Our Impact On Families and Communities
Since 2008 DAC’s work has supported thousands of parents in reunifying with their children or preventing the removal of their children from the family home.
He [mentor parent] was very helpful in making me feel like there was hope, because he himself had been there and he knew what I was going through.
DAC Impact By The Numbers**
Through Family Defense Cases:
Over 10,000
parents and children served
Via Warm Line Callers:
457 Individuals
Assisted
Know Your Rights Outreach:
483 Community Members
**As of March 2024
My mentor parent advocated for me, helped me to find answers that I needed, helped me with any type of resources that helped me with what I needed.
The [DAC] social worker was there for me recently when I had an issue where I had to go to court for a warrant for about a year and the social worker was at every single court date. I will never ever forget that.
My mentor parent advocated for me, helped me to find answers that I needed, helped me with any type of resources that helped me with what I needed.
The social worker was there for me recently when I had an issue where I had to go to court for a warrant for about a year and the social worker was at every single court date. I will never ever forget that.
DAC System Change Impact
DAC Leadership and Staff improve practice and advocate for systems change by participating in various committees on a national, statewide and local level —some of which include:
- American Bar Association’s National Alliance for Parent Representation
- Family Justice Initiative
- Pre-Petition Family Defense National Cohort
- California’s Mandated Reporting to Community Supporting Task Force
- Santa Clara County’s Parent Advisory Group
- Santa Clara County’s Children System of Care (AB2083)
- Santa Clara County’s Family First Prevention Committee
In addition, DAC leadership and staff educate and train those involved or impacted by the child welfare system. Mentor Parents educate judges, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), and Department of Family and Children’s Services social workers about the child welfare system from the perspective of those with lived experience. Corridor and First Call for Families’ teams conduct Know Your Rights presentations to community members and system partners. Finally, DAC staff has presented at local, state and national conferences on various topics, including utilizing an interdisciplinary model in family defense, developing a pre-petition program, and building a mentor parent program.
Interested in learning more about our impact?
These studies include quantitative analyses of client self-sufficiency changes, program outcomes for participating families, and qualitative analysis of client and staff perspectives on the program's value.