Parental Rights Foundation

08/28/2026

A New York father is celebrating a legal victory years after his newborn son was removed from his custody shortly after birth.

A federal appeals court ruled that his lawsuit against child welfare officials can move forward, finding that a jury could conclude his constitutional rights were violated when his child was removed without sufficient evidence of imminent danger. The decision highlights ongoing debates about due process and the standards governments must meet before separating children from their parents.

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A federal appeals court has revived a lawsuit by a father who alleges the child welfare agency violated his family’s constitutional rights.

08/26/2026

New York lawmakers have once again failed to pass legislation that would restrict routine drug testing of pregnant and postpartum patients and newborns without informed consent.

The proposed “Maternal Health, Dignity and Consent Act” would have required verbal and written consent before most drug, alcohol, or cannabis testing, with exceptions for medical emergencies. Supporters of the bill say current practices can lead to automatic child welfare reports and family separation, even in cases where testing is not medically necessary.

The measure ultimately did not advance before the end of the legislative session.
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Birthing mothers and their newborns will continue to be routinely tested for drugs without consent in New York, after a bill to curb the practice failed to pass.

08/24/2026

A federal appeals court has allowed key portions of a lawsuit filed by a former Los Angeles foster youth known as "Ocean" to move forward.

The lawsuit alleges that child welfare officials failed to adequately protect her while she was in foster care, leading to years of abuse and exploitation. The court's decision means the case can continue as Ocean seeks to hold Los Angeles County accountable for its handling of her placement and care.

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The Ocean S. lawsuit alleges that L.A. County fails to provide “safe and stable” homes for older foster youth, pushing many into homelessness.

08/21/2026

After experiencing instability and challenges while in Tennessee's foster care system, former foster youth Ella Bat-Ami helped turn her experiences into policy change.

While still a teenager, Bat-Ami drafted legislation that ultimately became Tennessee's first Foster Youth Bill of Rights. The law establishes protections for youth in foster care and requires that children and young adults in the system be informed of those rights. The article follows her journey from foster care to advocacy and highlights her ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for children in state custody.

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While in high school, Ella Bat-Ami's experience in Tennessee foster care drove her to draft mock legislation that was the impetus for the state's Foster Youth Bill of Rights.

08/19/2026

A class-action lawsuit filed against New York City challenges the frequent use of emergency child removals, alleging that families are being separated without sufficient justification or due process.

The lawsuit focuses on cases involving Black and Latino families and argues that emergency removals should be reserved for situations involving immediate danger to a child. Plaintiffs are seeking changes to child welfare practices and stronger protections for parents and children during investigations.

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A federal suit accuses the city of separating children and parents through abrupt removals mischaracterized as emergencies and without court orders.

08/17/2026

A Tennessee lawmaker has filed 14 federal civil rights complaints against the state's Department of Children's Services, alleging a pattern of misconduct affecting children and families involved with the agency.

According to the complaints, families reported concerns including inadequate responses to allegations of abuse, issues involving children with disabilities, and retaliation against parents who raised concerns about agency actions. The filings call for a federal investigation and additional safeguards to protect children and families interacting with the child welfare system.

Read more here: https://newschannel9.com/news/local/tennessee-lawmaker-files-14-civil-rights-complaints-against-state-child-services-agency

08/17/2026

A Tennessee lawmaker has filed 14 federal civil rights complaints against the state's Department of Children's Services, alleging a pattern of misconduct affecting children and families involved with the agency.

According to the complaints, families reported concerns including inadequate responses to allegations of abuse, issues involving children with disabilities, and retaliation against parents who raised concerns about agency actions. The filings call for a federal investigation and additional safeguards to protect children and families interacting with the child welfare system.

Read more here:

A Bradley County mother says she has spent more than a year trying to get answers after her daughter was taken into Tennessee Department of Children’s Services

08/14/2026

In this article by Charles Zeanah and Carole Shauffer, the authors argue that children in foster care need stable, family-based environments rather than systems that rely on rotating or “shift worker” caregiving models.

They write that frequent changes in caregivers and institutional staffing structures can disrupt attachment and stability for children, particularly those already experiencing significant disruption in their lives. The piece emphasizes the importance of consistent, nurturing relationships in supporting healthy development and long-term well-being.

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The authors write that it's time to shutter group homes and give all children the families they need and deserve.

08/12/2026

August is the perfect time to connect with your state lawmakers while they’re home from the Capitol.

With the 2027 legislative session approaching, now is the time to meet with your representative, talk about parental rights, and ask them to champion a model bill in your state.

We have model legislation addressing parental rights, child welfare investigations, due process, family preservation, and more.

Read more here: https://www.parentalrightsfoundation.org/august-time-to-connect-lawmakers-to-models

Find a model and start the conversation: https://www.parentalrightsfoundation.org/tag/model-bills

August is one of my favorite months because I get to see supporters like you start to create the legislative landscape of the coming year.

07/31/2026

An oral history project documenting the experiences of survivors of Indian boarding schools is coming to a close after collecting hundreds of testimonies from Indigenous people across the country.

The recordings will be preserved in the Library of Congress as part of a permanent archive intended to ensure these histories are not lost to time.

The project underscores the lasting impact of separating children from their families, communities, and cultural identity, and the role that family continuity, language, and heritage play in shaping a child’s sense of belonging and well-being.

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An oral history project led by the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition is concluding in Tulsa, Oklahoma this month.