This informative new video from Legal Services of New Jersey can be used to educate policymakers, judges, lawyers, caseworkers and foster parents on the need for frequent, meaningful visits. Developed for Family Reunification Day, it features Rise Director Nora McCarthy
News And Events
“With Every Story I Write, I’m Learning What It Takes to Be Me”
December 08, 2013 by
My introduction to Rise was through the writing workshop at the Child Welfare Organizing Project. When I started, I was writing just to write. Then I found that writing was a way to gain insight into my life.
I never knew that writing words on paper would open up so many old wounds.
The first thing I discovered was that I’d suppressed a lot of what happened in my life. I remembered things my … Read More
“I Can Let Someone Know What’s Happened in My Life Without Being Judged or Blamed”
December 08, 2013 by
For over 20 years, I was isolated. I was afraid to speak about what I’d been through or how I felt. I didn’t think peoplewould listen. In the past I was blamed and judged.
When I did try to speak about what had happened to me, I re-lived the pain and would cry.
I joined Rise in 2008. I love to write and I wanted to put my stories on paper.
The editor, Nora, … Read More
“My Voice Can Make a Change”
December 08, 2013 by
When my depression kicks in, I don’t bathe and I barely eat. I just stay in my bed and sob and be mad for reasons I don’t even know.
Last winter I was depressed for about two weeks and missing work at Rise because of it. For the next issue of the magazine, I was supposed to interview a professor at Harvard. The deadline was quickly approaching. My editor, Nora, called to see if … Read More
Safe Parents, Safe Babies- A court reform effort that improves outcomes for babies focuses on parents.
July 08, 2013 by
When parents go to court, we feel scared and alone. A project to make sure that babies return to family as often as possible is trying to change that. I interviewed Lucy Hudson, director of ZERO to THREE’s Safe Babies Court Teams Project, which educates judges, lawyers and caseworkers about infant and toddler development and supports the parent and the court in working together.
My kids were removed as babies. Learning about … Read More