 |
 |
 |
|
|
|||
For more than a decade, LIFT has been a pioneer and leader in promoting access to justice for disadvantaged families embroiled in the New York City Family Court system. We are the only organization in the City dedicated to empowering court-involved families by providing them with the tools they need to make informed legal decisions and successfully navigate the legal system.
All of LIFT’s programs are driven by our mission: to enhance access to justice for children and families by providing legal information, community education, and compassionate guidance, while promoting system-wide reform of the courts and public agencies.
To accomplish this mission, LIFT operates:
- Education & Information Sites in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens Family Courts;
- An Education & Information Site in Brooklyn Criminal Court;
- A Legal Education Program- offering a variety of community education workshops throughout New York City’s neighborhoods;
- A Legal Information Hotline;
- The Judge for a Day Program; and
- The Family Legal Center
LIFT also creates and distributes Legal Resource Guides
which provide information about a wide-range of matters addressed in Family
and Criminal Court. The guides are available in Chinese, English, Haitian/Creole,
Korean, Russian, and Spanish.
Over the last year, LIFT has served nearly 55,000 people - 92% of whom
did not have a lawyer and the majority of whom were Black or Latina mothers.
The organization has received national recognition as an exemplary Family
Court program and works to inform statewide reform of the courts by serving
on numerous influential advisory committees and coalitions.
With no other non-profit doing this work in New York
City, LIFT offers one-of-a-kind services to some of the City's most vulnerable
families. The organization has grown significantly during the past three
years. Thanks to the ongoing generosity of our diverse supporters, LIFT
continues to forge innovative solutions for families and individuals embroiled
in complex legal systems, many of whom lack the benefit of legal representation
or the tools necessary to access justice.
All of us at LIFT are deeply grateful to the supporters and funders who
ensure our ongoing success.
What's new at LIFT
LIFT was named a semifinalist for the 2008 New York Times Company Nonprofit Excellence Award, given to the nonprofit that best exhibits excellence in management and that plays a critical role in enriching and improving the lives of people in New York City.
[Last updated on June 19, 2008]
