Vol. 28, No. 1
April 2025

New Program Adds Social Workers to Some Parents' Legal Teams

Goals are to Improve Legal Representation, Shorten Stays in Foster Care

In North Carolina, a new program that pairs experienced social workers and parent attorneys is strengthening legal representation and improving outcomes for parents and their children. Currently active in Buncombe, Cleveland, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, New Hanover, and Wake Counties, the Interdisciplinary Parent Representation program (IPR) aims to expand statewide eventually. This article explains what this program is and how it is helping parents and children involved with the child welfare system.

Interdisciplinary Legal Teams

Although attorneys of child welfare-involved parents generally agree that advocacy outside the courtroom is key, many lack the time or training to effectively advocate for their clients outside of court. That is where social workers come in.

Parent legal teams in some parts of the U.S. have included social workers since at least 2010. As the sidebar shows, this practice can lead to better outcomes for children and parents. This is why the use of interdisciplinary legal teams is growing and why North Carolina's Office of the Parent Defender launched the IPR in 2022.

How the Program Works

Under the Interdisciplinary Parent Representation (IPR) program, social workers work with parent attorneys on cases of neglect and dependency (IPR does not serve cases where child abuse is alleged). IPR services are entirely voluntary; parents can discontinue them at any time.

IPR social workers receive assignments and guidance from their team attorney. Sharice Zachary, the IPR Program Manager in NC's Office of the Parent Defender, also provides program social workers with oversight and support by supervising them and monitoring their caseloads.

When they first get a case, IPR social workers reach out to the county child welfare agency worker, guardian ad litem (GAL), treatment providers, and others to introduce themselves and explain their role. IPR services are parent-focused—social workers aim to increase parents' engagement with services and the court process. They meet regularly with parents to focus on progress and overcome challenges to completing court-ordered services.

IPR involvement in a case does not affect the mandates or responsibilities of child welfare agencies in any way. The hope is that all parties in the case (DSS attorneys, DSS social workers, parent attorneys, IPR social workers, GALs, etc.) will collaborate throughout the life of the case and in the best interests of the child.

IPR in Buncombe County

When the IPR program started in Buncombe County in December 2022, there was initial resistance, even some fear from DSS workers on how the program would affect their work.

Liz Harr

"Change is hard. It's scary!", according to Liz Harr, a veteran child welfare worker and now an IPR social worker in Buncombe County.

Understanding that a new partnership takes time, Harr steadily and patiently built trust. She reassured Buncombe DSS and parties concerned that IPR is a collaborative program focused on the family's well-being.

There are strong indications Harr's efforts are succeeding. For instance, she reported that her program now receives referrals directly from child welfare social workers who are eager for their clients to receive added support from the IPR team. Harr also says, the local GAL program recently asked her team to share information about the IPR during their new volunteer training.

In her work with the IPR, Harr wears many hats, including those of case manager, legal advocate, and crisis interventionist. She says that one of the most important roles is that of a connector—someone who bridges gaps between DSS workers, families, and other stakeholders to collectively meet the shared goal of family success.

A Success Story

Harr shared the following example of the impact of IPR support for the family.

Things were not going well for Layla. She is a young mother, her son is in foster care, and there was minimal communication with DSS. Right after IPR became involved in Layla's case, she was incarcerated.

Harr used this pivotal moment to build an authentic relationship with Layla that enabled her to reflect, engage in honest conversation, and discuss a path forward. Using consistent communication, Harr helped Layla understand and navigate systems and bridged gaps between Layla, DSS, and the GAL. By fostering understanding on all sides, Harr shifted the perspectives of those involved and encouraged them to engage emphatically with Layla.

Layla achieved sobriety while in prison and maintained it upon release. Thanks to proactive planning, Layla had stable housing, a scheduled visit with her child, and therapeutic support as soon as she was released. Reunification remains the goal for Layla's family.

This is a great example of how the IPR can keep children connected with their parents even when they are separated. It also demonstrates that when we meet a parent's needs holistically, we set the foundation for long-term stability and success.

The IPR program's holistic approach aims to create deep-rooted change by providing tailored support to families, focusing on their specific needs, and building protective factors such as strong social networks that can sustain them over time. Harr shared that the lasting connections families build in the community are a tremendous buffer to life's challenges.

"Families that are connected," Harr says, "are not the families that have children in foster care."

To Learn More

For more information on the IPR's program, visit their website and program guide, or contact IPR Program Manager Sharice Zachary.

References for this and other articles in this issue