Family Reunification, Equity & Empowerment (FREE) Project
FREE aims to transform California child dependency court procedures by enabling families and community members to engage in the defense process on behalf of their loved ones.
Biweekly FREE Hub meetings offer a new approach to child dependency court procedures, making the process more open and accessible for families and communities and to improve outcomes for foster youth family reunification. At FREE Hubs, family members of those who have criminal convictions can create social biographies - compiled letters, videos, certificates, etc. that offer a holistic picture of the person facing criminal convictions. Through this model, families, and communities humanize the defendant, which assists defense counsel in case preparation and increases visible family presence in the California Child dependency court process.
FREE HUB meets weekly on:
Fridays 6:00 PM
Join a virtual FREE HUB meeting at: bit.ly/freehub24
Resources for system-impacted parents and family members in the Southern California region available at the folder above. Materials include childcare, education, interview, re-entry, and other resources.
FREE Project Parents and community partners rally in front of the Edelman Children’s Courthouse to advocate for family reunification for Mother’s Day.
Learn more about the FREE Project from inaugural Project Coordinator Bobbie Butts.