Community In-Site
Community In-site is about the family well-being movement. Hosts Tecoria Jones and Elliott Hinkle bring their lived expertise with the child welfare system as well as their professional insights to each episode. We'll be talking to leaders, advocates, and community members who are working from the grassroots to the grasstops on strategies to invest in the well-being of families and communities in order to prevent child welfare involvement. The show will feature stories and lessons from community sites (featuring Thriving Families, Safer Children sites) that make the family well-being movement real and personal. Each episode will unpack a specific topic (e.g. racial equity or community partnerships) and what can be learned from the challenges and successes. The hosts hope to leave listeners with something they can take into their own work to help grow the movement in their community.
For more information about the family well-being movement and Thriving Families, Safer Children initiative you can visit, Thriving Families
Community In-Site
Investing in Family Legal Representation to Improve Outcomes with Gwen Clegg
Elliott and Tecoria talk to Gwen Clegg about Oklahoma’s new statewide Office of Family Representation. So new, in fact, that it hadn’t even launched when this episode was recorded. Gwen is a parent defense attorney and for the past 15 years she has been working tirelessly to improve the quality of family representation in Oklahoma. Across the country, families experiencing a child welfare case suffer from poorly funded, overworked, and ill-equipped (albeit well-intentioned) attorneys, which can lead to negative outcomes for their family. Listeners will follow Gwen through her journey of turning a vision of high-quality family representation in Oklahoma into a reality. In 2023, the Oklahoma legislature allocated $4.5 million and July 1, 2024, the Oklahoma Office of Family Representation was launched. Their multi-disciplinary team of attorneys, social workers, and peer parent mentors are committed to improving outcomes for families. Tune in to hear Gwen tell the story that is unfolding in Oklahoma.
Community In-Site now has a dedicated website where you can listen to episodes, access information and resources, and subscribe to the email newsletter. Podcasts Archive
To learn more about the Oklahoma Office of Family Representation you can visit their website. Oklahoma Office of Family Representation
Here are a few resources that Gwen would like to share with you.
A Good Attorney Can Be Hard to Find for Parents. The Frontier
Bringing the National Parent Defense Movement to Oklahoma. Oklahoma Bar Association
How to Empower Parents and Children Involved in Child welfare. Oklahoma Family Representation
Resources for high quality legal representation. Family Justice Initiative and Child Welfare and Juvenile Law
To learn more about the Thriving Families, Safer Children Initiative you can visit the website. Thriving Families
Please email us if you want to connect with the creative team or find out how to engage with the family well-being movement. comminsite@gmail.com