  o Parenting Skills
  o Family Budgeting
  o Mediation

All FLC services are specifically tailored to meet the ongoing needs of participants.

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If you would like any additional information about LIFT’s Family Legal Center or to make a referral, please do not hesitate to contact Stephanie Hazelkorn, Director of Legal Programs, at 646-613-9633 x202 or shazelkorn@LIFTonline.org.

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