Empowering Youth in the Legal System: A Deep Dive with OCR's Cara Nord

In this episode of the Next Gen Convos podcast, we interview Cara Nord from the Office of the Child's Representative (OCR) in Colorado. Cara shares her journey to becoming an attorney focused on helping children, and details the work of OCR, emphasizing the roles of Guardians Ad Litem (GALs) and Counsel for Youth (CFY) in representing the interests of young people in legal matters. She discusses the recent legislative changes including the introduction of CFY to better represent youth aged 12 and older in dependency and neglect cases. Cara also highlights various resources and support systems provided by OCR to attorneys and introduces the Lived Experts Action Panel (LEAP) and the foster youth bill of rights, showcasing OCR's commitment to incorporating youth voice in legal processes and policy reforms. The podcast explores the practical impacts of these initiatives on empowering young people within the legal system.