News

November 23, 2022

Public Defenseless Podcast: The Need for Holistic Family Representation

In this episode, Hunter Parnell speaks with CFR's Parent Advocate Supervisor Teyora Graves-Ferrell, Social Work Supervisor Ysmerlyn Murshed, and Senior Staff Attorney Vasili Stotis.

October 10, 2022

Letter to the Editor: Pandemic Spending Kept Families Together

"Dismantling the pandemic safety net will plunge at-risk families back into financial distress. We fear that child welfare involvement will return to prepandemic levels because poverty is often mistaken for neglect," Center for Family Representation Executive Director Michele Cortese said.

June 20, 2022

Staffing Shortages Could Impact Lowest-Income Citizens’ Right to Legal Counsel

"This chronic underfunding of our work not only impacts our staff but also has a disproportionately negative impact on low-income families and communities of color," Center for Family Representation Executive Director Michele Cortese said.

April 4, 2022

CFR Presented with a $6,937 Grant

“Funding from the New York Bar Foundation enables CFR to provide free legal and social work services to vulnerable families to address issues that disrupt their stable housing and public benefits, impacting their ability to keep their families together.”

June 28, 2021

CFR Presented with a $9,325 Grant

“Funding from the New York Bar Foundation enables CFR to provide free legal and social work services to vulnerable families to address issues that disrupt their stable housing and public benefits, impacting their ability to keep their families together.”

May 11, 2021

As New York Legalizes Marijuana, Parent Advocates Push Child Welfare Agencies to Adapt

“It’s always assumed that the reason things are happening in a family is because of the use of marijuana.”

March 1, 2021

Backfire: When Reporting Domestic Violence Means You Get Investigated for Child Abuse

"Lawyers who represent parents in New York City Family Courts often argue that ACS practices would not be tolerated in communities with money or political influence...It’s a one-size-fits-all, bullying approach."

January 10, 2021

New York City Must Provide WiFi to Homeless Families

“The consequences of the city’s failure to address the urgent need for WiFi in shelters extend beyond children falling behind in school.”

December 10, 2020

Do We Need to Abolish Child Protective Services?

“They have a lot of say over sending a child home, offering favorable settlement, scheduling visits. These can be used to retaliate against a parent that speaks publicly.”

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