Life after permanency: Advocating for families when TPR is avoided
The Tulalip Tribes is sovereign nation in northern Snohomish County where termination of parental rights never occurs. Permanency is sought through guardianship, and tribal law provides legal mechanisms to allow visitation, reunification, and guardianship dismissal based on the best interests of the child before the child turns 18. In this session, parent and youth attorneys from the Tulalip Office of Civil Legal Aid discuss the laws and strategies that allow for this advocacy for families after a guardianship is established. Youth attorneys will discuss legal strategies and support for clients when their goal is to maintain a guardianship, increase family connection, or move to dismiss a guardianship. Parent attorneys will discuss how to support and advocate for biological parents when reunification is unsupported or contested by opposing parties. A child welfare system that supports permanency but allows for wellbeing and family connection over the years is envisioned and explored.