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Our Services
Defenders' new Family Support Program offers, for clients that meet our critieria, the following reduced-fee services:
- Court-referred and other Counseling Services for children and parents
- Parenting Classes
- Supervised Visitations
- Relearning Relationship Classes
Defenders
of Children steps in upon request of protective family members, court
officials or child welfare workers. Defenders will not accept
a
case if authorities have not yet been contacted for
intervention,
and proper channels for assistance have not been sought. We
believe our law enforcement and child protection personnel are trained
to assess allegations of abuse and equipped to provide protection when
needed. They are the appropriate first responders when
allegations of child abuse arise.
However, if concerned adults
have encountered a brick wall because they have already tried available
avenues of intervention and there is still credible evidence that the
child remains in a high-risk situation, Defenders will review the
circumstances to determine whether to step in with its own resources.
Restrictions
Defenders' services are free, with some legal, medical and mental health services available at reduced fees. Defenders does not directly represent a child or client families in legal matters. When Defenders accepts a case, it brings its resources to bear on behalf of the child, in a best effort to establish reliable protections for the well being of the
child. Sometimes this involves guidance to the client families, or perhaps contact with state agencies or other officials. Other
times, this involves expert or professional referrals to
assist the attorney of record. Occasionally, it
involves seeking volunteer services on behalf of the child and/or client family
to ensure a permanent safe environment for the child.
How to Apply
If
you believe your child's situation meets these conditions and would
like to find out if your child qualifies for assistance, you may give
us a call at
602-710-1903
If
our staff agrees that your child's circumstances appear to meet our
criteria, you will be asked to download our Intake Form.
Print it
out, complete it, and return it along with the supporting documentation
to demonstrate child abuse or neglect. Support
documentation
includes such information as police reports, CPS and medical reports,
psychological and custody evaluations, therapist notes and forensic
interviews, along with recent court orders regarding child custody or
guardianship.
After our caseworkers have screened your intake
package, your child's situation will be reviewed by the entire
staff in order to determine if Defenders will accept the case.
Any partial documents that are submitted will delay the
review of
your child's case while the caseworker attempts to contact you for the
missing pages of a report, etc.
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Intake Form
Additional
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Case Stories
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Book Release
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