How OFRA Works
The Office of Family Representation and Advocacy provides high quality legal representation and advocacy for New Mexico families in the child abuse and neglect system. As funding allows, the Office will provide Interdisciplinary Legal Teams (a lawyer, a social worker, and a peer navigator) to advocate and help children and families successfully access the resources, services, and concrete supports they need to stay together safely whenever possible.
From our Director, Beth Gillia, JD, MA:
2026 Community Convening
In June, with support from Casey Family Programs and NMCAN, OFRA held a community convening to discuss its past, present, and future with stakeholders and partners. The conversation was fruitful: we learned that stakeholders strongly support OFRA expanding its interdisciplinary legal teams statewide and expanding to provide pre-petition interdisciplinary legal services that stabilize families and prevent child abuse, neglect, and entry into foster care. And we’re on it: we’ve requested FY28 funding to pilot pre-petition services in four counties. Let us know if you want to help get that off the ground.
To learn more about the Community Convening, please read this report.
2025 Annual Report
Children in Bernalillo County whose parent received an OFRA interdisciplinary legal team experienced a
63.5% reduction in median time to permanency
(via reunification, guardianship, or adoption) compared to those who did not.
On average, these children spent 147 fewer days in foster care.
This kind of impact is exactly why OFRA was created. With increased funding, we’ll be able to spread this big win to all families!
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