Senior Counsel Justice and Policy

Senior Counsel for Family Justice and Policy ABOUT MOTHER’S OUTREACH NETWORK

Mother’s Outreach Network, Inc., (MON) based in Washington DC, is a non‑profit, tax‑exempt, racial justice and antipoverty advocacy organization that pursues the inclusion and empowerment of Black mothers in the struggle for family preservation by transforming government income and child welfare laws, policies, and practices from punitive to empowering. MON uses movement‑lawyering strategies that will build parents’ power to transform systems and that will aid in harm reduction against impacted constituents.

MON does so through three primary programs:

• The legal program, which provides representation, advice, and referrals for mothers who are facing adverse administrative decisions, with a focus on matters before the DC Child and Family Services Agency, that negatively impact family preservation and economic security;
• The advocacy program, which seeks to transform income and child welfare/family regulation system policy at the local and federal level;
• The community engagement program, which includes outreach events, know‑your‑rights workshops in law and civic activism, as well as community‑driven research and mutual‑aid.

The Senior Counsel for Family Justice and Policy will help lead the organization’s D.C.

-based legal and policy advocacy to end family separation and expand parent defense capacity in the District of Columbia.

This role combines deep expertise in family and child welfare law with a passion for systemic transformation. The Senior Counsel will drive efforts to transform the District’s family regulation ("child welfare") system—moving from one rooted in surveillance and punishment to one grounded in support, equity, and family unity.

The Senior Counsel will shape legislation, engage with the D.C. Council, work closely with stakeholders across the legal services community, mentor staff attorneys, and collaborate with impacted parents, community partners, and defense providers to advance policies that keep families together and strengthen the right to high‑quality parent representation.

• Lead the organization’s advocacy to end unnecessary family separation and promote family preservation and integrity across the District.
• Develop and advance legislative and administrative reforms before the D.C. Council, Mayor’s Office, and CFSA that expand parent defense infrastructure and strengthen due process protections in child welfare cases.
• Draft, analyze, and monitor D.C. legislation, regulations, and court rules related to family defense, reunification, and child welfare practice.
• Develop policy briefs, model legislation, and reports that expose the harms of family policing and propose community‑based alternatives.
• Testify before the D.C. Council and participate in working groups, coalitions, and advisory committees focused on child welfare and family justice reform.
• Advocate for increased public investment in parent representation and interdisciplinary family defense teams in D.C. Superior Court.
• Collaborate with impacted parents and parent defense practitioners to co‑create reform proposals that reflect lived experience and practical needs.

• Conduct legal and policy research on D.C. child welfare law, CFSA practices, and parent defense systems.
• Provide legal and technical support to family defense attorneys and community advocates navigating systemic challenges.
• Identify opportunities for systemic advocacy or strategic litigation
  , including amicus briefs and administrative appeals, to protect parental rights and prevent family separation.
• Analyze data and case trends to inform policy recommendations and advocacy campaigns.

• Supervise and mentor staff attorneys and legal fellows working on family defense and policy initiatives.
• Support staff in developing expertise in D.C. family and child welfare law, legislative advocacy, and liberatory frameworks.
• Provide ongoing feedback and professional development to ensure high-quality, community‑centered advocacy.
• Foster a supportive, collaborative, and…