Amplifying Advocacy: Fifteen years ago, parents’ consistent message was, ‘I needed support, not separation.’ 18,000 NYC children were in foster care and advocates pushed for preventive services to keep families intact. Punishment disproportionately affected Black and Native American families, especially; they were–and are still today–more likely to be reported, more likely to be separated instead of supported, and more likely to remain in foster care compared to white children in cases with similar allegations. 

• To publish issues representing a wide array of parents, Rise held 18 writing workshops at CWOP and a dozen other organizations that worked with parents impacted by child welfare and domestic violence, incarceration, immigration, mental illness and poverty.
• A core group of parent writers including Sylvia Perez, Tracey Carter, Bevanjae Kelley, Carmen Caban, Youshell Williams, Sabra Jackson and Jeanette Vega published story after story, began reporting and formed an Editorial Board that made decisions about Rise content.
• With more than 50 parents from a dozen organizations nationwide, Rise developed From Rights to Reality: A blueprint for parent advocacy and family-centered child welfare reform, which documented the policies and practices that harm or help parents.