Community Partner Spotlight: The Children’s Policy and Law Initiative (CPLI)

The Children’s Policy and Law Initiative (CPLI) seeks to eliminate the excessive criminalization of children and achieve a more just, equitable, and age-appropriate public policy approach for children. CPLI engages in public policy advocacy that includes: preventing children’s entry into the juvenile and criminal justice systems, and the inequitable treatment of children of color, including the over-use of exclusionary practices in school and school-based arrests and referrals to juvenile court; reforming laws, policies, and practices that embody punitive approaches or criminalization of children; increasing the use of research-based alternatives and community-based options for children; and ensuring the fair, equitable, just and age-appropriate treatment of court-involved children.

An internship with CPLI is an excellent opportunity for social work students. Responsibilities may include: conducting research, writing position papers, assisting with the drafting of  legislation, working with organizational bodies and workgroups, helping to build alliances on specific policy issues, assisting with legislative advocacy, and assisting with general non-profit management work, including grant writing. CPLI partners with IUSSW to recruit bright and eager students to provide them the unique opportunity to engage in various aspects of public policy work and the legislative process while working for a local non-profit organization. Student requirements include but are not limited to: having good writing skills, passionate about juvenile justice reform, and having an interest in legislation and public policy work.

CPLI is a primarily volunteer-driven organization, and greatly appreciates the involvement of volunteers and interns to help carry out the mission.

Please visit the CPLI, or contact JauNae Hanger at jhanger@wapleshanger.com for more information about how you can become more involved in their efforts.

Those who would like to consider CPLI as a practicum placement site need to follow proper Field Practicum protocol and process. Please start with contacting your Field Coordinator first before contacting CPLI.