Parent and youth voice are essential to meaningful conversations about how to improve the child welfare system. Through our public speaking training program, Rise&Shine, Rise prepares parents to influence child welfare policy and practice. Rise’s parent leaders present their perspectives and personal histories at convenings and trainings, speak on panels, and share their stories with other parents. In the last two years, Rise parents have presented to more than 1,500 professionals in New York City.
Rise parent leaders Nancy Fortunato and Jeanette Vega presented to 400 attorneys at the American Bar Association conference for parent attorneys on April 25. Here is the text of their speech:
Thank you for the opportunity to present about parents’ perspectives on family court.
The main thing we want you to hear today is that parents come into court feeling powerless. When our children are removed, we feel the ultimate in powerlessness.
To get our children back, we … Read More
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.
You might be thinking, why does a parent need a voice?
I’m sure you hear us all the time screaming, fighting and arguing at the agencies. … Read More
Four parent leaders from Rise presented parents’ perspectives on facing New York City Family Courts at the CUNY Law School symposium “Reimagining Family Defense” on April 8. Drawing on interviews with dozens of parents with current child welfare cases and stories published in Rise’s parent-written magazine over the past 10 years, Piazadora Footman, Robbyne Wiley, Bevanjae Kelley and Nancy Fortunato described common themes in parents’ experiences facing the court and gave recommendations for reform.
Click here to … Read More
Dominique Arrington, Jeanette Vega, Lakisha Johnson, Teresa Bachiller, Robbyne Wiley and Commissioner Gladys Carrión (clockwise from upper left)
Rise’s Parent Leadership Team met with ACS Commissioner Gladys Carrión June 22 to present results of conversations with 40 parents about their experiences and priorities for change.
Read their recommendations here.
Discussion focused on parents’ need for information about the foster care process, access to parent advocates and peer support, transparency around the process of addressing concerns about children’s … Read More
More than 300 attFamily Court Legal Services Attorneys at NYC’s Administration for Children’s Services have learned about parents’ experiences in Family Court through presentations by Rise Parent Leaders Jeanette Vega and Piazadora Footman.
Jeanette’s piece focuses on her experiences as a young mother whose son was removed when he was 2 years old, as well as lessons learned from her three years as a parent advocate at a foster care agency. Read her speech: ‘Keep a … Read More
