This federal information memorandum elevates the importance of youth and family voice, empowerment, and engagement in decision-making in the child welfare system. The memo defines those terms, outlines federal legal requirements for including youth and family voice, and issues a call to action for ways to meaningful engage and involve youth and families. As outlined in the memo, youth and family voice and quality legal representation go hand-in-hand. You may consider using this resource to identify if and how youth voice, empowerment and engagement is a part of legal representation in your jurisdiction, and provide information to attorneys on how to improve that engagement.
Excerpt: “High quality legal representation is a powerful tool for parent and youth voice... High quality legal representation requires that attorneys spend time with the individuals they represent outside of court to understand their strengths, needs and resources. It requires attorneys to work with parents and youth to identify and advocate for services and supports and to ensure that parents and youth understand their rights and the complicated processes that directly affect their lives and well-being. Legal representation is also associated with increased parent and youth engagement, increased feelings of fairness in court proceedings, expedited reunification, and more detailed and specific case plans that outline responsibilities for all parties. Attorneys can also provide legal services to remove obstacles for families and youth that may leave them more vulnerable of entering the child welfare system, such as housing, educational advocacy, employment, paternity and other civil legal issues.”