Courts
Child Advocate Attorney Pilot Program
CVP recruits highly qualified attorneys, trains them in our child-centered, client-directed model of representation, and provides ongoing management to ensure fidelity to our approach.
Our goal with this program is to provide better outcomes for children and families, while serving as a model for other jurisdictions to adopt.
How It Works
Specialized training – Our attorneys complete 26 hours of training (6 initially + 20 continuing) covering principles of child-centeredness, child development, trauma- informed practice, effective relationship-building and communication with children.
Court appointment – A judge assigns a CVP child advocate attorney.
Full representation – The attorney advocates for the child’s stated preferences until a final court order is entered.
Progress So Far
The Child Advocate Attorney pilot program has been operating since May 2025 within two jurisdictions in Maryland.
CVP is leading the most comprehensive evaluation study of child advocate attorneys in family court to date. This research is essential for making this program a model standard in family court and for securing policy changes and philanthropic investment that will make expansion possible.
To date:
The program has served 43 children across two counties.
Of the 31 cases, over 75% have settled or are on the pathway towards settlement. By centering children’s perspectives and ways of experiencing the world, attorneys report an overall increase in family engagement, even in high conflict cases.