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 Pilot Program Evaluation Study

About

The Child Advocate Pilot Program Evaluation Study is a longitudinal evaluation of CVP’s client-directed Child Advocate Attorney model in family court. Conducted in St. Mary’s and Charles Counties, Maryland, the study examines how different approaches to legal representation for children influence case trajectories, attorney practices, and outcomes in complex custody cases. By comparing cases involving CVP Child Advocate Attorneys with cases using best interests representation, the study generates empirical evidence about how child-centered legal advocacy functions in real-world court settings.

The study follows participating attorneys over time through quarterly surveys and in-depth qualitative interviews, alongside analysis of publicly available court records to track litigation activity, duration, and outcomes. Data collection occurs for a minimum of two years and is conducted under Institutional Review Board oversight, with robust confidentiality and data security protections in place. Together, these methods allow CVP to rigorously evaluate the impact of child-centered legal representation while centering ethical research practices and the integrity of participants’ perspectives.

Impact to Date

  • Total number of cases across all counties: 27
  • Total number of children represented: 38
Early findings suggest that child-centered legal advocacy is contributing to more constructive case trajectories. Across participating cases, we are seeing:
  • More effective pathways toward resolution
  • De-escalation of conflict between parties
  • Increased opportunities for meaningful, lasting agreements
  • A stronger focus on centering the child’s voice in decision-making

Notably, over 75% of CVP cases have either reached settlement or are actively moving toward resolution, pointing to the potential of this model to support more timely and less adversarial outcomes for families.

Currently

CVP’s Child Advocate Attorneys will contribute the majority of data for this study, and we are also inviting additional attorneys in Maryland to participate.

If you are a Best Interest Attorney or Child-Directed Attorney practicing in St. Mary’s or Charles County, we welcome your perspective. Participating attorneys will contribute to a growing body of research aimed at strengthening how children are represented in family court.

Learn More

To learn more or express interest in joining the study, please contact our research team at research@childsvoiceproject.org