Parent Advocates

In 1993, as part of the omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, Congress established the Family Preservation/Family Support Program, and provided new federals funds to state child welfare agencies for preventive services and services to families at high risk. 

The legislation required states to engage in a comprehensive planning process to develop a meaningful and responsive family support and family preservation strategy. As states implemented this program, new emphasis was placed on working with families as partners and on involving families in assessments of their strengths and needs and in case planning.

In 2004, Family to Family (F2F) sponsored the development of a model of a parent advocacy training and support known as Building a Better Future (BABF). 

BABF prepares birth parents that have been involved with child welfare system to mentor with new families involved with CPS. Jefferson County is one of several F2F sites selected to demonstrate the BABF model. 

The goal of the program is to engage and empower parents involved in the child welfare system. To support parents as they learn to better advocate for themselves and their children and to strengthen worker’s relationship with parents as partners. 

Since January 2005, Jefferson County has recruited and trained 30 birth parents and currently has 20 advocates mentoring families in with child protective services.