Optional second step

Tell us more about what happened.

This longer form helps identify repeated patterns across counties and states—especially changes in allegations, prevention and reunification services, family placement, hearings, records, disability access, and case outcomes.

Please protect children’s privacy. Use initials or roles instead of children’s full names. Do not upload confidential court, medical, or child-welfare records here. Most questions are optional; answer only what you safely can.

Identity, location, and timing

Lets us connect this response to your short intake and compare jurisdictions.

Your name *Email address or phone number *Preferred name or initials for advocacy useState *County or counties *

Key dates or a brief timeline

Is there a current court, appeal, complaint, records, or reunification deadline?

YesNoUnsure

If yes or unsure, describe the date and type of deadline

Initial report, investigation, and allegation changes

Tracks how a case began and whether allegations changed or expanded.

What allegations or concerns were raised? Select all that apply.

What was first alleged, by whom if known, and what facts were you initially told?

Did allegations change, expand, or become more serious later?

YesNoUnsure / not applicable

Describe what changed, when, and whether you had notice and a chance to respondWere favorable witnesses, evidence, safety options, or alternative explanations ignored?

Prevention, removal, and alternatives

Examines whether reasonable prevention and family-preservation steps occurred.

Before removal, were meaningful voluntary or prevention services offered?

YesNoUnsure / not applicable

What help was offered, requested, unavailable, delayed, or refused?

Was there an immediate safety emergency at removal?

YesNoUnsure / not applicable

Describe the removal, any warrant or court authorization, notice, safety plan, and alternatives proposed

Placement, relatives, and family finding

Tracks family-placement preferences, denials, delays, and sibling connections.

Were relatives, extended family, nonrelative family members, or tribal placements identified?

YesNoUnsure / not applicable

Who was proposed, when, and how did the agency respond? Use roles or initials.What placement or contact wishes did the child express, and how were those wishes recorded or presented?

Were siblings separated or important family connections disrupted?

YesNoUnsure / not applicable

Hearings and procedural fairness

Identifies notice, evidence, participation, and order discrepancies.

Describe the hearing(s), ruling(s), and fairness concerns. Include dates if known.

Did a written order, minute order, transcript, or agency account conflict with another record?

YesNoUnsure / not applicable

Describe the conflict and where each version appears

Attorneys and representation

Tracks access to counsel, advocacy, and possible representation failures.

Were you represented during the case?

Yes throughoutOnly part of the timeNoUnsure

Describe missed issues, communication problems, refused evidence, conflicts, withdrawal, or other concernsIf relevant, describe the child’s attorney’s contact with the child and how the child’s wishes were presented

Case plans and services

Compares ordered services with referrals, access, completion, and barriers.

What services or case-plan tasks were ordered or expected?What did you complete or attempt, and how did the agency or court respond?

Were reunification services reduced, terminated, bypassed, or ended early?

YesNoUnsure / not applicable

Therapy, visits, and family contact

Tracks whether contact was supported, restricted, or reframed over time.

Describe ordered and actual visitation or contact, including frequency, supervision, cancellations, and changes

Was therapy or therapeutic visitation ordered, recommended, or requested?

YesNoUnsure / not applicable

Was it provided consistently? Who selected or ended it? What reasons were given?Did the child’s stated wishes about contact change—or were they described differently by different people or records?

Child well-being and placement safety

Records concerns raised after placement and how officials responded.

What concern was reported, to whom, and what response followed? Use initials rather than children’s names.

Records and evidence integrity

Identifies missing, delayed, altered, contradictory, or disappearing evidence.

What records or evidence exist?

Describe the strongest record, the discrepancy, and where the original is preserved

Disability, trauma, language, and access

Tracks ADA, Section 504, language, trauma-informed, and participation barriers.

Did you or the child need an accommodation, interpreter, communication support, or trauma-informed approach?

YesNoUnsure / not applicable

What was requested or visibly needed, who knew, and what happened?

Do you believe disability, trauma, language, race, culture, poverty, housing, or another protected or socioeconomic factor affected decisions?

YesNoUnsure / not applicable

Describe the facts supporting that concern

Complaints, review, and outcomes

Shows what accountability channels were used and whether they worked.

What was filed or requested, when, and what response or outcome followed?What is the current case status and what harm or unresolved issue remains?

Pattern, actors, and follow-up

Helps connect similar practices while keeping public use under your control.

Which people or systems were involved?

In your own words, what repeated practice or system failure should advocates investigate?Do you know of other families with a similar experience? Do not include their private details without permission.

Would you like to participate beyond sharing your experience?

Tell us how you may want to help, including interests, experience, or availabilityWhat policy, practice, oversight, or legal change would have made the greatest difference?Additional information you want us to know

May the advocacy group contact you about this response? *

YesNoMaybe—ask me first

May de-identified information be combined with other families’ responses for advocacy, research, testimony, or reports? *

YesNoContact me before any use

I understand this is an advocacy questionnaire, not legal advice or a court filing, and I have not included children’s full names or uploaded confidential records. *

You may leave optional questions blank. Submitting this form does not notify a court, lawyer, or emergency service.