Speaking Up: Rise parent leaders began testifying to legislators and speaking to thousands of attorneys, judges, child welfare leadership, frontline workers and journalists every year. In 2015, three impacted parents joined the staff: current Assistant Director for Training and Policy Jeanette Vega, Senior Parent Leader Robbyne Wiley and Senior Parent Leader Nancy Fortunato.
Court Project: Rise presented on parents’ experiences and recommendations for family court in Manhattan, Bronx, Queens and Brooklyn Family Courts; at a CUNY … Read More
Building Parent Leadership: Despite a budget of less than $85,000/year until 2013, Rise hired its first parent leader, Jeanette Vega, in 2010.
In 2011, Rise hired Piazadora Footman, who helped build Rise over 6 years, writing and reporting more than 20 articles and leading the addition of a public speaking program at Rise.
Longtime writers Evelyn Salazar, Ilka Perez and Nicole Goodwin joined Rise, and in 2013, Rise hired three parent contributors part-time: Antoinette Robinson, Sonia … Read More
When faced with the trauma of the child welfare system removing their children, many parents prefer that their children be cared for by a family member or someone they know and trust, rather than by strangers. Research shows that children benefit from being placed with family members rather than non-relatives, and states are required by law to prioritize placement with relatives. Unfortunately, this isn’t always what happens in practice. In NYC, the child welfare agency, ACS, invested in coaching and training so that more children are placed with kin.
Here, Lavern Harry, VP Foster Care, Adoption and Preventive Services, and Nosa Omoruyi, Director Foster Parent Recruitment, Development and Support, talk about practices that have increased use of kinship care at Graham, an agency in New York City. Ms. Harry and Mr. Omoruyi discuss the rights of parents and family members, as well as some of the challenges of kinship care. They also suggest what parents can do if their children are removed to make it more likely that they will — or won’t — be placed with particular family members.
Do you have personal experience with ACS Foster Care or Preventive Services?
Do you want to become a voice for your community?
You know your community’s challenges better than anyone else.
Apply for Rise & Shine!
