Press Release: Family Advocacy Initiative Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 18, 2019

CONTACT

Ryan Karerat, The Bronx Defenders, rkarerat@bronxdefenders.org, (347) 842-1251 Daniel Ball, Brooklyn Defender Services, dball@bds.org (347) 592 -2579 Sam McCann, Neighborhood Defender Service, smccann@ndsny.org, (212) 316-7399 Anne Conroy, Center for Family Representation, aconroy@cfrny.org, (646) 276-5634

NEW YORK – The Bronx Defenders, Brooklyn Defender Services, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem and the Center for Family Representation, the primary providers of representation for parents in child welfare proceedings in New York City Family Courts released the following joint statement today responding to New York City’s allocation of $1.3 million to support the Right to Family Advocacy Initiative, which provides pre-petition advocacy for families involved in the child welfare system and parents who are on the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment.

“With this ground-breaking allocation in support of the Right to Family Advocacy Initiative, the City Council is acknowledging the devastating impact that child welfare system involvement has on families; primarily those from Black, Latinx, and immigrant communities who are disproportionately over-represented in the child welfare system and as parents unjustly on the State Central Register. We applaud the City for supporting this critical new initiative dedicated to providing support for parents undergoing child welfare investigations before a Family Court case has been filed and assistance removing barriers to employment for parents whose names have been added to the State Central Register. BXD, BDS, NDS and CFR appreciate the efforts of Speaker Corey Johnson, Council Member Steve Levin and others to secure this crucial funding. The funds will help keep families together and prevent unnecessary separation, in addition to ensuring that economic opportunities exist for parents who have had contact with the child welfare system.”

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