USD Magazine Summer 2010

[ The Kids Aren’t All Right ]

For three decades, the Children’s Advocacy Institute has been fighting for the rights of our youngest citizens

by Carol Cujec

photography by Tim Mantoani

Not all superheroes wear capes. Some sport professorial tweed and brown leather loafers. Professor Robert Fellmeth appears mild-mannered enough with his white Sean Connery beard, but for more than 20 years he and his colleagues at the USD School of Law’s Children’s Advocacy Institute (CAI) have fought mighty battles to improve — even save — the lives of countless children. Working in such diverse arenas as health and safety, education, poverty, abuse, delinquency and disability, the team at CAI regularly assembles child advocates from throughout the state to share information and bring about legislative reform.

Nothing less than protecting society’s weakest members is their lofty goal.

“I always thought even when I was young that this was the group I would want to represent,” says Fellmeth, “because they’re not powerful. They do not have cam- paign money. They’re not articulate. They’re not organized. But they’re our future.”

With the help of Kriste Draper ‘06 (JD) — a Children’s Advocacy Institute attorney — former foster child LaQuita is attending community college. It’s not an easy proposition for LaQuita, who is homeless and lives in a tent in a riverbed.

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