Children’s Advocacy Institute (CAI) is an academic, research, and advocacy organization established at the University of San Diego (USD) focused on children’s issues. It advocates at the state and federal levels for improvements to the child protection and foster care systems and addresses issues concerning child abuse and sexual exploitation, racial discrimination, and immigration through legislative advocacy, impact litigation, and public education. ^{1 2}

Donors in 2022 and 2023 include California Community Foundation, Hope and Heal Fund, (a project of the New Venture Fund), Jewish Community Foundation of the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles, and Ralph Nader. ^{3 4}

Background

Children’s Advocacy Institute was founded in 1989 by Robert Fellmeth at the University of San Diego as an academic and advocacy organization focused on the child protection and foster care systems for children and the processes for children transitioning out of these systems. It has offices in San Diego and Sacramento, California and Washington, D.C. ⁵

CAI coordinates an academic program at the University of San Diego School of Law, performs research and publishes reports on children’s issues, advocates for legislation at the state and federal level, and litigates on behalf of children’s interests. ⁵

Academics and Research

Children’s Advocacy Institute’s academic program is part of the University of San Diego School of Law and consists of a Child Rights and Remedies course, a Youth Law course, and a Child Advocacy clinic. The program offers USD law students a concentration in Children’s Rights. ⁶

CAI researches children’s issues and publishes reports, including an annual “Children’s Legislative Report Card” and special reports such as Foster Care or Foster Con? ⁷ which graded each state on its ability to preserve the federal benefits of foster children. ⁸

Its Child Advocacy Bill Exchange is a compilation of model bills developed by CAI and the Partnership for America’s Children that can be used by activists. ⁹

Advocacy

Children’s Advocacy Institute’s advocacy program focuses on children’s rights in foster care and federal benefits, transition from foster care, child abuse and sexual exploitation, racial discrimination, and immigration. ¹ CAI focuses on legislation at the federal level and in California. ¹⁰ It organizes and chairs the Children’s Advocates Roundtable represented by approximately 200 state and regional children’s policy advocates in the Sacramento area. ¹¹

As of July 2024, CAI was advocating for California Assembly Bill 2906, introduced by California State Assemblyman Isaac Bryan (D-Los Angeles) which would end the practice of county agencies applying for federal benefits on behalf of eligible foster children without notifying the youth and then using these funds to reimburse themselves for the costs of the child’s care. Under California rules that require disclosure of “the Member of the Legislature, private individual, or group who develops a measure and advocates its passage” as a bill’s “sponsor,” ¹² AB 2906 is co-sponsored by CAI along with Alliance for Boys and Men of Color and Alliance for Children’s Rights. ^{13 14}

CAI produced a report Foster Care or Foster Con that graded each state on its ability to preserve the federal benefits of foster children. Only a few states received passing grades. The report describes the practice of states securing foster children’s federal benefits then using them to pay for their care while they’re within the system. ¹⁵ CAI organized a virtual congressional briefing on the results, which included actions that can be taken by the states to address the situation. ¹⁶

Along with Common Sense Media and the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA, CAI is co-sponsoring California Assembly Bill 1831, introduced by California Assemblyman Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), which would prohibit the creation, distribution, and possession of AI-generated child sexual abuse material online, eliminating the difference between real and fake child pornography. ^{17 18}

As a result of a December 2023 report by CAI that indicated there were fewer placements of foster children with family members than with someone unknown, Assemblyman Bryan introduced a bill that would require county welfare agencies with lower family placement rates to address this issue. ¹⁹

Litigation

In 2023, the Children’s Advocacy Institute sued San Diego County on behalf of two former foster children who were entitled to Social Security survivor benefits that they claimed were used by the county inappropriately to pay for their care. ²⁰

Funding

Donors to Children’s Advocacy Institute in 2022 and 2023 include California Community Foundation, Hope and Heal Fund, (a project of the New Venture Fund), Jewish Community Foundation of the Jewish Federation Council of Greater Los Angeles, Ralph Nader, and other individuals. ^{3 4}

Leadership

Robert Fellmeth is the founder and executive director of Children’s Advocacy Institute. He received his law degree from Harvard University and became a law professor at University of San Diego in 1977. He was one of the original “Nader’s Raiders,” a group of activists recruited by left-wing consumer-interest activist Ralph Nader. While at USD he founded the Center for Public Interest Law and CAI. He is a board member of Public Citizen, Partnership for America’s Children, First Star, and the Maternal and Child Health Access Project. He has also been a board member of the National Association of Counsel for Children, Consumers Union, and California Common Cause. ^{21 22 23}

In 2022 and 2023, Fellmeth contributed to Democratic political organizations and candidates, including Democratic Super PACs Blue Wave America, End Citizens United, Americans for Democratic Action, and Progressive Turnout Project, and Democratic candidates Phil Arballo, U.S. Rep. Colin Allred (D-TX), and U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV). ²⁴

1. “Advocacy by Subject Area.” Children’s Advocacy Institute – Advocacy. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.sandiego.edu/cai/advocacy/advocacy-by-subject/
2. LinkedIn – USD School of Law – Children’s Advocacy Institute. Accessed June 28, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/children’s-advocacy-institute/about/
3. 2023 Annual Report. Children’s Advocacy Institute – Publications. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://catcher.sandiego.edu/items/usdlaw/2023_CAI_AR.pdf
4. 2022 Annual Report. Children’s Advocacy Institute – Publications. Accessed June 28, 2024. http://www.caichildlaw.org/Misc/2022_CAI_AR_lr.pdf
5. “History and Purpose.” Children’s Advocacy Institute – About. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.sandiego.edu/cai/about/
6. “Academic Programs.” Children’s Advocacy Institute. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.sandiego.edu/cai/academic-programs/
7. “Publications.” Children’s Advocacy Institute. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.sandiego.edu/cai/publications/
8. Foster Care or Foster Con? Children’s Advocacy Institute. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://catcher.sandiego.edu/items/usdlaw/Foster_Care_or_Foster_Con_Report_FINAL.pdf
9. Child Advocacy Bill Exchange website. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://childadvocacyexchange.org/
10. “Legislation.” Children’s Advocacy Institute – Advocacy. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.sandiego.edu/cai/advocacy/legislation/
11. “About the Children’s Advocacy Institute (CAI).” Children’s Advocacy Institute. Accessed June 27, 2024. http://www.caichildlaw.org/click.html
12. “Glossary of Terms.” California State Senate. Accessed July 11, 2024. https://www.senate.ca.gov/citizens-guide/glossary-terms.
13. “2024 Legislative Priorities.” Children’s Advocacy Institute – Advocacy. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.sandiego.edu/cai/advocacy/legislation/2024-priorities.php
14. “California AB2906.” TrackBill. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://trackbill.com/bill/california-assembly-bill-2906-foster-care-payments/2519441/
15. Suzanne Blake. “Hundreds of California Kids Lose Social Security Benefits.” Newsweek. April 17, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.newsweek.com/california-kids-lose-social-security-benefits-1891287
16. Facebook – Children’s Advocacy Institute. Post dated April 16, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensAdvocacyInstitute/
17. “Ventura County DA Involved In Effort To Ban A-I Generated Child Pornography.” KVTA News Talk 1590. January 30, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.kvta.com/news/ventura-county-da-involved-in-effort-to-ban-a-i-generated-child-pornography/
18. Erin Lyons. “New bill targets AI-generated child pornography.” CBS8 Local News. February 29, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/bill-targets-ai-generated-pornography/509-08114da3-11d8-473a-9161-a950e85d0d43?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1erS7o9b18nGj7aNCBrJebi9A_21VLVtj050TQt7rKaOzP9LZEuoYPUHE_aem_rFFmLm-Sx8Ob8EoOAZLrow
19. David Manoucheri. “New California bill would push for more foster youth placed with relatives.” KCRA 3. February 21, 2024. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.kcra.com/article/new-california-bill-would-push-for-more-foster-youth-placed-with-relatives/46885412#
20. Adam Racusin. “Lawsuit: San Diego County took money from foster kids.” ABC 10 News San Diego. March 6, 2023. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.10news.com/news/team-10/lawsuit-san-diego-county-took-money-from-foster-kids
21. LinkedIn – Bob Fellmeth. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-fellmeth-84244414/
22. “Robert Fellmeth.” University of San Diego School of Law. Accessed June 27, 2024. https://www.sandiego.edu/law/about/biography.php?profile_id=2294
23. Children’s Advocacy Institute brochure. Revised March 2020. Accessed June 27, 2024. http://www.caichildlaw.org/Misc/2020_CAI_Brochure.pdf
24. OpenSecrets – Robert Fellmeth. Accessed June 28, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/search?order=desc&q=Robert+Fellmeth+&sort=D&type=donors