The Family Defender

Family Defender Issue 7

Click Here to read issue #7 in PDF (Spring 2009)

In this issue: FDC Legislative Initiative Sails Through Committees, Awaits General Assembly Ratification

Letter from the Executive Director, page 3

Family Defense News Briefs, page 4

Can You Believe This?, page 9

Features:

What Is "Mothers' Defense?, page 5

Meet Professor Dorothy Roberts, page 5

Case Raises Troubling Issues of Gender-Bias and Improper State Intervention, page 6

Parent Coaching: A Family-Centered Approach, page 7

Profile of a PCI Parent Coach, page 7

Family Defender Issue 6

Click Here to read issue #6 in PDF (Winter 2008)

In this issue: The Wald Challenge: Downsize the Child Welfare System, Upsize Services That Work

The FDC Initiates Legislative Policy Program

Family Defense Briefs, page 2

Message from the Executive Director, back page

Features: 

Anguished Mother Speaks Out About Abuse of Her Family, page 3

PEP Members Join in National Grass Roots Child Protection Reform Conference, page 

If It Hadn't Happened to an FDC Client Family, We Wouldn't Believe it! page 5

FDC Inversigator Evaluation Project Needs Consumer Feedback, page 7

Family Defender Issue 5

Click Here to read Issue #5 in PDF (Summer/Fall 2008)

In this issue: In Wake of Cert Denial, FDC Focuses on Legislation and Policy

Family Defense Briefs, page 2

Message from the Executive Director, back page

Features: 

Is DCFS Policy and Practice Fair to Domestic Violence Victims? page 3

If It Hadn't Happened to and FDC Client Family, We Wouldn't Believe it! page 7

FDC Parent Empowerment Program Plans Consumer Evaluation Project, page 8

Some Tips on Working Best with Your Lawyer, page 9

Family Defender Issue 4

Click Here to read Issue #4 in PDF (Spring 2008)

In this issue: Focus on Safety Plan Stories and Cases

Family Defense Briefs, page 2

Message from the Executive Director, back page.

Features:

Family's Long Safety Plan Nightmare Ends; Juvenile Court Dismisses Case for Lack of Probable Cause, page 3

Credit Where Credit is Due, page 4

The Supreme Court 101: The Road to Certiorari, page 4

Viewpoint: Why So Few Child Protection Decisions? page 6

Family Exonerated After Safety Plan Brings Them Nearly to Ruin, page 7

Family Defender Issue 3

Click Here to read Issue #3 in PDF (Fall 2007)

In this issue: Domestic Violence and Family Defense

Family Defense Briefs, page 2

Message from the Executive Director, back page

Features:

How the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services Responds--on Paper--to Domestic Violence, page 3

The Nicholson Case: What Happens when Children Witness Abuse? page 6

A Survey of Domestic Violence Issues within the FDC's Docket, page 7

Domestic Violence Advocacy Organizations, page 8

A Salute to Our First President: Briggitte Carlson, page 9

Family Defender Issue 2

Click Here to read Issue #2 in PDF (Summer 2007)

In this Issue: Sibling Rights and Remedies

Family Defense Briefs and Letter to the Editor, page 2

Letter from the Executive Director, back page

Features:

Meet a Young Family Defender: April Curtis, page 3

Should Siblings in Foster Care Have More Rights? A Conversation with a Panel of Child and Family Advocates, page 4

Foster Parents' Three-Year Struggle to Adopt Niece Highlights Common Concern of Parents in Child Welfare Cases, page 7

Where Can Families Find LEgal Help for a Child Protection Case? page 8

Making Sense of Sibling Rights: Current Law and Policy, page 8

The Family Defense Center Thanks All of Our Donors, page 10

Family Defender Issue 1

Click Here to read Issue #1 in PDF (Winter 2007)

In this issue: Dupuy v. Samuels Update

Family Defense Briefs, page 2

Letter from the Executive Director, back page

Features:

Court Strikes Down DCFS Director's 'Inadequate Supervision' Determination, page 3

Justice Miscarries: False Accusations or Abuse Deprive a Father or a Relationship With His Daughter, page 5

Do's and Don'ts of Advocacy in a DCFS Investigation, page 6

Our First Honorary Family Defender: Rep. Willie Delgado, page 7