The Oglala Lakota Children’s Justice Center

 

The Oglala Lakota Children’s Justice Center is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization supporting and promoting volunteer advocacy for abused and neglected children in the justice system and beyond.

OLCJC supports hundreds of children in crisis each year by recruiting and training volunteers to serve as advocates. OLCJC currently has two dedicated staff members (an executive director and a child advocacy coordinator) and a small number of volunteers who perform many hours of work on each child’s case. The advocates visit the children in foster homes and residential facilities, interview parents, caseworkers and medical professionals, and make recommendations to the court regarding the welfare of the children.

Oftentimes an OLCJC advocate is the only constant in the turbulent lives of these children, many of whom are victims of sexual abuse. At present, OLCJC is advocating for nearly 100 children ranging in age from newborn to 17 in the tribal court system. However, due to lack of resources, OLCJC is unable to help hundreds more who are in need.

OLCJC is funded by grants so the important work they do is always underfunded. Local volunteers must not only donate their time but also cover all of their expenses out-of-pocket, including gasoline, to drive to and from the courts and other far-flung locations on behalf of the children, often a 200-mile round trip. Since so many are living in poverty on the reservation, it is difficult to recruit volunteers without funds to help alleviate the added expenses.

OLCJC advocates for the children and you can advocate for OLCJC by becoming a long-distance supporter. Please join us by helping traumatized children, the most vulnerable of the Pine Ridge Reservation population, and send a tax-deductible check or money order to:

Oglala Lakota Children’s Justice Center
P. O. Box 5014
Pine Ridge, SD 57770

And if you’d like to donate with a credit card or with PayPal, there’s a donate button here.