Sharing the Stories of Child Welfare-Involved Families with Empathy & Dignity
Our Challenge
The Office of the Respondent Parents’ Counsel (ORPC) supports Colorado parents in the fight to preserve families, their dignity, and the constitutional right to parent in dependency and neglect cases. Each year, they partner with child welfare agencies in Colorado to recognize Reunification Heroes who have either reunified with their children or are working to help families stay together, all in honor of National Reunification Month in June.
Since 2023, ORPC has engaged Barefoot PR to produce a series of videos highlighting the Reunification Heroes for a celebratory event held at a family-friendly location. The videos need to be engaging for the audience and honor the stories of each Reunification Hero in a dignified way, never stereotyping individuals who have already faced significant judgment throughout the reunification process.
Our Process
- Research about each honoree and their story
- Thoughtful interview questions to set us up for success
- Collaborative editing process with honoree input
On filming day, we focus on creating a safe, respectful environment by letting honorees know they’re in control—they can pause at any time and should only share what they’re comfortable with. We also clearly explain how, why and where their story will be shared, and let them know they’ll have an opportunity to review and approve the final video before it’s made public.
Many honorees become emotional while recounting their experiences, so we take breaks and encourage them to go at their own pace. For some, the process of sharing is cathartic and we’re honored to be part of that moment.
Our Solution
After getting to know each honoree through their nomination, we craft a series of thoughtful interview questions designed to capture the essential details of their story on camera. We also collaborate with ORPC to identify additional interviewees who can offer supporting perspectives and help bring each story to life in a more dynamic way.
After each interview, our video director and videographer debrief to flag key soundbites or moments that should be included in the final cut. During editing, we’re intentional about our selections, aiming to capture the depth and complexity of each individual’s journey. Once a draft is ready, we share it with the honoree to ensure they’re comfortable with how their story is represented.
As we finalize each video, we incorporate graphics aligned with the event’s branding and add subtitles to enhance accessibility during the celebration.
Key Highlights
- 4 story-driven videos for a celebratory event
- Safe filming environment
- Ethical storytelling
Our Solution
After getting to know each honoree through their nomination, we craft a series of thoughtful interview questions designed to capture the essential details of their story on camera. We also collaborate with ORPC to identify additional interviewees who can offer supporting perspectives and help bring each story to life in a more dynamic way.
After each interview, our video director and videographer debrief to flag key soundbites or moments that should be included in the final cut. During editing, we’re intentional about our selections, aiming to capture the depth and complexity of each individual’s journey. Once a draft is ready, we share it with the honoree to ensure they’re comfortable with how their story is represented.
As we finalize each video, we incorporate graphics aligned with the event’s branding and add subtitles to enhance accessibility during the celebration.
Features
- 4 story-driven videos for a celebratory event
- Safe filming environment
- Ethical storytelling
Results
At the Reunification event, there’s rarely a dry eye in the room. Surrounded by their families and support systems, each Reunification Hero expresses heartfelt gratitude for the way their story was told—with empathy, care and dignity.
Meet the Project Leads
Kathryn Britton
Director of Operations & Special Projects
Becky Holden
Video Production Contributor
