As someone who lives at the intersection of multiple identities, CFR’s intentional commitment, daily investment, and hard work towards being an anti-racist organization creates spaces where I am able to bring my whole, authentic self to work each day. 
– Alicia Williams, Chief Operating Officer

For over two decades, the Center for Family Representation (CFR) has provided legal and social work services to vulnerable New York City families at risk of separation through the foster system or the youth legal system. The majority of our clients are Black and Brown parents and youth who are unjustly targeted by the family policing system. Our team of attorneys, social workers, parent advocates, and staff are committed to fighting systems of racism and oppression that harm families in New York City and around the country.

CFR was the first legal services agency in New York City to include parent advocates—who had been through the system themselves—as a core part of its team. Today, we continue to have more system-impacted parents on our staff than any other family defender agency in the city.

At CFR, we are fully and boldly committed to our internal Anti-Racist and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) work. We hold ourselves accountable to creating internal and external spaces that challenge institutionalized racism and foster a culture of belonging.

Beginning with our work with a DEI consultant in 2019, we created spaces for staff who are Black and People of Color to connect and challenge areas within our organization and the larger system that have been affected by institutional racism and racial inequality. From this 2019 B & POC Affinity Group, CFR developed Guiding Stars and Pillars for our DEI commitment.

CFR is an inclusive and diverse workplace committed to ensuring that our staff and clients feel they belong and matter. Whether confirmed through our globally accepted diversion and inclusion standards as verified through our HRSI Inclusive Workplace Certification or from diverse offerings of affinity groups, cultural and educational celebrations, community engagement events, CFR kickball team, CFR runners club and a focus on resiliency, CFR is dedicated to fostering a culture where CFRians are encouraged to be curious and live into our organizational values of valuing and respecting others and fostering an environment committed to collaboration and teamwork.

I have been working at CFR for almost a decade. I am many things that could be excluded from any space. I have seen CFR be intentional in creating a workplace that promotes belonging for our clients and our staff in all spaces. 
– Ysmerlyn Murshed, Social Work Supervisor

Guiding Stars

• Hold ourselves and CFR accountable to linking all DEIB priorities, goals and activities to the needs of clients.
• Be transparent by developing regular communication routines on anti-racist work and activity at CFR. These routines should be for all of CFR, and where appropriate for external stakeholders and supporters.

Four Pillars

• Building Bridges: Create collaborative and interconnected experiences for stakeholders around anti-racist and inclusion work 
• Education: Provide relevant and intentional training and resources focused on anti-racist and inclusion work 
• Staff Engagement: Ensure ownership and engagement with staff stakeholders of anti-racist and inclusion work 
• Policy: Institutionalize practices, policies and systems with an intentional focus on anti-racist and inclusion work

“It is of utmost importance to me that CFR is committed to exemplifying, encouraging, and embedding inclusion into the organization. Having awareness, accountability, and inclusivity as part of our approach is key in both reunifying our clients’ families and maintaining a healthy workplace.” 
– Rosalynn Diaz, Family Advocate

Land Acknowledgement

CFR’s offices are situated on Munsee Lenape, Wappinger, Matinecock, Rockaway, Maspeth, and Canarsee land.