Achieve Racial Equity in Child Welfare Services
Youth, Parent and Community Partnership and Development
In order to educate the public about the issues facing child welfare systems, communities and local stakeholders must be engaged in this process. The seven states surveyed— California , Connecticut , Iowa , Massachusetts , Minnesota , Texas and Washington —identified efforts to develop partnerships with local communities. As a result of legislation, several states reported convening town hall meetings and community forums as vehicles for hearing and garnering local support from community residents, leaders, and other constituents.
For example, the Washington State Legislature created the Washington State Racial Disproportionality Advisory Committee (an advisory committee to the State Department of Social and Health Services) which included a current or former foster care youth, current or former foster care parent, parent previously involved with Washington’s child welfare system, and representatives of community-based organizations. Also in Washington, leadership from the agency, the juvenile court, and a private foundation created the broad-based King County Coalition on Racial Disproportionality.
Also see the following local examples of constituent engagement.