Child and Family Advocacy

Albuquerque PFLAG promotes the health and well-being of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons, their families and friends through support to cope with an adverse society, education to enlighten an ill-informed public, and advocacy to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights. PFLAG aims to provide the opportunity for dialogue about sexual orientation and gender identity and acts to create a society that is healthy and respectful of human diversity.

Youth Development, Inc. (YDI), founded in 1971, is a nationally recognized youth and family services organization in New Mexico. YDI partners with families to fight poverty and can assist with preschool and child care, prenatal care, alternative education, job training and employment assistance, mental and behavioral health services, homeless assistance, emergency housing, mentoring, family development services, family counseling services and supervised visitation.

Services offered focuses on a child’s health and development from prenatal to age 3. First-time mothers and families receive weekly home visits by a trained health educator. Enroll prenatal or newborn under 2 months of age. Services available to women having their first child, first-time families, and families adopting their first baby. CHI Home Based Education & Enhanced Referral Program serve Bernalillo, Sandoval (certain areas) Valencia, Luna, and Doña Ana Counties.

PB&J Family Services provides parenting educational services, child developmental guidance, and local community resource information to families with children prenatal to age 3 in the home, or at alternative locations at the family’s request. There are no first-time parent requirements, and children can enroll prenatal until 3. They serve Albuquerque and Bernalillo counties.

Navajo Family Voices is the Family Voices Affiliate Organization (FVAO) and Family-to-Family Health Information Center (F2FHIC) on the Navajo Nation. They are families of children and youth with extra health needs, providing help and support to other families on the Navajo Nation. They find resources & build partnerships among Diné families, health providers, schools, non-profits, and extended families. They also provide direct services in connecting families with resources and have an attorney on staff who can help with legal information.

We are a Community Parent Resource Center serving families who have Native American children with disabilities or developmental delays in NM, including those with special healthcare needs, and the professionals that work with them. We provide free community training for families in several topical areas such as Overview of IDEA, the IEP & IFSP Process, Record Keeping, Transition from Part C to Part B, Transition from High School, Transition from Middle School, Bullying, Parent Rights in both Part C & B, and Advocacy. Parents and Professionals can request training. We provide ongoing advocacy support, helping families make informed and relevant decisions best for their children and their family. We also provide parent-to-parent connections by matching parents with others who have or share similar experiences to provide advice, support, generate ideas, and create a stronger support system. We also have a resource library with computers and information on resources, topics, and networks.

Parents Reaching Out (PRO) is a non-profit organization that works with parents, caregivers, educators, and other professionals to promote healthy, positive, and caring experiences for families and children. They provide support, training and tools for families and youth with disabilities or complex medical needs. They invite individuals to explore the many ways they can support and guide families through early childhood, educational, and healthcare needs.

To provide siblings of individuals with disabilities the information, support, and tools to advocate with their brothers and sisters and to promote the issues important to them and their entire families. Resources for siblings across the lifespan.

Chapter development inquiries: chapter.inquiries@siblingleadership.org

Provides educational and informational resources for families, service providers, caseworkers and tribal leaders related to the welfare of Native American and Alaska Native children. This includes information about child abuse, adoption and foster care, policy, and advocacy.

The National Center for Children in Poverty (NCCP) is the nation's leading public policy center dedicated to promoting the economic security, health, and well-being of America's low-income families and children. NCCP has a list online of publications on the following topics:

• Child Poverty
• Children’s Mental Health
• Early Care and Learning
• Healthy Development
• Immigrant Families
• Infants and Toddlers
• Integrated Systems
• Low-Wage Work
• Social Security
• Welfare
• Work Supports

Focuses on meeting the needs of professionals engaged in all aspects of services for maltreated children and their families.

Serves Include:

• Promoting research
• Connecting professionals to promote the best response to child maltreatment
• Educating the public about child abuse and neglect