Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Romero.
Hi Christina , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When you have the chance to truly tell your story, it’s hard to know where to begin—because every part matters. I was born in the 1980s in Miami Beach, Florida to two incredible Puerto Rican parents. As a young child, Miami was paradise. The beach, the music, the food, the culture—and most of all, family—made it a place full of warmth and connection. I can still remember the smell of my grandmother’s cooking filling the house. There was nothing better.
When I was 10, my mother moved us to Broward County and bought her first home. It was a new chapter—different and unfamiliar—but like most children, I adapted. Still, a piece of my heart has always stayed in Miami. There’s no place in the world like it.
Growing up, I often felt like I was searching for where I truly belonged. The world didn’t always feel safe or loving, especially as a teen. At 16, I became a mother, and life required me to grow up fast. Navigating young motherhood was challenging, and I made my share of mistakes—but I was always committed to learning, healing, and becoming better for my children. Today, I am a proud mother of four: three beautiful daughters and one amazing son.
In 2018, my life changed dramatically when I was impacted by Florida’s child welfare system—what I now call the family regulation system. My children were removed, and for two years, I fought tirelessly to prove I was worthy of being their mother. That journey opened my eyes. I witnessed firsthand how families—especially Black and brown families like mine—were being treated unfairly, judged harshly, and separated for reasons rooted more in poverty and systemic injustice than in harm.
That experience sparked something in me. I made a promise: I would not let this continue without doing something about it. In 2021, I stepped into advocacy, starting with local conversations and quickly growing to state and national work.
From that commitment, PATH (Parent Advocates for Transformation and Healing) was born. Founded by two passionate individuals—one a parent leader, the other a system professional—PATH emerged to shift the narrative around the family regulation system in Florida. For too long, the system has focused on “saving” children through separation and adoption, overlooking the trauma and injustice that this often causes. Parents have been ignored, silenced, and erased from the conversation.
Today, I serve as the Executive Director of PATH, leading this parent-led movement with passion and purpose. We amplify the voices of parents who are fighting to keep or reunite with their children. We expose how systems punish poverty and treat healing like a test to pass. We center our work around truth-telling, leadership, and justice. We distribute vital resources like our You Have Rights materials, offer teach-ins and mentorship, and build community through events.
Our mission is clear: To build critical connections with impacted parents and communities so that we can live in a world free from the family police and collectively dream of a more just future.We believe in family, in healing, and in a world where no one is punished for being poor or needing support.
PATH is more than an organization—it’s a movement led by those who have lived it, for those who are still in it. And our vision is bold: To build a society where family separation no longer exists. We imagine a world where families are supported—not surveilled—and where every child can remain safely connected to their loved ones, community, and culture. That’s the future we’re fighting for—and that’s the future we believe is possible.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The road has been anything but smooth—and honestly, I don’t think real transformation ever happens without struggle.
There were moments I felt like I was drowning. Becoming a mother at 16 while still trying to figure out who I was came with so many challenges. I was growing up while raising children, trying to be strong even when I didn’t feel like I had the tools or support. There were times I felt judged, isolated, and unseen. But I kept going—because my children deserved the best version of me I could become.
One of the most painful struggles came in 2018 when I was impacted by the family regulation system. Having my children removed was one of the most traumatic experiences of my life. I had to fight a system that didn’t see me as a whole person—only as a case number. I had to prove my worth as a mother over and over again, often without the compassion or support I truly needed. That time brought deep pain, but it also lit a fire in me. I realized that what happened to me wasn’t just about me—it was happening to countless other families too.
Leading PATH was a leap of faith. I wasn’t trained in running an organization—I was a mother, a fighter, a Puerto Rican women, a sister, a friend, a partner, and an advocate who knew something had to change. There were times I faced self-doubt and barriers to obtaining quality support. There were days I wondered if people would take our voices seriously—if a group of parents who had been impacted by the system could truly shift policy, narrative, and power back to community.
But I also learned that there is strength in struggle. That the same experiences that were meant to break me became the foundation for something bigger. Every hard moment was also a lesson, every setback a step toward something greater.
This journey has taught me to keep showing up, even when it’s hard. It’s taught me the power of community, of parent leadership, and of not letting your past define your future. It hasn’t been easy—but it’s been worth it.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Parent Advocates of Transformation and Healing?
Parent Advocates for Transformation and Healing (PATH) is a parent-led organization based in Florida working to challenge and transform the family regulation system. We use that term intentionally—because what’s often called the “child welfare system” is, in reality, a system of surveillance, control, and punishment that disproportionately targets Black and brown families and families living in poverty. It doesn’t protect all children—it regulates certain families.
At PATH, we focus on advocacy, peer support, leadership development, and public education. Our work centers on the voices and experiences of parents who have been directly impacted. We are known for being bold, unapologetically honest, and deeply rooted in community.
One of our core initiatives is You Have Rights—a statewide effort to educate parents about their legal rights when being investigated by the family regulation system. We offer multilingual resources, community teach-ins, and public events that not only share knowledge but also build community power. We also provide mentorship and emotional support to walk alongside families navigating this system.
What makes PATH different is that we are not led by outsiders or professionals alone—we are parents who have lived this. We don’t just advocate for families—we organize with them. Our approach is trauma-informed, healing-centered, and justice-driven.
We are proud to be building a movement rooted in truth-telling and transformation. Our brand stands for hope, resistance, and real solutions. We’re not just asking for reform—we are reimagining what it looks like to support families without surveillance and separation.
We want your readers to know that PATH is here to uplift and stand beside families impacted by the family regulation system. We invite others—parents, professionals, policymakers, and allies—to join us in building a world where families are supported, not punished; where safety doesn’t mean separation; and where every family has the resources, support, and dignity to thrive.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
For me, the quality that has been most important to my success is bravery.
Bravery isn’t about not being afraid—it’s about choosing to show up anyway. It’s speaking the truth even when your voice shakes. It’s sharing your truth, not knowing how people will receive it. It’s challenging systems that feel too big to fight, because you know deep down that someone has to.
It took bravery to become a mother at 16 and keep moving forward, even when the world counted me out. It took bravery to fight for my children when I was up against a system that didn’t see my worth. And it took bravery to step into leadership—not because I had all the answers, but because I had the lived experience and the heart to make a difference.
Bravery is what fuels my advocacy, what keeps me grounded in purpose, and what gives me the strength to walk alongside others who are still finding their own voices. It’s what allows me to say, “We deserve better”—and to back that up with action.
At PATH, we believe bravery is contagious. When one parent stands up, others begin to believe they can too. And that’s how change begins.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://pathfl.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/path_parents/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095018975246
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-romero-68a897285/
