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?