Valerie talks to Adam Ballout, a public defender and co-founder of the F.I.R.S.T. (Family Intervention Response to Stop Trauma) Legal Clinic in Washington state. The clinic takes an innovative approach by partnering with healthcare providers and community organizations to offer free legal advocacy to mothers facing substance use challenges. The goal is to keep mothers and their babies together while providing the support they need, including treatment and other resources.
Adam explains how early intervention at birth can help avoid the lasting trauma often caused by foster care and the court system. He highlights the importance of seeing the family as a whole and how prioritizing family preservation, rather than separation, results in better outcomes for both parents and children.
By taking a holistic approach and offering support before a crisis occurs, the F.I.R.S.T Clinic is able to keep the infant and mother together in 83% of their cases. The Clinic is a great example of how a compassionate, prevention-focused child welfare system can help keep families intact and improve long-term outcomes. Listeners will gain valuable insights into how the clinic achieves these outcomes and discover lessons that can be applied in their own communities. They’ll also learn about specific strategies, like involving peer allies (parents with lived experience) to empower families, build trust, and help them navigate the system.
