Dependency Advocacy Center

Programs: Dependency advocacy center (dac) is a california nonprofit public benefit corporation serving indigent parents and children involved in the juvenile dependency system in santa clara county, california. Dac's primary activity is the provision of court-appointed legal representation, free of charge, to indigent parents and children in juvenile dependency court in santa clara county. In santa clara county, when a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, or when there are substantiated allegations of such, the department of family and children services files a petition with the court requesting that the child either be removed from the home or remain in the home with court supervision. Approximately 60 percent of these petitions include allegations of parental substance abuse, and many include allegations of domestic violence, mental health issues, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and/or general neglect. Each parent is entitled to an attorney if they request one. If the parent is indigent, the court appoints an attorney for that parent at no cost to the parent. The child is also appointed an attorney, frequently at no cost to the family. As of october 1, 2008, by contractual arrangement with the judicial council of california (jcc), dac is the provider of these legal services. Dac represents approximately 1200 indigent parents and children in santa clara county's superior court, as well as in its therapeutic drug treatment court (dependency wellness court), which is a subset of santa clara county's dependency court system, engaging in more specialized and holistic dependency solutions. Dac's staff attorneys provide legal representation free of charge throughout the life of the case, including representation at uncontested hearings, mediations, trials, and settlement conferences. Dac's staff also includes mentor parents and administrative personnel. Additionally, social workers are utilized for certain cases which require such services. Along with the direct representation of parents and children, dac participates in monthly meetings during which the dependency court stakeholders engage in open discussions about policy issues and collaborate in the development of best practices for serving families in the child welfare system. Dac also participates in trainings throughout the state related to dependency, including trainings for social workers, child advocates, and mediators. Throughout the years of operation, dac made great strides in establishing itself as an important stakeholder in santa clara county's juvenile dependency system. Dac attorneys have been persistent and zealous in their client advocacy which has led to a more frequent use of experts and an increase in desired outcomes for their clients both at trial and through settlement negotiations. Dac has taken leadership roles in various committees to improve services provided to our clients and has been instrumental in organizing and participating in educational trainings throughout the county and state. In 2011, dac's contract to provide services in santa clara county was renewed for an additional three years and has been extended each year thereafter. Since its inception, dac's supervisors, attorneys, social workers, and mentors have taken active steps toward educating professionals and the general public about the dependency system.

mentor parent program: in concert with the legal services it provides, dac employs peer mentors, a clinical supervisor, and a program director through its mentor parent program. Mentors are parents who have had their children removed because of drug and alcohol abuse, participated in recovery programs, and then successfully reunited with their children prior to having their cases dismissed. The mentors serve as role models to clients currently involved in the child welfare system and help guide and inspire them through the dependency court process. They are instrumental in encouraging clients to promptly and actively enroll in treatment programs in order to have their children returned as soon as possible. In 2012, dac's mentor parent program received commendations from the santa clara county board of supervisors and the san jose city council. One of dac's mentor parents was a featured speaker at the national association of counsel for children's conference in georgia, and dac continues to provide training and technical support to other california counties that are beginning to implement mentoring programs in their jurisdictions. The mentors also sit on state-wide committees to improve available services to parents. The mentors are very involved in various committees with santa clara county's dependency court stakeholders serving as the important voice of the parents. Another key role for dac's mentor parents is to train and provide the parent perspective to individuals working with families involved in the child welfare system. The mentors have provided such trainings to county social workers, child advocates, and foster parents.

corridor program: in 2017, dac formed a collaborative partnership with santa clara county's probation department out of a county wide initiative to strengthen systems of care for children and families impacted by incarceration. Dac and probation are working together to improve self-sufficiency outcomes for pregnant and/or custodial parents of children who are formally involved with probation to minimized multiple system involvement (both criminal justice and child welfare), support family reunification, and prevent reentry for this at-risk population. Two populations are served by the corridor program: parents on formal probation with open juvenile dependency cases, and parents on formal probation who are at risk of having an open juvenile dependency court case. Dac's service utilizes a specialized multi-disciplinary team comprised of an attorney, social worker, and mentor parent. Services include: legal services to those parents involved in santa clara county's child welfare system; providing support, guidance, and motivation to those parents whose children have been or are currently at risk of being removed from their care; advocating on behalf of clients and encourage clients to empower themselves by talking a proactive role in reunifying with their children; developing a safety plan for parents of children in case of relapse, arrest, or incarceration; linking parents to appropriate community based services and resources.