Hello Councilmembers,
Thank you for your attention to the issue of family separation in New York City family court. Although many people across our city and country have been moved by seeing how it affects children and families to be separated at the border, the separations that happen every day because of child welfare are seen differently. These families are seen as deserving separation, even though in many cases, families do not need to be separated—or … Read More
Interview with Dustin McClard
When child protective services entered Dustin McClard’s life in 2014, he was using and selling drugs, and facing the possibility of prison. His twins were removed shortly after birth and remained in foster care for three months while he went to treatment.
Now McClard works as a peer mentor at a family service agency in Portland, Oregon. He spoke to Rise about how his mentor, Tim, helped him get sober and … Read More
Rise is hiring two full-time positions! Please share this announcement in your networks:
Parent Leadership Program Coordinator: Rise is looking for a committed, detail-oriented Program Coordinator to lead our 4-month Rise & Shine Leadership Training to build the skills of parents to become leaders in child welfare reform. We are seeking applicants with life experience facing the child welfare system as a parent; professional experience working as a parent advocate at a legal or child welfare agency; and project management … Read More
Lindsay Reilly (Read by Nancy Fortunato)
LINDSAY/NANCY
Can I call your attention in the courtroom
To the mother with mental illness
With multiple kids and multiple fathers
Who was raised by a system
That never loved her
By people who never loved her
Who gave birth to 4 beautiful children
Stemmed from a poisonous father each time
Those who promised to love her hurt her
The mother who tried to be loved
So hard she lost herself
Guns, drugs, unlawful imprisonment
But she’s still here
She looks at her … Read More
Good evening everyone! And congratulations Rise! Thank you for having me.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge my fellow parents in the audience. Tonight it is about you! Your strength. Your courage. And your importance.
If you are an affected parent in this audience tonight, it means that you have overcome or are overcoming the most traumatic time of your life. And I see you. I feel your presence and I applaud you for arriving.
Today … Read More
