After decades of service at the Legal Aid Society of Southwest Ohio (LASSO), Elaine Fink has seen firsthand the power of collaboration in driving systemic change.
“There’s a crucial role for litigation and the threat of litigation,” Fink said. “I have also learned that at times we can achieve significant results for clients when we work with partners across systems—child welfare, juvenile justice, health care—who are open to thinking outside the box and finding creative, non-traditional solutions.”
As managing attorney of the Children and Education Practice Group, Fink has played a leading role in shaping education advocacy at legal aid, building a nationally recognized team that has transformed opportunities for at-risk students. Her practice, which serves hundreds of children every year in special education, school discipline, child protection, and the juvenile system, reflects a deep and sustained commitment to young people.
Fink’s innovative approach began in the 1980s when community stakeholders asked legal aid to create an education-focused practice to help address low graduation rates. The goal was to provide legal advocacy for students facing barriers like inadequate special education services, unfair disciplinary actions, or instability caused by involvement in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems—issues that often pushed kids out of school.
“When students face repeated suspensions or removals, they can end up missing weeks of school,” Fink said. “That loss of classroom time doesn’t just set them back academically, it increases their risk of being pulled into the juvenile justice system. The stakes are incredibly high.”
Fink became a liaison between legal aid and other child-serving entities in LASSO’s service area. She built relationships with superintendents, special education directors, and other administrators, gaining critical insight into how school policies were implemented on the ground.
Eventually, Fink went on to help create Kids in School Rule!, a collaboration serving children in foster care who attend Cincinnati Public Schools and Northwest Local Schools. She also helped launch Team Child, a joint initiative between legal advocates and the Hamilton County Juvenile Court aimed at keeping kids in school.
Recognizing the impact that the social determinants of health have on the success of children in school, she then co-created Child HeLP, a medical-legal partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, which refers patient families with children to legal aid for assistance across all practice areas.
Fink has been recognized for her groundbreaking work in education advocacy, including receiving the Foundation’s Denis J. Murphy Award in 2016.
As she approaches retirement, she reflects on a career defined by unwavering commitment to low-income families and vulnerable youth. What stands out most, she says, is the collaboration—decades of working alongside dedicated partners to fight for better outcomes for children who too often fall through the cracks.
“It’s never been just about the cases; it’s about the people. I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible advocates, educators, and community partners who care deeply about these kids. That’s what kept me going.”
The Ohio Access to Justice Foundation is the largest funder of civil legal aid in Ohio. Ohio’s legal aid organizations provide essential legal services to help Ohioans resolve their legal issues so they can live safer, healthier, and more financially stable lives. Learn more.