|
The purpose of this Informational Letter (INF) is to provide information to local departments of social services and voluntary authorized agencies regarding the use of parent advocates. Parent advocates can be part of an agency program or may be additional staff hired to supplement the child welfare services already provided in the agency. Parent advocate programs, whether a formalized program or the addition of parent advocate staff to agency staffing, employ parents who were previously recipients of chil welfare services, and who have successfully addressed the issues which brought them to the attention of child welfare or child protective services CPS). They are employed as advocates to assist other families that are involved in the child welfare system. These programs are currently operating in some agencies within New York State, and the Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) supports use of these types of parent-to-parent support models.
|
