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A Parent Partner is someone who has personally gone through the child welfare system and has resolved all child safety issues with the Department of Human Services (DHS). The Parent Partners’ experiences are what serve as the greatest benefit for the parents who are now involved with the DHS.

Parent Partners are mentors. They do not work for DHS. Instead they serve as a link between parents and DHS Caseworkers. Parent Partners have extensive professional training, but also have the personal experience to relate to DHS involved parents.

Additional criteria for Parent Partner eligibility:

• Must have had previous involvement with the child welfare system and successfully reunified with their children and/or had their case closed for 1 year.
• Must have a stable family situation with no current child welfare services for safety issues including but not limited to domestic violence, mental health, and/or substance abuse.
• If substance abuse was an issue, must be clean and sober for at least one year and agrees to maintain sobriety during tenure with Linking Families and Communities
• Has not been involved with any criminal activity for at least 1 year prior to employment.
• Must have flexibility to attend meetings and co-facilitate groups.
• Must be willing to share their experiences with other parents, community partners, and child welfare staff as a learning tool
• Must be willing to participate in all mandated trainings as well as individual and group supervision
• Will not have a founded sexual abuse case, convicted in the death of a child, listed on the Sex Abuse Registry.
• Willing to follow Linking Families and Communities guidelines and expectations in the work place
• Must accept and effectively work with diverse populations
• Must be able to read and write and perform detailed paperwork
• Maintain confidentiality of all times
• Must perform other duties assigned by the Parent Partner Coordinator

Parent Partner Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Work intensively with birth parents to promote engagment in case plan activities via face to face visits, letter, emails, and/or phone calls
• Help maintain connections between parents and childrenby observing and advocating for children and family rights
• Assist in the goal of reunification and/or the development of appropriate alternative permanent plans
• Provide a sense of hope and inspiration through encouragement, outreach, and connecting parents with resources
• Support families by attending Family Team Meetings, court, treatment, recovery or other gatherings with parents
• Collaborate with Parent Partner team including the Parent Partner Coordinator, child welfare case worker, planning committees, and others
• Will not babysit or transport children
• Will not be used to supervise visits with children, but can be available as a support during or after visitation
• Perform other duties as needed

Have you been involved in DHS? Would you like to help a parent who is currently involved in the system?

If you are interested, please fill out the following Application and Release of Information and email, fax, or mail it to:

CPW PP Application

Release of Information