The United States
The parent advocacy movement in child welfare was born in The United States. The United States is also where a model of improved parent representation was developed in which lawyers work alongside social workers and parent advocates in agencies solely devoted to defending parents in child welfare proceedings. But in the United States, the support parents receive differs greatly from state to state and jurisdiction to jurisdiction. There are still some states where parents are not guaranteed the right to legal representation even when they are facing the possibility of having their parental rights legally terminated. And, like in countries around the world, most parents still face child welfare proceedings without the support of a parent advocate.
Below you can find some of the places where you can find support if you are facing a child protective investigation or if your child has been taken from you.
Arizona
Family Involvement Center—Parents for Parents
The Family Involvement Center is a parent-led and parent-run organization for families coping with emotional, physical and/or behavioral challenges. Among its other services, The Family Involvement Center offers support to families facing a child protective investigation and with children in out-of-home care.
Website: Familyinvolvementcenter.org; https://www.familyinvolvementcenter.org/help-me/parents-for-parents
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FollowFIC/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/followFIC
Point-of Contact: Teri at 602-791-4605 or email therese@familyinvolvementcenter.org
Email: pac@familyinvolvementcenter.org
Phone: Toll free: (877) 568-8468
Office: 602-288-0155 (Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.)
Phone numbers by location: https://www.familyinvolvementcenter.org/get-involved/contact
Services: https://www.familyinvolvementcenter.org/help-me/parents-for-parents
- Parent advocates provide parents with support, attend Child Family Team Meetings and other child welfare and court meetings, and connect parents to other necessary resources
California
Hunters Point Family (San Francisco)
Hunters Point Family collaborates with other community-based organizations to provide parent advocacy and resource referrals to low-income and system-involved families.
Website: https://www.hunterspointfamily.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HuntersPointFamily/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hpfprograms/
Address: 1800 Oakdale Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124
Email: info@hunterspointfamily.org
Phone: 415-572-1102
Services: https://www.hunterspointfamily.org/family
- Family Support Network: Individual and family case management; Advocacy within the Department of Human Services; Other support including employment, food security, and crisis/grief support
- Peer Parent Advocates: provides support to system-involved families
Locations Served: San Francisco, California
Family Support Network—Parent Mentor Program (Orange County)
The Family Support Network provides services to families with children with special needs and to child welfare-involved families. The organization’s Parent Mentor program provides parents who are working toward reunification with children who have been placed in out-of-home care with support from parent mentors who have been through the system themselves. The Parent Mentor Program works with Orange County’s child welfare system but parent mentors’ sole role is to support parents.
Website: https://www.fsn-oc.org/; https://www.fsn-oc.org/programs/parent-mentor-services
Contact form: https://www.fsn-oc.org/contact
Address: 1894 N. Main St.
Orange, CA 92865
(Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.)
Point-of Contact (if available): Irene Miranda, Parent Mentor Coordinator at (714) 944-2520 or email her at imiranda@fsn-oc.org
Phone: (714) 447-3301
Services: https://www.fsn-oc.org/programs/parent-mentor-services
- Parent mentors provide one-on-one support, including case planning, to parents in the process of reunifying with their children: https://www.fsn-oc.org/programs/parent-mentor-services
- Free, confidential hotline operated by parent mentors and parent mentor staff in English and Spanish: (714) 447-3303 (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; Tuesday and Wednesday, 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)
Locations Served: Orange County, CA
Parents in Partnership—Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) (Los Angeles)
The Parents in Partnership program is made up of parents who have first-hand experience being investigated by or having their children taken from them by The Los Angeles Department of Children & Family Services. Parent Partners provide support, information and mentorship to parents who have recently lost custody of their children and are working toward reunification. While Parents in Partnership is part of the DCFS, parent mentors’ sole role is to support parents.
Website: https://dcfs.lacounty.gov/parents/parent-resources/dcfs-parent-services/parents-in-partnership/
Address: Includes phone numbers and addresses by location at bottom of the page https://dcfs.lacounty.gov/parents/parent-resources/dcfs-parent-services/parents-in-partnership/#Locations
Services: https://dcfs.lacounty.gov/parents/parent-resources/dcfs-parent-services/parents-in-partnership/
- “Warm Line” Monday-Friday, 8:00am-5:00pm (Parent Partners are available to parents via phone to take questions and requests for support and information): https://dcfs.lacounty.gov/parents/parent-resources/dcfs-parent-services/parents-in-partnership/#Locations
- Family Team Support Meetings: Parent Partners are available to advocate for parents in Child and Family Team Meetings (CFT)
- Support Groups: For parents who have children currently living under DCFS supervision; facilitated by Parent Partners
Locations Served: Los Angeles, California
A Better Way—Peer Partner Program (Alameda, Solano and Santa Cruz counties)
This child welfare agency provides system-affected parents with one-on-one parent advocacy and mentoring from parents who have prior personal experience with the system.
Website: https://www.abetterwayinc.net/peer-parent-program.html
Address: Headquarters-3200 Adeline Street, Berkeley, CA 94703
Other office locations: https://www.abetterwayinc.net/locations.html
Email: mail@abetterwayinc.net
Phone: (510) 601-0203
Parent Engagement Program: (510) 247-1500
Services: https://www.abetterwayinc.net/parent-advocacy.html
- Parent mentors/partners provide support, help parents understand child welfare and court rules and regulations, connect parents to resources, and attend Child Family Team Meetings (CFTs) and other appointments as requested by parents
- Parent Leadership Support Group (facilitated by parent advocates; a safe place where parents can share their experiences of their involvement with the Department of Children and Family Services)
Locations Served: San Francisco, California (Alameda, Solano and Santa Cruz counties)
Colorado
Jefferson County Department of Human Services—Family Support Partner (Jefferson County)
Toni Miner is a parent who reunified with her child after placement in foster care. Miner works to support other parents at risk of child welfare involvement, parents with a substance use disorder, and parents going through the system. Miner is employed by the Jefferson County Department of Human Services and is part of their collaborative team.
Point Person: Toni Miner, Family Support Partner
Phone: 720-497-7896
Email: tminer@jeffco.us
- Provides emotional support, is available to attend court hearings and team meetings with parents, and connects parents to resources and helps them navigate various systems.
Locations served: Jefferson County, Colorado
Read this Interview in Rise magazine with Toni Miner:
Locations Served: Jefferson County
Florida
Healthy Start Coalition of Flagler and Volusia Counties, Inc.– Parent Partners program (Flagler and Volusia Counties)
The Healthy Start Coalition is an independent organization working to support the health and well-being of pregnant women and young families. In its Parent Partners program, parents with lived experiences with the child welfare system support parents with active child welfare cases through case management, emotional support and other activities.
Website: https://healthystartfv.org/
Address: 109 Executive Circle,
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Email: connect@healthystartfv.org , information.healthystart@healthystartfv.org
Phone: (386) 252-4277
Services: https://healthystartfv.org/parent-partners/
- Parent Partners work with families to promote engagement in case plan activities, and coordinate with child welfare staff
- Parent Partners help maintain connections between parents and children while the children are placed out of the home
- Parent Partners connect parents with supportive resources
Locations Served: Flagler & Volusia Counties, Florida
Illinois
Family Justice Resource Center
This organization formed by system-affected parents and lawyers provides support to families facing wrongful allegations of abuse and neglect, with an emphasis on medically-based allegations.
Website: https://www.famjustice.org/
Address: 411 Hamilton Blvd., Ste 1928, Peoria, Illinois 61603
Phone: (309) 431-9127
Contact: http://www.famjustice.org/get-help
Services:
- Help connecting to legal representation
- Help connecting to medical experts as appropriate
- Support from parents who have also been wrongfully accused of abuse or neglect
Iowa
Iowa Parent Partners Approach—Children & Families of Iowa
The Parent Partners program provides support parents whose child has been removed from their care from a team of parent partners with lived child welfare experience and social workers. Although the Parent Partners program is part of Iowa’s Department of Human Services, parent partners’ sole role is to provide support to parents.
Website: https://dhs.iowa.gov/Child-Welfare/parentpartner/families
Point-of Contact: Julie Clark-Albrecht
Email: jclarka@dhs.state.ia.us
Phone: 515-281-7269
Services:
- Parent Partners Program (one-on-one meetings with a parent advocate to plan cases): https://dhs.iowa.gov/Child-Welfare/parentpartner/families
Kansas
Kansas Family Advisory Network—Birth Famiy Support Program
This is a religious organization that supports low-income parents to access resources and provides peer support to parents going through the child welfare system with information about their rights and child welfare rules and regulations. Parent advocates can accompany parents to court and case meetings. Website states that religious/spiritual counseling also offered.
Website: http://www.kfan.org/
Address: (Mailing): PO Box 8577, Wichita, KS 67208
Email: Information@kfaninc.net
Phone: 1-800-969-5764 (toll free); 316-264-2400 (local)
Contact information by location: http://www.kfan.org/contact-us/
Services: http://www.kfan.org/birth-family-support-program/
- Assist parents with involvement with the child welfare system to understand their rights and child welfare rules and regulations, as well as accompanying parents to court and case meetings.
- Connect low-income parents to community resources. This service is open to parents with and without child welfare involvement, including access once a month to organization’s food pantry and clothing closet.
Locations Served: New York City
New Jersey
Legal Services of New Jersey (LSNJ)
Legal Services of New Jersey provides legal representation to low-income parents through the state, including parents facing child welfare cases. While parents are assigned legal representation, LSNJ’s hotline can provide free legal advice.
Website: https://www.lsnj.org/
Address: P.O. Box 1357, Edison, NJ 08818-1357
Phone: 732-572-9100; hotline: 888-576-5529
Services: https://www.lsnj.org/StatewideHotline.aspx
- Statewide Hotline for Legal Advice for Low-Income Parents
Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN)—Child Welfare Parent Advocacy Program (support group for parent statewide; resource specialist stationed in Essex County Court)
This organization provides support to parents with a range of issues, from school, to health, mental health and child welfare. Their Child Welfare Parent Advocacy Program has a Family Resource Specialist stationed in the Essex County Family Courthouse to provide information resources and emotional support to parents. SPAN also runs monthly support groups and quarterly trainings for parents facing a child welfare case.
Website: https://spanadvocacy.org/; https://spanadvocacy.org/programs/child-welfare/
Address: 35 Halsey Street, 4th floor, Newark, NJ 07102
Phone: 800-654-SPAN (7726) 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Services: https://spanadvocacy.org/programs/child-welfare/
- Family Resource Specialist stated in Essex County Family Court waiting area
- Monthly support group for parents involved in the child welfare system
- Quarterly trainings for parents on topics including parental rights, systems navigation, coping skills and “telling your story.”
Locations Served: Support groups and training statewide; Family Resource Specialist-Essex County
New York
Early Defense for Parents Under Investigation—Center for Family Representation, Brooklyn Defender Services, Bronx Defenders (NYC: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx)
In New York City, parents with a child welfare case are assigned either to a lawyer working independently or to an agency that provides parents with a team that includes a lawyer and either a social worker, a parent advocate or both, depending on the specifics of a parent’s case. While these lawyers are automatically assigned to parents once their case goes to family court, parents living in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx can also reach out to these agencies on their own initiative for support during an investigation. Representation is not guaranteed during an investigation during an investigation and be provided either with advice and/or representation depending on their case. Parents in Staten Island can call for advice but are not eligible for representation during an investigation.
Websites: https://www.risemagazine.org/2020/03/nyc-early-representation-supports/
This link provides phone numbers specifically for calling about help during an investigation.
Locations Served: Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Parents from Staten Island may be able to receive information about an investigation but are not eligible for representation.
This link provides the main phone numbers for legal agencies representing parents and representing youth in NYC, including agencies that provide parents information and representation during an investigation.
JMacForFamilies (New York City)
This advocacy organization works through activism to abolish the child welfare system. JMacForFamilies also offer 12-week groups for parents with child welfare cases who want to improve their self-advocacy skills in their own cases and work to change the system. The organization was started by a system-affected parent; groups are run by social work students from Columbia University.
Website: https://www.jmacforfamilies.com/
Services: https://www.jmacforfamilies.com/plan2
- Twelve-week groups for parents with child welfare cases to improve their self-advocacy skills and work toward changing the system
Ohio
Primary Parents—Public Children Services Association of Ohio
This independent organization of parents who lived experienced with the child welfare system provides support for parents experiencing a child protective investigation and with open child welfare cases, and also work to make parents’ voices heard and transform the child welfare system.
Website: https://www.pcsao.org/
Address: 37 West Broad Street, Suite 1100
Columbus, OH 43215
Email: pcsao@pcsao.org
Phone: 614-224-5802
Services: https://www.pcsao.org/programs/primary-parents
- Support groups for current system-involved parents, led by trained parents with lived experience
- HOPE (Helping Ohio Parent Effectively): Primary Parents/Parent Partners help parents advocate for themselves at in Family Team Meetings and Team Decision Making meetings
- Family Peer Mentors as part of Ohio START (Sobriety, Treatment and Reducing Trauma): Families involved in the child welfare system due to the parent/caregiver’s substance use are connected with a parent in recovery for support
NAMI Ohio—Parent Peer Support Program
This organization supports people facing mental health challenges or with children facing mental health challenges. Their parent peer support program is staffed by parents with lived experience navigating various systems on behalf of children with social, emotional, developmental or behavioral health needs, including the mental health, juvenile justice, child welfare and education systems. Their peer support specialists provide emotional support and help navigating various systems.
Website: https://namiohio.org/family-peer-support/
Address: 225 Dublin Road, Suite 125, Columbus, Ohio 43215
Point of Contact: Tamisha McKenzie
Email: tamisha@namiohio.org
Phone: (614) 224-2700
Services:
- Emotional support
- Help navigating systems, including the child welfare system
- Information about resources for children with social, emotional, developmental or behavioral health needs
Washington
Parents for Parents Program—King County Superior Court (King County)
The Parents for Parents Program connects parents who have successfully navigated the child welfare system with parents with open child welfare cases. Parent Allies provide support and help parents new to the system understand what to do to successfully reunite with their children.
Website: https://kingcounty.gov/courts/superior-court/dependency/parents-for-parents.aspx
Point-of Contact: Jill Murphy, Program Supervisor, at (206) 477-2311 or Jill.Murphy@kingcounty.gov
Shawn Powell, Parents for Parents Coordinator, at (206) 263-3174 or spowell@kingcounty.gov
- Parent Ally Support at Dependency Court Hearings (Parent Allies meet with parents before and during court and provide support and information)
- Dependency 101: a two-hour educational class on navigating the dependency system (more information here: https://kingcounty.gov/courts/superior-court/dependency/parents-for-parents.aspx)
- Dependency 201: a five-week course designed to offer parents continued mentoring and resource support throughout the dependency case (requirement is previous Dependency 101 class attendance) (more information here: https://kingcounty.gov/courts/superior-court/dependency/parents-for-parents.aspx)
Locations Served: King County, Washington
Washington, D.C.
Mother’s Outreach Network
This organization provides legal literacy to mothers in the areas of employment and family law, with a further goal of training participants in civic engagement and public policy activism. Their website states: “As our clients learn their rights, they take steps to assert them.” Their Family Defense Legal Advice and Representation program provides parents legal advice during an investigation and at fair hearings, when parents would not otherwise have access to a lawyer, as well as programs that offer basic financial support for mothers trying to preserve their families.
Website: www.mothersoutreachnetwork.org
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/mothersoutreach
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/mothersoutreach
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mothersoutreach
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mothers-outreach-network
Point-of Contact: Melody Webb, Esq., Executive Director, 202-276-9253, melody@mothersoutreachnetwork.org
Email: info@mothersoutreachnetwork.org
- Family Defense Legal Advice and Representation: legal assistance to mothers with a child protective investigation
- Fair Hearing Project: provides representation to parents in administrative fair hearings proceedings before the DC Child and Family Services Agency who are trying to regain access to employment lost due to child welfare involvement
- A new program to provide mothers trying to reunify with their children in foster care with a guaranteed minimum income.