TeamChild
Elisa Cozad has a diverse background in law and youth services. They have held positions such as Associate Director at the Colorado Lawyers Committee and Deputy Public Defender at the Colorado State Public Defender's office. Currently, they serve as a Staff Attorney at TeamChild, after previously working as a Youth Program Coordinator at Southwest Youth and Family Services. Elisa Cozad completed their Doctor of Law (J.D.) degree from the University of California, Davis, and their Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Law, Society & Justice from the University of Washington.
TeamChild
Every day, thousands of youth face profound legal and social barriers that increase their chances of dropping out of school, being homeless or ending up in the juvenile justice system. TeamChild uses its legal expertise and community partnerships to break down barriers to community services in order to overcome the root causes of a youth’s involvement in the juvenile justice system. TeamChild is a nonprofit civil legal aid organization. We provide free legal representation and advice to youth, as well as legal education resources and trainings to community partners. TeamChild’s advocacy and educational efforts create meaningful opportunities for youth and their families. They also strengthen social service networks, ensuring that all children have the support they need to succeed. Legal representation from TeamChild is effective in reducing juvenile court involvement and improving access to education, healthcare, and housing. Our services have won wide recognition as an innovative model of legal advocacy. TeamChild has offices in four diverse counties of Washington State and has been a model for other programs across the nation. TeamChild is a member of the Alliance for Equal Justice, Washington's network of organizations providing civil legal aid to people in need. TeamChild is also a member of the Washington Defender Association (WDA), a statewide membership organization for public defenders.