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New family‑representation office reports early GROW results, warns of attorney staffing pressure
Summary
The Office of Family Representation and Advocacy reported early success in its GROW pilot (achieving a 6.73% reduction in time to care, near the 7% goal) but remains dependent on contract attorneys while scaling regional staff offices; committee sought caseload, safety and oversight details before approving larger recurring funding.
Executive Director Beth Gilliam told the committee OFRA has expanded staffing and services since its creation two years ago and is now operating an Albuquerque regional office with plans to open Las Cruces, Farmington, Roswell and Santa Fe per statute. The office reported strong preliminary GROW pilot outcomes: an observed 6.73% reduction in time to care for families served by interdisciplinary legal teams.
Gilliam said OFRA is still heavily dependent on contract attorneys — roughly 80 contract attorneys versus 8 staff attorneys today — because conflict-of-interest rules and caseload volume require supplemental counsel. The office has about 1,355 pending cases and estimates roughly 2,000 children in care connected to its docket. OFRA requested a FY27 package that would expand staff attorney hiring and support regional offices; the LFC noted earlier that the agency requested a 21% increase in general-fund support relative to the current fiscal year.
Lawmakers pressed OFRA on oversight, client contact metrics and safety outcomes after recent high-profile child-protective incidents; OFRA leadership emphasized that the agency does not have independent authority to return children and that courts make placement decisions. Gilliam said oversight is via the office’s governing body and that staffing expansions aim to increase direct attorney-client contact and programmatic oversight.
Committee members asked OFRA to provide caseload documentation, contract-vs-staff attorney cost comparisons, and a list of safety metrics and post‑reunification monitoring procedures to support any larger recurring appropriations.
