SUMMIT COUNTY — The Summit County Domestic Relations Court Jan. 30 held the Legal Aid for Legal Custody Clinic at the Akron Public Schools (APS) Board of Education Office, bringing legal services directly into the community.

The clinic focused on assisting third-party caregivers such as grandparents and relatives who are stepping in to care for children and need guidance navigating custody through the court system.

According to a press release, each year approximately 1,500 to 2,000 students are identified as experiencing homelessness, and the clinic aims to give immediate opportunity to caregivers to fix this problem.

The initiative was spearheaded by APS’s Project Rise, a program that identifies homeless students and offers immediate support to ensure homeless youth have equitable access to the same educational opportunities as their peers.

In support, Summit County Domestic Relations Court Administrative Judge Katarina Cook donated 500 bus passes to Project Rise in an effort to help reduce transportation barriers that can prevent families from accessing courts, schools and essential services.

“For many families, the justice system feels distant or intimidating,” said Cook. “When we step outside the courthouse and into the community, we remove barriers — fear, confusion, transportation — that too often stand between people and the help they need. Justice works best when it is accessible, visible and rooted in trust.”

During the clinic, 18 families were assisted, with six appearing before a magistrate to obtain temporary custody orders. The release stated that federal law under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act provides an essential safety net, allowing children experiencing housing instability to enroll in school and access transportation and services even when formal documentation is not yet in place. This clinic built on that foundation by helping families obtain temporary custody orders to have the person who has physical custody of a child through the court process become a legal custodian — which is necessary for benefits, medical care and school enrollment purposes.

Also at the clinic, legal aid organizations including Community Legal Aid, the Summit County Public Defender’s Office and Asian Services In Action provided volunteer attorneys who gave free, one-on-one guidance to families. In addition to the legal guidance, Cook was accompanied by two magistrates to ensure that cases could be heard and caregivers given temporary orders the same day. Staff from Summit County Juvenile Court was also on hand to address cases under its jurisdiction.

The Summit County Domestic Relations Court will additionally host a family law clinic Feb. 6 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Akron Bar Association, 57 S. Broadway St. Residents can receive a free 20-minute consultation with an attorney regarding divorce, parenting time issues, child custody and protection orders. For more information, visit www.drcourt.org. The Family Law Clinic is a partnership with the Ohio Justice Bus, Local Family Law Bar and community partners. Cook will continue to host this clinic throughout the year.

Paid for by Friends of Judge Katarina Cook Committee

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