Parent Advocacy
A Better Way operates two successful Parent Advocacy programs - the Parent Engagement Program in Alameda County, and the Peer Parent Program in San Francisco County. These programs provide one-on-one advocacy and mentoring to families currently involved in the child welfare or juvenile justice systems. The goals of the Parent Advocacy programs are to increase the reunification rate for child welfare system-involved families and reduce out-of-home placement and support reunification post-placement for youth in the Juvenile Probation system.
These programs employ parents who have prior personal experience with Child Welfare or Juvenile Justice to act as peer mentors, supporting families in understanding and navigating the system. They attend Team Decision Making and Child/Family Team meetings, court hearings (in San Francisco county), and other appointments as requested by the parents. They provide referrals to drug and alcohol treatment programs and help with finding resources for needs including housing, food, education, and employment. They also help advocate within the education, medical and other systems. Parent Advocates act as a bridge for families to the services and systems with which they interact, supporting families to understand systems and supporting those in the systems to better understand families.
These programs employ parents who have prior personal experience with Child Welfare or Juvenile Justice to act as peer mentors, supporting families in understanding and navigating the system. They attend Team Decision Making and Child/Family Team meetings, court hearings (in San Francisco county), and other appointments as requested by the parents. They provide referrals to drug and alcohol treatment programs and help with finding resources for needs including housing, food, education, and employment. They also help advocate within the education, medical and other systems. Parent Advocates act as a bridge for families to the services and systems with which they interact, supporting families to understand systems and supporting those in the systems to better understand families.
Parent Engagement Program
The Parent Engagement Program was developed to improve outcomes for parents who are involved with Alameda County Child Welfare System. These parents are matched with Parent Advocates who provide the education, advocacy and support that help parents:
The strength of the Parent Engagement Program is our staff. Our Parent Advocates all have personal experience – and personal success – navigating the Child Welfare System to regain custody of their children. With professional development, specialized training and support, they are able to turn their lived experience into expertise – offering hope and guidance to other parents who are currently struggling to reunify.
Parent Advocates provide outreach and consultation to other programs and workgroups within Alameda County to assure that the “Family Voice and Lived Experience” is represented. By actively participating on a variety of committees and workgroups, Parent Advocates also work to improve outcomes by affecting change at the policy and program development level.
Core Program Components include:
Assessment Center phone calls: Parent Advocates make the first contact with parents when their children are initially removed or there is a possibility of a child’s removal. Advocates assure parents that their child (ren) is safe and being assessed for safety and well-being. In this call, we prepare parents for their initial Child Family Team Meeting (CFT) and encourage parents to bring support with them.
Child Family Team Meeting (CFT): This meeting involves families, workers and others involved with the child’s family and are held when there are serious risks to a child that could result in out-of-home placement. Parent Advocates insure that parents know their rights as parents and have a voice in the CFT process. Advocates support parents to have their concerns and desires taken into consideration during these meetings.
Phone Consult: Parents can contact the Alameda County PEP clerk and ask to speak with a Parent Advocate and receive one time support. This is a good way to get questions answered or to bridge the time between referral and case assignment.
CHAT (Communicating History and Transitions): A CHAT introduction meeting is facilitated by Parent Advocates. The meeting provides birth parents and resource parents an opportunity to exchange information regarding the child (ren) when an out-of-home placement is required. CHATs also provide an opportunity for a parent and resource parents to begin to develop a relationship.
Parent Orientation Classes: Consists of two introductory classes, facilitated by Parent Advocates, designed to give parents information about the Child Welfare process and available resources within the community. Parents receive education around their legal rights and responsibilities as parents involved with the system. Participants receive a certificate of completion. The classes take place in the evening and include a light dinner.
Case Work: Parent Advocates assist parents in making the life choices that will limit risk and increase safety for their children. Advocates help parents work through case plan activities, modify their behaviors, access resources, develop healthy support systems and implement important tools to manage parenting responsibilities.
Parent Leadership Support Group: A curriculum driven support and education group for parents with current or past involvement with the Alameda County Child Welfare System, The group is facilitated by Parent Advocates and offers a safe, non-judgmental place where parents can share their experiences of their involvement with DCFS. This group meets every first and third Wednesday of the month to share the tools; knowledge and information that will help parents develop
The Fatherhood Circle: A curriculum driven support and education group for fathers who have navigated or are currently navigating the Alameda County Child Welfare System. The group is facilitated by Parent Advocates and provides a safe, nonjudgmental place where fathers receive support, develop practical parenting skills, and share important resources, while also learning successful strategies to navigate the child welfare system. This is a critical part of Alameda County’s Fatherhood Initiative. This group meets every the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.
Committees and Workgroups: We are delighted to serve on committees with DCFS and other community partners, bringing the parent’s voice to the table and having influence at the policy making level. To name a few, we work with Bay Area Collaboration of American Indian Resources (BACAIR), Alameda County Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (ACCIPP), Katie A. Implementation Committee and the Family Subcommittee (KTA), Services to Enhance Early Development (SEED), Alameda County Child Family Team (CFT) and it’s subcommittees; Strategy, Process and Training (SPT) and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Task Team (METT), Safety Organized Practice (SOP) Implementation Team and Task Teams.
Training: Parent Advocates provide specialized training to Child Welfare Workers, Resource Parents and other community partners in order to increase empathy for birth parents and to provide tips to increase parent engagement.
- Navigate the Child Welfare System,
- Address safety concerns identified by Child Welfare, and
- When possible - to reunify with their children.
The strength of the Parent Engagement Program is our staff. Our Parent Advocates all have personal experience – and personal success – navigating the Child Welfare System to regain custody of their children. With professional development, specialized training and support, they are able to turn their lived experience into expertise – offering hope and guidance to other parents who are currently struggling to reunify.
Parent Advocates provide outreach and consultation to other programs and workgroups within Alameda County to assure that the “Family Voice and Lived Experience” is represented. By actively participating on a variety of committees and workgroups, Parent Advocates also work to improve outcomes by affecting change at the policy and program development level.
Core Program Components include:
Assessment Center phone calls: Parent Advocates make the first contact with parents when their children are initially removed or there is a possibility of a child’s removal. Advocates assure parents that their child (ren) is safe and being assessed for safety and well-being. In this call, we prepare parents for their initial Child Family Team Meeting (CFT) and encourage parents to bring support with them.
Child Family Team Meeting (CFT): This meeting involves families, workers and others involved with the child’s family and are held when there are serious risks to a child that could result in out-of-home placement. Parent Advocates insure that parents know their rights as parents and have a voice in the CFT process. Advocates support parents to have their concerns and desires taken into consideration during these meetings.
Phone Consult: Parents can contact the Alameda County PEP clerk and ask to speak with a Parent Advocate and receive one time support. This is a good way to get questions answered or to bridge the time between referral and case assignment.
CHAT (Communicating History and Transitions): A CHAT introduction meeting is facilitated by Parent Advocates. The meeting provides birth parents and resource parents an opportunity to exchange information regarding the child (ren) when an out-of-home placement is required. CHATs also provide an opportunity for a parent and resource parents to begin to develop a relationship.
Parent Orientation Classes: Consists of two introductory classes, facilitated by Parent Advocates, designed to give parents information about the Child Welfare process and available resources within the community. Parents receive education around their legal rights and responsibilities as parents involved with the system. Participants receive a certificate of completion. The classes take place in the evening and include a light dinner.
Case Work: Parent Advocates assist parents in making the life choices that will limit risk and increase safety for their children. Advocates help parents work through case plan activities, modify their behaviors, access resources, develop healthy support systems and implement important tools to manage parenting responsibilities.
Parent Leadership Support Group: A curriculum driven support and education group for parents with current or past involvement with the Alameda County Child Welfare System, The group is facilitated by Parent Advocates and offers a safe, non-judgmental place where parents can share their experiences of their involvement with DCFS. This group meets every first and third Wednesday of the month to share the tools; knowledge and information that will help parents develop
The Fatherhood Circle: A curriculum driven support and education group for fathers who have navigated or are currently navigating the Alameda County Child Welfare System. The group is facilitated by Parent Advocates and provides a safe, nonjudgmental place where fathers receive support, develop practical parenting skills, and share important resources, while also learning successful strategies to navigate the child welfare system. This is a critical part of Alameda County’s Fatherhood Initiative. This group meets every the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.
Committees and Workgroups: We are delighted to serve on committees with DCFS and other community partners, bringing the parent’s voice to the table and having influence at the policy making level. To name a few, we work with Bay Area Collaboration of American Indian Resources (BACAIR), Alameda County Children of Incarcerated Parents Partnership (ACCIPP), Katie A. Implementation Committee and the Family Subcommittee (KTA), Services to Enhance Early Development (SEED), Alameda County Child Family Team (CFT) and it’s subcommittees; Strategy, Process and Training (SPT) and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Task Team (METT), Safety Organized Practice (SOP) Implementation Team and Task Teams.
Training: Parent Advocates provide specialized training to Child Welfare Workers, Resource Parents and other community partners in order to increase empathy for birth parents and to provide tips to increase parent engagement.
Peer Parent Program
The Peer Parent Program was designed to provide comprehensive peer-to-peer mentoring services for San Francisco families involved with the Child Protective Services (CPS) or families with children involved with the Juvenile Probation Department (JPD). Peer Parents seek to increase the rate with which parents involved with CPS are able to successfully reunify with their children and to decrease the duration of out-of-home-placements for Juvenile Probation youth and improve outcomes for these youth as they reintegrate with the community.
Parents involved with CPS or JPD are matched with Peer Parents who help parents develop and demonstrate the insights, skills, relationships, and protective capacities needed to:
Peer Parents have personal experience – and personal success – navigating the multiple stressors (e.g., financial stress, housing difficulties, substance use, mental health challenges, community violence, etc.) that might have led to Child Welfare System or Juvenile Probation Department involvement. With professional development, specialized training and support, they are able to turn their experience into expertise – offering hope and guidance to other parents who are currently struggling to keep their children safe.
Parents involved with CPS or JPD are matched with Peer Parents who help parents develop and demonstrate the insights, skills, relationships, and protective capacities needed to:
- Navigate the Child Welfare System,
- Address safety concerns, and
- Reunify with their children (if appropriate).
Peer Parents have personal experience – and personal success – navigating the multiple stressors (e.g., financial stress, housing difficulties, substance use, mental health challenges, community violence, etc.) that might have led to Child Welfare System or Juvenile Probation Department involvement. With professional development, specialized training and support, they are able to turn their experience into expertise – offering hope and guidance to other parents who are currently struggling to keep their children safe.
Core components of the program include:
Team Meetings (Team Decision Making or Child and Family Team): These meetings involve families, workers, professional supports, and natural supports involved with a child’s family. They are held when there are serious risks to a child that could result in out-of-home placement or to determine best course of action for reunifying a child. Peer Parents insure that parents know their rights as parents and have a voice at each team meeting. Peer Parents support parents to have their concerns and desires taken into consideration during these meetings.
Case Work: Peer Parents assist parents in making the life choices that will limit risk and increase safety for their children. They help parents work through case plans, modify their behaviors, access resources, develop natural support systems and implement important tools to manage parenting responsibilities.
Support Groups: Peer Parents services include facilitating support groups for parents to learn from one another and discuss how to navigate CPS and JPD systems.
Committees and Workgroups: Peer Parents also provide outreach and consultation to other programs, committees, and workgroups within San Francisco County to assure that the “Family Voice” is represented. These activities include a Parent Advisory Council to ensure that parents who have been involved with the CPS or JPD systems have a chance to reflect on their experience and express their needs.
Case Work: Peer Parents assist parents in making the life choices that will limit risk and increase safety for their children. They help parents work through case plans, modify their behaviors, access resources, develop natural support systems and implement important tools to manage parenting responsibilities.
Support Groups: Peer Parents services include facilitating support groups for parents to learn from one another and discuss how to navigate CPS and JPD systems.
Committees and Workgroups: Peer Parents also provide outreach and consultation to other programs, committees, and workgroups within San Francisco County to assure that the “Family Voice” is represented. These activities include a Parent Advisory Council to ensure that parents who have been involved with the CPS or JPD systems have a chance to reflect on their experience and express their needs.