Parent representation model in child safety conferences.

Abstract

Child welfare-involved parents are often isolated and lack support and skills to navigate complex systems. Programs using a parent representation service model in child protection can offer an exceptional and critical form of support and empowerment to birthparents, promote parental engagement and cooperation, and teach system navigation skills. While there is a notable emphasis on an overall family-centered and strength-based approach in child welfare, much progress is still needed in giving voice to parents, empowering them, including them in decisionmaking about the case, and seeking their cooperation. Funding should be directed to recruiting more parent representatives to assist birthparents in their communities as well to educating and training child protective services workers by transferring values and strategies implemented by parent representatives. Although additional research is certainly necessary, it appears that programs such as the Child Welfare Organizing Project in New York City may be an important step toward building partnerships with families impacted by the child welfare system in promoting child safety, well-being, and permanency.