Who We Are
Within minutes of a parent calling and providing background information to Family First Legal Advocates of Whatcom and Skagit County (FFLA) we can begin providing FREE legal representation to pregnant persons and parents of newborns who are at risk of CPS intervention and removal. The goal of Family First is to help parents make informed decisions, understand their legal rights and the implications of ignoring the Department of Children, Youth and Families, DCYF, and make informed decisions and avoid fear-based "fight or flight" reactions to the department.
The parent partners with an attorney and a defense social worker and/or veteran parent ally to navigate DCYF involvement in an effort to prevent the harm of removal and nurture the parent/child relationship.
Who We Help
Our funding is specific to:
- Pregnant women facing possible DCYF involvement due to presence of safety threats
- Parents in the hospital, after birth (prior to discharge), whose newborn has been referred to DCYF for investigation
We will take phone calls from ANY parent with children of ANY age who are in need of advice and guidance and wish to speak to an attorney for FREE, so please CALL us at 253-507-2550.
What We Do
Our team can assist with preventative services and referrals to local resources such as:
- Connection to service providers, including but not limited to detox centers, substance use disorder evaluators, SUD treatment facilities and mental health intake providers
- Referrals to housing programs
- Request gas/food/concrete goods vouchers. If a parent does not know what they will eat or how to get places, they can not possibly focus on parenting
- Assist with safety assessments and safety planning
- Help identify support networks
How it Works
Parent contacts us by calling 253-507-2550 - either on their own or referred by a community agency such as PeaceHealth Childbirth Center, Brigid Collins, PCAP, Lighthouse Mission, or The Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) to name a few local organizations.
Parent must sign or verbally acknowledge acceptance of Legal Representation, which shall include a description of the scope and length of representation.
Attorney shall send DCYF a letter of representation to signal to DCYF that the parent has obtained a lawyer and that all correspondence and contact should go through the attorney’s office. The letter shall express scope and length of representation.
Representation ends when DCYF closes their investigation (or files a Dependency Petition, in which case, OPD Representation begins). Once the DCYF case closes, Family First Legal Advocates representation and parent eligibility ends.
How We Do It
- Prepare the parent for the DCYF interview.
- Attend all DCYF meetings with the parent. *The parent has a right to bring legal representation and support.
- Be the DCYF contact for the parent (reduce trauma, confusion, misinformation)
- We will insist on reasonable and active efforts from the department social workers. *As part of those efforts DCYF should assist in getting the parent into detox and/or treatment, for example.