As a kinship caregiver, Teri Brent knows firsthand the importance of engaging families in the child welfare system. Teri adopted her grandson and obtained full legal custody of her granddaughter after they came into contact with child protective services.
“It’s the children that we’re most concerned about and should be concerned about,” Teri shares. “They need to know where their family is, they need to know where they come from. It really helps them in their emotions so that they don’t feel so abandoned and rejected.”
In our video interview, hear from Teri about her experience adopting her grandchildren and interacting with the child welfare system. Teri also shares advice for those working with kinship caregivers and birth families who want to prioritize family connections and meaningfully engage parents and children.
Read More:
Building Strong Communities With Family Engagement
Honoring Youth Voice in Adoption
Family Engagement as a Relational Approach
Compassion Through Co-Design: Using Human-Centered Design to Promote Family Engagement