Organization
About Accountability For Our Children
Our mission, research approach, organizational structure, and founding principles as a California nonprofit research and education institute.
Mission
Who We Are and What We Do
Accountability For Our Children is a California nonprofit public benefit corporation dedicated to producing rigorous, independent research on family court procedures, transparency frameworks, and access to justice for families navigating California's legal system.
We conduct research, educational publishing, webinars, policy research, and public education programs. We study legal systems, publish findings, and educate the public. We do not provide legal services, represent parties in litigation, take positions on individual cases, or advocate for outcomes in specific proceedings.
We are strictly non-partisan. Our work draws on statutory analysis, procedural study, and published legal scholarship. Nothing in our publications reflects a political position, party alignment, or institutional endorsement of any kind.
We believe that understanding how family court systems actually operate — procedurally, transparently, and equitably — is a precondition for meaningful improvement. Research precedes reform.
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Research Programs
§501(c)(3)
Federal Application in Preparation
Free
All Education & Webinars
Organizational Status
| Legal Name | Accountability For Our Children |
|---|---|
| Domain | giveafoc.org |
| State | California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation |
| Federal Status | Federal 501(c)(3) application in preparation |
| Scope | California family court systems; comparative policy research |
| Founded | Incorporated in California, February 2026 |
Core Values
What Guides Our Work
Independence
We accept no funding from law firms, litigation funders, or parties with interests in family court outcomes. Our research agenda is set by our advisory board, not by donors with stakes in specific results.
Rigor
Every publication cites primary sources. Statutory analysis quotes the statute. Case law citations are verified. We distinguish between what the law says, what courts have held, and what we observe.
Accessibility
Complex legal procedures affect real families. We translate legal complexity into plain language without distorting substance. All educational resources are free and publicly available.
Non-Partisanship
We do not editorialize about specific judges, attorneys, or proceedings. We document systemic patterns and procedural frameworks. We do not take sides in family court disputes.
Transparency
We publish our methodology, disclose our limitations, and acknowledge complexity. We do not overstate findings or use research to support predetermined conclusions.
Child-Centeredness
All of our research is oriented toward the question: what do children need from the legal systems designed to protect them? Research clarity serves child welfare.
Research Approach
How We Conduct Research
Our methodology is grounded in legal and policy research traditions, with a focus on statutory analysis, procedural documentation, and comparative study.
Statutory & Regulatory Analysis
We analyze the California Family Code, California Rules of Court, California Evidence Code, local court rules, and relevant federal statutes. We read primary sources directly, not through secondary characterizations.
Procedural Mapping
We document the actual procedural pathways of family court proceedings — from filing through appeal — identifying where rules are clear, where they are ambiguous, and where practice varies from stated procedure.
Comparative Policy Research
We compare California's family court frameworks with those of other states and federal standards, identifying areas where different jurisdictions have adopted distinct procedural approaches.
Published Scholarship Review
We survey legal academic literature, judicial council publications, bar association reports, and peer-reviewed social science research relevant to family court procedure and child welfare outcomes.
What We Study
Research Scope
Our research focuses on the procedural and structural dimensions of California's family court system. We study how the system is designed to work, how it does work, and where those two things diverge.
In Scope
- Family court procedural rules and due process
- Child custody statutory frameworks
- Access to justice for self-represented litigants
- Court transparency and public accountability mechanisms
- Evidentiary standards in family law proceedings
- Roles of minor's counsel, expert witnesses, and evaluators
- Comparative state family court policy
Out of Scope
- Individual case outcomes or judicial decisions
- Legal advice or representation
- Political commentary or legislative lobbying
- Criminal law or criminal court proceedings
Leadership
Founding Advisory Board — Recruiting Now
We are assembling a multidisciplinary founding advisory board of qualified professionals committed to rigorous, independent research on family court systems. All board service is voluntary and conducted remotely.
The founding advisory board provides strategic guidance, subject-matter expertise, and institutional credibility to our research programs. Board members review research methodology, advise on publication standards, and help shape the organization's educational programming.
We seek individuals with demonstrated expertise in family law, judicial administration, child welfare policy, legal academia, and nonprofit governance. We welcome both California practitioners and nationally recognized scholars.
Advisory Board — Time Commitment
Service on the founding advisory board requires an estimated 2–4 hours per quarter. Responsibilities include:
- Reviewing research methodology and publication drafts
- Advising on educational programming topics
- Participating in quarterly virtual meetings
- Contributing subject-matter expertise to specific research questions
- Connecting the organization with relevant professional networks
Board service is uncompensated. Reasonable expenses for approved activities are reimbursed in accordance with organizational policy.
Legal Notices