Once a child is entangled in foster care, the likelihood of them returning home is not favorable.  Of the children who exit foster care in Hillsborough County, Florida less than half return home to their parents while nearly 40% are adopted. Only 16% of children who enter foster care are reunified with their parents in less than 12 months. 

The only way to prevent these devastating outcomes is to stop children from being taken from their families in the first place.  To prevent family separation, parents must know their rights and have access to effective legal advocacy at the onset of an investigation, yet most don’t. Parents aren’t given access to free legal representation until the Shelter Hearing, after children have already endured the violent trauma of being taken from their families. 

Advocates for Family Justice provides advocacy and support to families during child abuse investigations in Hillsborough County, Florida.  Our efforts focus on:

• Advocating for policies that protect and uphold parents’ rights.

• Providing advocacy and support for families as they navigate child abuse investigations

• Educating parents and communities about parents’ rights

• Supporting families as they exercise their rights

• Raising community awareness about the harms of foster care

• Connecting families with community resources