Alice G. Thompson, CEO Black Family Development, Inc. O VERREPRESENTATION OF C HILDREN OF C OLOR IN...
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Transcript of Alice G. Thompson, CEO Black Family Development, Inc. O VERREPRESENTATION OF C HILDREN OF C OLOR IN...
OVERREPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN OF COLOR IN MICHIGAN’S CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM:WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE
PROCESS LEARNING FOR ACTION
Know the issues and understand the data
Systemic and structural failures of our system
Differential treatment of children of color in the system
The color of discipline
Implications of zero tolerance
PROCESS LEARNING FOR ACTION
Students trapped in school-to-prison pipeline
Helping youth understand their rights
Focus on treatment rather than punishment
Effectiveness of Correct Course and Restorative Practice
Valuing the voice of consumers
MICHIGAN IS DOING GREAT WORK
Family Preservation Initiatives/Programs that
provide prevention services for families/children:
Early On
Strong Families/Safe Children
Families with Children Zero to Three
MICHIGAN IS DOING GREAT WORK
Family Preservation Initiatives/Programs that provide services to keep families in tact and avoid out of home placement:
Child Protection/Community Partners
Families Together: Building Solutions
Family Group Decision Making
Strong Families/Safe Children
MICHIGAN IS DOING GREAT WORK
Family Preservation Initiatives/Programs that provide services to keep families in tact and avoid out of home placement:
Families First of Michigan
Team Decision Making Process (Permanency Planning Conferences)
Wraparound Process
MICHIGAN IS DOING GREAT WORK
Family Preservation Initiatives/Programs that provide services to reunify families and avoid out of home placement:
Family Reunification Program
Community Partner Collaboration with TDM Meeting Involvement
Parent Partners Program
THEORIES ON WHYOVERREPRESENTATION
EXISTS
Poverty
Joblessness
Substance Abuse
Mental Health
Parent/Family/Community Risk Factors
THEORIES ON WHYOVERREPRESENTATION
EXISTS Organizational Bias
Practices and Procedures
System Racism
Delay in Exit from System
Lack of Community Resources
Lack of Adequate Prevention
Funding and Services
Lack of Adequate Cultural Training
IMPACT OF ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS
Issue not seen as a problem; not seen as needing urgent response
Assessment bias
Must think and plan for exit at intake and monitor
Lack of data and monitoring
Lack of connections between values and practice
IMPACT OF ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS
Practice/Policy Barriers
Organizational Structural Factors
Insufficient Training
Lack measurable strategies for exiting system
ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSES
Place the issue in the realm of urgency Commitment/Leadership is key Identify organizational values What gets monitored and measured is
what gets done Establish a committee or process on
overrepresentation
ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSES
Race, Equity and Cultural Competence Committee Work Group
Infuse with Continuous Quality Improvement or Utilization Review
Collect data and monitor
Make Data Driven Decision Making with Values
Provide ongoing culturally appropriate training
ORGANIZATION DISCUSSION POINTS
Encourage open and authentic communication about potential bias.
Examine bias at points of decision making.
EXPLICIT AND IMPLICIT BIAS
Explicit Bias
Our stated values which we use to deliberately direct our decisions and behavior.
Implicit Bias
Our unconscious attitudes and beliefs that influence our decisions and behavior.
ORGANIZATION DISCUSSION POINTS
Look at the bias at the points of interception.
Utilize data to target your efforts.
The system will improve if we have the courage and are willing to make improvements in needed services.
Transform the work in your agency.
ORGANIZATION DISCUSSION POINTS
Consistently transform the organization to meet the needs of the youth and families.
Valuing parents as partners.
Thinking and planning for the exit of the youth at intake.
As our behavior changes, we change outcomes for children, families, and the community.
VALUE AND EXPAND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS
Ensuring youth exit system sooner
Greater emphasis on prevention
Strengthening community connections
Collecting and sharing data
Expanding community-based options
Maximizing resources
Joint culturally competent training
OVERREPRESENTATION OF CHILDREN OF COLOR IN MICHIGAN’S
CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM:HOW YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Where do we go from here?:
Assess your organization’s response to overrepresentation. Identify the actions That you will take when you return to your worksite. Remember, “You can make a difference.”
1. How, when, and by whom is the issue of overrepresentation discussed, measured, or monitored in your organization?
QUESTIONS (CONT’D)
2. How is organizational leadership engaged in promoting this issue as a problem to be resolved?
3. Describe what is occurring in your organization to reduce overrepresentation of children of color.
4. What more would you like to see happen?
QUESTIONS (CONT’D)
5. Are organizational values aligned with practice and outcomes?
6. What are the three (3) decisive actions that you will take to make a difference?