by Agueda Pacheco Flores
After more than three decades, a law that dramatically impacted families in the state of Washington was repealed. The policy, known as “parent pay,” which required parents to pay for their child’s time in incarceration, came to an end last month with overwhelming bipartisan support.
Continue reading Washington Ends Practice of Parents Paying for Their Child’s Incarcerationby Trey Rabun
(This article originally appeared on Amara’s website and has been reprinted under an agreement.)
I’ve had the privilege of working within child welfare for almost 12 years now. My professional journey started in our state agency (now called the Department of Children, Youth and Families — DCYF) supporting children who were “legally free,” meaning children who the state has decided cannot safely return home and are now seeking to find forever families, typically through adoption or guardianship.
As a social work practicum student, I was able to immerse myself in the work of all aspects of child welfare including doing “ride arounds” with Child Protective Services (CPS) investigators and sitting in on intense family decision meetings. Throughout my career, I have always looked for the best ways to support kids and families in foster care, including looking at how best to support Black families caring for kids and youth in our immediate and extended families.
There will always be one family from that time who has stuck with me even after all these years.
Continue reading OPINION: Kinship Care Can Help Transform The Child Welfare Systemby Marcus Harrison Green
(This article is copublished with The Seattle Times.)
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Most days, the massive unfairness of the world cannot crush Ollie Reeves.
Most days, the 76-year-old calls on her faith in God and family to help her raise her two grandchildren, Montrey, 14, and Destiny, 10, amid a pandemic.
Most days, the retiree plunges into her savings, accumulated as a Boeing shuttle driver, to pay for food, clothes, and medical bills.
But occasionally, there are days when things get too much and Reeves can do nothing but lock herself in her bedroom and cry.
“My grandkids will say ‘Grandma, why’d you lock the door?’ But they know I need a quiet moment and they just let me be,” she said.
Continue reading OPINION: They’re Raising Grandkids With Little Help, and During a Pandemic. Can’t We Lend Them a Hand?
