Up Next: Debunking the Child Welfare’s System “Safety Concerns” by offering Families Real Solutions
January 22, 2025, 3:00 pm EST
As family defenders, we are often looking for solutions outside of the courtroom to keep families intact. How do we change the narrative that mothers involved in this system are neglectful or unable to parent their children safely? The Mother Up Pilot takes on both these questions by creating a solution directly for mothers involved in the child welfare system. Hear from Melody Webb, Executive Director and Founder of Mother’s Outreach Network (MON), a movement lawyering and advocacy organization that promotes the inclusion and empowerment of Black mothers in the struggle for family preservation by transforming government income and child welfare laws, policies and practices from punitive to uplifting. She and other parents from her program will present on how guaranteed income, direct and concrete payments, directly support families and takes on the false narrative or belief that parents surveilled by the system are dangerous to their children.
Registration Coming Soon: Oklahoma and New Mexico’s journey in creating a multidisciplinary family representation office
Expert panelists, including judicial and legislative expertise, from Oklahoma and New Mexico will share the various steps each state took to establish a family representation office. Discussion will include how and why the organizational models were selected, the staffing options, how high-quality legal representation is ensured, and the legislative enactments, appropriations, and funding sources necessary to launch and maintain the centralized law offices. Panelists will also inform attendees on challenges faced and pitfalls to avoid in pursuit of new models of legal services.