Diane Smith Howard

Directing Advocate

Diane Smith Howard is a Directing Advocate at the Youth Law Center. Her work focuses on the use of legal and policy strategies to support youth in state custody in accessing effective community based placements and services to address their health related needs.

Prior to joining the Youth Law Center, Diane represented clients at the Protection and Advocacy systems in Maine and Michigan, in individual case work and systemic litigation.  Most recently, she worked at the National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), the national support center for the Protection and Advocacy systems, managing the team that works on community integration for people living in institutions, providing training and technical assistance to P&A staff on youth related issues, and on federal policy reform.

Prior to law school, Diane worked as foster care case manager in Detroit and the Boston area, and taught high school in Kenya. She taught at Johns Hopkins School of Education and is currently a member of the adjunct faculty at University of Maine School of Law.

Education:

J.D. Wayne State, 1994
B.A. Colby College,1986

BAR ADMISSIONS:
Michigan 1994
Maine, 2006

California Registered Legal Aid Attorney application pending