The information in this program outline is provided by the program representative and edited by the CEBC staff. The Parents as Partners program has been reviewed by the CEBC in the area of: Parent Partner Programs for Families Involved in the Child Welfare System, but lacks the necessary research evidence to be given a Scientific Rating.

• Types of Maltreatment: Does not target any specific kind of maltreatment
• Target Population: Parents involved with the Child Welfare System through a protective investigation.

New York City Children’s Services developed the Parents as Partners program to improve their ability to engage parents. By employing parents who have experience with the system as Family Specialists, Children’s Services capitalizes on the opportunity to sensitize child welfare staff to the client perspective. In addition, parents coming into the system can connect with Family Specialists who share a mutual understanding of their experience and can actively relate to their situation.  Family Specialists provide crucial advice and guidance regarding expectations of parents and services available to them. The Family Specialists also provide essential feedback that can be utilized to improve the effectiveness of the system.

Family Specialists work closely with and in support of birth parents with children in foster care and families receiving preventive services. This program improves the agency’s ability to:

• Engage parents
• Inform policy and program decision-making
• Enhance training and staff development by providing insight to professionals from the perspective of parents.