Leecia Welch

Deputy Litigation Director @Children\'s Rights

Specialization in complex litigation and civil rights class action cases focused on holding federal and state governments accountable for the health, safety, and well-being of children in their custody.• Co-counsel on class action cases in Missouri, Kansas, and Washington focused on protecting the constitutional rights of children in state and federal foster care, improving state and federal child welfare systems, increasing access to children’s mental health services, ensuring that states are meeting the needs of children in foster care with disabilities, and advancing children’s right to family integrity.• Co-counsel on Flores v. Barr, No. 85-cv-04544 (C.D. Cal.), representing a nationwide class of detained immigrant children to enforce their rights to appropriate treatment while in custody and prompt release to family.• Policy and training expertise in child-serving system reform, foster youth education issues, and sibling rights.