CCKids Launches Parent Council

November 27, 2024

A local parent council designed to empower the families of children in foster care had its first meeting Tuesday, November 19.

Two parents attended, offering several suggestions for better engaging parents while their children are in care. Much of the discussion centered around making information more available and easier to find, specifically on the CCKids website and in the consumer handbook.

The two parents who attended Tuesday's organizational meeting agreed to serve on the council, which will meet monthly. The timing gives CCKids staff and community partners time to draw more parents to the meetings and, eventually, to serve on the council.

The goal is to have the council run by the parents with discussion topics being driven by their interests.

CCKids Clinical Director Josie Kirchner organized the meeting and will serve as a liaison for the council.

One of the attending parents shared that her case manager and all the people who worked with her saved her life.

"She said she was in a bad place when CCKids entered her life, but they gave her the help she needed and the opportunity to get treatment and to be with her children again," Kirchner said.

The other parent - a dad - shared the rocky start he had when he first met his child's case manager. He said he was angry and upset about the circumstances but that once he understood his case manager's role and how she could help, everything went well.

Now, he says he wants to help other parents work through misdirected anger and get to a place where they can really work with their case managers and be better for their children.