Legal Aid Services Of Oklahoma's Parent Representation Defense Program was formed June 1, 2020, out of the necessity to provide low-income parents involved in a Tulsa County deprived case with high quality legal representation. High quality parent defense is defined by an exceptionally trained attorney working together with a master's level social worker and a parent mentor (a person who has survived these systems) to defend parents. These teams are called: “The Parent Defense Team.” 

The benefits of representation by The Parent Defense Team:

• Protects parents rights;
• Increases parent's participation in and out of court;
• Reduces delays in the case;
• Achieves better long-term family outcomes;
• Promotes tailored service/case plans;
• Improves frequency, timeliness and meaningful family visitation.

The Parent Defense Teams Defend Clients by:

• Gathering information – the social worker and parent mentor gather facts via out-of-court advocacy, while also supporting the parent client emotionally and mentally.
• Promoting Engagement– the social worker and parent mentor assist the parent client participate in their case and engage in their service plans.
• Communicating – the social worker and parent mentor communicate with the attorney to ensure the attorney is well informed of case related issues prior to court.
• Advocating – the attorney zealously advocates in court for the parent client, the social worker and parent mentor strongly advocates for the parent client in DHS meetings, Family Team Meetings, Court Staffings, and Service provider meetings.
• Encouraging - the parent client thru outreach and connection to provide hope and inspiration.
• Assisting - the parent client understand the changes to be met to achieve the goal of reunification and/or assist with understanding an alternative permanency goal.
• Sharing - Personal experience – the parent mentor brings their own lived experience to the parent client’s situation which develops a trusting relationship

Science PROVES that the type of legal representation provided to a PARENT determines if the family is reunited swiftly and safely.  Effects of an interdisciplinary approach to parental representation in child welfare. Children and Youth Services Review, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.04.022 and Understanding the effects of an interdisciplinary approach to parental representation in child welfare  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740920304643?via%3Dihub