Montgomery Townhall on Alabama Child Protection Issues Jan 22
Dean Odle, Terri LaPoint, J.R. Bowling, Melissa Hera will discuss concerns with Alabama’s child protective system and reforms
State candidates, advocates and parents will gather at 2:00 PM, Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Holiday Inn Express in Montgomery for a Parent Townhall focused on alleged rampant injustices in Alabama’s child protection system and what must be done to fix them.
The event, hosted by Odle for Lt. Governor, is open to the public and the press. Organizers say the meeting will highlight concerns over how the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) handles child welfare cases.
Leading the discussion will be Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor Dean Odle, a pastor and founder of a ministry-based school in Opelika. Odle announced his bid for the Republican nomination for Lt. Governor ahead of the May 19, 2026 primary. He ran for governor in 2022 and is known for his vocal positions on parental rights and government accountability.
Also participating is Terri LaPoint, Republican candidate for Alabama’s U.S. House District 3. LaPoint is an investigative journalist and author who champions parental rights and government transparency. She has pressed for stronger oversight of child welfare procedures and supported legislation to improve notice and due-process requirements in DHR investigations.
State Senate candidate J.R. Bowling will also speak at the Townhall. Bowling is running in the Republican primary for Alabama Senate District 4. A longtime volunteer firefighter and community leader, he emphasizes local leadership and family-focused governance in his campaign.
Joining them will be Melissa Hera, a family advocate whose personal experiences with DHR have drawn attention to the need for clearer procedures and parental rights protections. Public testimony in legislative hearings shows Hera’s children were removed and later reinstated, underscoring concerns over inconsistent notifications and parents’ understanding of available options.
Organizers intend the forum to give voice to parents who say they’ve been unjustly treated by the child protection system and to discuss reforms that could ensure greater transparency and fairness in investigations and custody decisions.
Representatives from Alabama’s child welfare agencies were not confirmed for participation at press time.
Event Details:
What: Parent Townhall on Alabama Child Protection System
When: Thursday, January 22, 2026 — 2 p.m.
Where: Holiday Inn Express, 9250 Boyd Cooper Pkwy, Montgomery
