Dec 04 2024 59 mins
Preventative legal advocacy is reshaping the future of child welfare, and Emily Cook is at the forefront. As a Senior Staff Attorney at the Barton Child Law and Policy Center, Emilie Cook shares her journey from traditional legal practice to becoming a champion for systemic change. This episode explores how neglect, often rooted in poverty, not abuse, constitutes a significant issue within the child welfare system. We unpack the racial disparities faced by marginalized communities and how preventive measures can address these injustices by offering legal support early on, tackling social determinants of health, and redefining systemic approaches for a more equitable future.
We discuss the effectiveness of the current child welfare system, highlighting the unnecessary trauma caused by child-parent separations. Emily shares insights into the barriers families face, such as housing and resource instability, that can perpetuate involvement in the system. Our discussion is a call to action for community and nonprofit leaders to embrace community-based solutions, fostering resilience and stability rather than perpetuating cycles of trauma and poverty. Emilie's work in Georgia and around the country exemplifies the power of collaboration, as she builds networks to advance preventative advocacy and support families before they reach crisis points.
Emilie's transformative work isn't just theoretical; it's a practical approach to reimagining support systems that serve families better. We explore her efforts in creating a learning cohort dedicated to preventive legal advocacy and discuss the importance of evaluating program outcomes to secure sustainable funding. With a focus on effectiveness, Emily's initiatives demonstrate how legal interventions can address systemic issues like housing instability, proving that change is not only necessary but also achievable. Join us for an episode rich with insights and strategies that challenge the status quo and advocate for a more just and supportive child welfare system.
Guest Bio
Emilie Cook is Senior Staff Attorney at the Barton Child Law & Policy Center at Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia, where she works on projects to promote and protect the legal interests of children involved with the child welfare, juvenile court, and juvenile justice systems. Through her work in the preventive legal advocacy space, Emilie works with interdisciplinary legal teams and advocates across the country to promote and support the provision of high-quality legal advocacy and upstream support services designed to address the
social determinants of health and protect against the effects of poverty, systemic racism, and other forms of discriminatio
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