When I quit a lifetime of drug use and reunited with my daughter from foster care, finishing my education was a tool I needed to keep busy and stay clean. My drug counselors and my teachers at the GED program advised me to finish my GED and go to college. I wanted to achieve my goals and prove to myself I am smart enough to do it.
Despite failing the exam eight times in … Read More
This video developed in partnership with the Center for the Study of Social Policy and Harvard Center on the Developing Child can be used to sensitize child welfare staff, lawyers, judges and policymakers to the experiences of parents with infants in foster care.
June is National Reunification Month, an effort spearheaded by the American Bar Association’s Parent Attorney Project to celebrate parents’ accomplishments in safely reunifying with childrenin foster care and to recognize the professionals who support them. Here, the American Bar Association’s Scott Trowbridge describes the impact of reunification celebrations:
Q: How did National Reunification Month start?
A: The idea for reunification celebrations started local, with jurisdictions that wanted to recognize the efforts … Read More
For June’s National Reunification Month, organizations around the country celebrated the perseverance and resilience of parents reunifying with children from foster care and of the professionals who support them.
On June 13, the family defense organization The Bronx Defenders hosted a reunification celebration, with food, face painting, performances, and families coming together to celebrate the strength of their bonds. “What we thought would be a little party turned out to be an … Read More
Interview with Ann Alarcon
I’ve come a long way. Everybody in my life can see that.
In my childhood, I was getting abused. It was neglect when I was young, and I was hit by a belt, a switch, anything they get their hands on. I had marks all over. When I was 4 or 5 I was in foster care. After I got home, it was the same. When I was … Read More
