Survivors of the Family Policing System

Survivors of the Family Policing System

If you are interested in joining the space, please fill out this form. If you have additional questions, please email familypolicingsurvivors@gmail.com

A nonclinical, peer-led space facilitated by survivors of the family policing system for fellow survivors (18+). This is a confidential, affirming and peer led gathering for those who survived the family policing system as children (i.e. adoptees / survivors of adoption / survivors of child trafficking, foster kids / institutionalized, displaced kids / survivors of the foster or “foster” system, children in group homes / survivors of state-sanctioned captivity, survivors of indigenous boarding schools /cultural genocide /colonial indoctrination, survivors of ICE detention centers / detained youth / incarcerated minors / children of forced separation etc.) This is an abolitionist centered space. We exist to lower feelings of isolation and to build a support system with other survivors. We uplift that the family policing system is a violent, oppressive, racist, carceral system and this space is centered around those who have survived it. That being stated, we do not allow any current or striving to be police or family police into the space. Join us as we build community and support one another, and hold space for each other to talk about our experience in an affirming space. This resource is made possible by a partnership with Peer Support Space.

Community Norms

• This is a confidential, affirming and peer led gathering for adult survivors of the family policing system (i.e. adoptees/ survivors of adoption/ survivors of legal child trafficking, foster kids/ displaced kids/ survivors of the foster or “foster” system, etc.) - not a clinical support group or group therapy (or intended to be a replacement for such)

• In this space we honor people’s experiences - this is not a space to debate, challenge, or resist someone's lived experience as a survivor.

• Give one another an equal chance to take up space.

• Honor that what is shared here stays here.

• Meet your needs as you see fit.

• When possible, please provide content or trigger warnings for things that may be inflammatory.

• We uplift that the family policing system is a violent, oppressive, racist carceral system and this space is centered around those who have survived it.
• Discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender or gender expression, sexual orientation, religion, body shaming, or ability is prohibited
• No Police: As a community of survivors of the family policing system directly impacted by police terrorism, we do not work with police or allow police into our space. Originated from slave patrols, the police play a role to be enforcers and protectors of the state, which perpetuates systemic oppression, state abuse, and inequality at the expense of the people. Members, former members, or people working to become members of any police organization,as well as past or present informants are excluded from participation in our space. By excluding the police, the group emphasizes self determination, autonomy, and community control over our own space creating a safer environment for healing and solidarity among survivors.
• No family police. By excluding the family police, the group makes a statement against the systemic injustices perpetrated by the family police, whose role is to surveil, regulate, punish, police, separate, control, and ultimately terrorize marginalized families rather than provide genuine support. As a community of survivors terrorized by genocidal family police agents we do not allow any past, current, or working to be family police into our space for safety and make a continuous effort to operate without agents of family police terrorism. Family police are often benevolently referred to as “social workers” “adoption agencies” child “protective” services and so on. Defined for their true role, agents of forced systemic family separation, agents of genocide, child snatchers, professional government kidnappers, child selling services, and legal child traffickers, are not allowed in this space. As an abolitionist non-carceral space, we advocate for the dismantling of these practices while simultaneously creating community based support structures outside of the system that truly address the needs and wellbeing of families without punitive measures.
• We recognize that some participants may be mandated reporters in their professional roles. However, as this is a nonclinical, peer-led survivor space, we ask that you set aside those responsibilities while in this space.