descendants of captive africans in the united states  internship

Honoring lineage and legacy.

Descendants of Captive Africans in the United States Internship Program

The Descendants of Captive Africans in the United States (DCAUS) internship program is our first program under JCHIP for the Franklin Law Group, P.C. This is its inaugural year and was created for Black, DCAUS law students dedicated to human rights and social justice.  In alignment with the goals of the International Decade for People of African Descent (The Decade) – recognition, justice, and development, the Franklin Law Group, is dedicated to uplifting these goals in honor and acknowledgement of the Decade, the upcoming year (2019) marking the 400th year that Black descendants of captured Africans in the US were brought to these shores in chains (Public Law 115-102), and for DCAUS peoples. 

DCAUS people are defined as having at least one parent, grandparent, or great grandparent who was born in the United States before 1950 and is a Black descendant of enslaved Africans in the United States.

The internship period begins June 15, 2018 and ends August 15, 2018.

WHY BLACK DCAUS LAW STUDENTS?

Over the past decade, enrollment of Black DCAUS law students has declined. The decrease in DCAUS student enrollment offers a limited pool of DCAUS applicants interested in representing children in this area of the law.   Introduction to child welfare law and the critical need to diversify perspectives and voices serving marginalized populations disproportionately represented by Black children in the child welfare system is imperative and necessary.

GOALS

GOAL 1 - INTRODUCE DCAUS LAW STUDENTS TO CHILD WELFARE LAW.

GOAL 2 - PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO DCAUS LAW STUDENTS TO GAIN PRACTICAL, CHILD WELFARE REPRESENTATION  EXPERIENCE.

GOAL 3 -  INCREASE THE NUMBER OF DCAUS ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING CHILDREN IN ABUSE AND NEGLECT PROCEEDINGS.