All across this country, families are being punished for struggling. Instead of being met with help, they’re being met with handcuffs, court dates, and case plans. When the rent is behind, the refrigerator is empty,...

It has been months since Alabama DHR came under fire following the death of three-year-old KJ Starks, who died in a hot van while under the state’s care. Since then, there have been statements,...

This week, our spotlight turns back to a truth too many have been forced to live with: DHR knows when it has done wrong and still refuses to make it right. It is not...

Families vs. DHR documents real families, real cases, and real accountability. Our work spans investigations, survivor testimony, policy analysis, and public records. This page serves as a central place to follow our reporting and...

A grandmother writes in heartbreak and disbelief after being denied the chance to care for her own grandchildren. Her letter, shared with permission, is a raw reminder of how DHR separates not just parents and children but entire generations.

We were just parents until the system took everything. This is the beginning of our voice, our truth, and our refusal to be silent. We never meant to be here. But now that we are, we are not going anywhere.

Sunday Spotlight There is a particular kind of silence that settles over a family when the system takes a child and then leaves nothing behind. No updates. No court date. No word. Just silence. It is...

This is not just about paperwork. It is about power. Across Alabama, parents are being coerced into signing safety plans under the threat of losing their children, without evidence, without a warrant, and without due process. This is not protection. It is a system weaponized.