Strengthening the System through Parent Voice – The more child welfare can support parents using their voices during their case, the better equipped they’ll be to solve problems down the road (risemagazine.org)

This is a speech Jeanette gave at the Schuyler Center as part of a panel on innovations in child welfare reform.

Today I will talk to you about what’s needed in child welfare reform from a parent’s perspective. That is voice—parents having a powerful voice in their cases and in the system.

Today I will speak to you about four ways you can give parents a voice to be heard:

1. Help parents see that the child welfare system wants to help families—through prevention programs.
2. Give parents a parent advocate from the start to the end of a case.
3. Give parents information and choices about services they need.
4. Bring parents voice into child welfare staff trainings and policy decisions.

When parents have a voice—in their cases and in the system—that can assist all involved in making a parent’s experience more successful and less traumatic. Having a voice every step of the way is part of how we can give parents their power back so they can reclaim their lives and their child.

To read more of Jeanette Vega's article, please click here.