by Susan Kelly, Casey Family Programs, Systems Improvement, Strategic Consulting

1. Oregon and the National Context: Moving
Toward Equity
Susan Kelly
Casey Family Programs
Systems Improvement, Strategic Consulting
Oregon Child Welfare Task Force on Racial Equity Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Salem, Oregon

2. Overrepresentation: General label for both
racial disproportionality and racial disparity
• Racial Disproportionality - A situation
where racial minorities occur in the child
welfare population at rates higher than the
occurrence in general population
• Racial Disparity - Occurs when the rate of
disproportionality of one racial group, (e.g.,
African Americans) exceeds that of a
comparison group (e.g., White Americans)

3. Minority children compromise 40% of all children in
the United States. However, 50% of children in
foster care are minorities.
• Blacks and American Indians are the two most
overrepresented groups and they are represented in
foster care at twice their proportions in the census
populations.
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4. Overrepresentation by Race/Ethnic
Groups in U.S.
Rates of Disproportionality
Race/Ethnicity
• Non-Latino, White • .76
• African American • 2.43
• Latino • .79
• Native American • 2.16
• Asia/Pacific Islander • .39

5. National Data
Who is in care?
How are they
doing?
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6. The High Stakes for Older Youth in Care
• Almost 800,000 in substitute care overall.
• Reasons for entering care:
ü Neglect 65% (varies by jurisdiction)
ü Abuse 35% (varies)
• Fifty percent of children in care are 11 years or older.
• In 2005, 48% of teenagers who entered care were not placed
with family.
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7. Education Status of Youth in Foster Care
• High school graduation = <50%
• Receive special education services = +/-30%
• Seven or more school changes = 65%
• College enrollment rate = +/-10%?
• 4 year college completion rate =2%/4%?
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8. The Human Cost Gets Much Higher
for Older Youth
• 50% graduate from high school compared
to 85% of all youth between ages of 18-24.
• 25% endured a period of homelessness.
• 70% have not maintained a job for one year.
• One in 4 males, 1 in 10 females have spent
time in jail

9. Oregon Data
• Total rate of children out of home (per
1000 children in general population) =
12.5
• White children = 9.4
• African American children = 41.7
• Hispanic/Latino = 9.5
• American Indian/Alaskan Native = 93.4

10. Racial Justice in Child Welfare
Definition
• Racial justice is the creation and proactive reinforcement of
policies, practices, attitudes and actions that produce
equitable power, access, opportunities, treatment, impacts
and outcomes for all.
Indicators
• Equitable impacts and outcomes of child welfare policy and
practice across race/ethnic groups is the evidence of racial
justice. This includes child welfare intervention, service
delivery and subsequent follow-up.
Note: These ideas adapted from the work and ideas developed by Terry Keleher and the Applied Research Center.
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11. Racial Justice in Child Welfare
Related Values and Key Ideas
• Equity / Equitable outcomes for children and families
• Inclusion / Accessibility
• Equal opportunity
• Dignity / Human rights / Rights of children and families
• Fairness / Fair treatment of children and families
• Shared power and resources /
Note: These ideas adapted from the work and ideas developed by Terry Keleher and the Applied Research Center.
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12. Racial Justice in Child Welfare
Racial Justice ≠ Diversity
(Diversity = Variety)
Racial Justice ≠ Equality
(Equality = Sameness)
Racial Justice = Equity
(Equity = Fairness, Justice)
Note: These ideas adapted from the work and ideas developed by Terry Keleher and the Applied Research Center.
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13. Racial Justice in Child Welfare
Strategy for Change
• Focuses on changing systems, institutional practices, policies
and outcomes.
• Individual-level focus must be within the context of systems
and institutions… how individuals function within this context.
• Cannot just be reactive… must propose equitable solutions
and engage in proactive strategies.
• Requires ongoing consciousness and strategic action. We
cannot be “colorblind” or silent.
Note: These ideas adapted from the work and ideas developed by Terry Keleher and the Applied Research Center.
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14. It’s All in the Eyes (I’s)
Narrow View of Racism Comprehensive View of Racism
Racism is only… Racism is often…
Individual bias Institutional inequity
Intentional acts Impacts of actions
Isolated incidents Infused throughout society
Immediate and obvious Invisible and insidious
In the past In the present
Note: These ideas adapted from the work and ideas developed by Terry Keleher and the Applied Research Center.
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15. Racial Equity Lens in Child Welfare
• We tend to engage in debate about the meaning and
existence of racism.
• We need to shift the popular understanding of racism from
personal prejudice exclusively to institutional inequality
more broadly.
• We need to illuminate racial inequities in child welfare in
order to eliminate racial inequities in child welfare.
Note: These ideas adapted from the work and ideas developed by Terry Keleher and the Applied Research Center.
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16. A Closer Look at the Work
Building Awareness and Understanding
– Use of data (the numbers and the stories)
– Engagement of alumni and birth parents
– Being aware of the Crosswalk to Juvenile Justice
– Agency presentations and discussion forums
– Community forums
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17. A Closer Look at the Work
Agency policies, protocols and procedures
– Racial equity approach toward contract agency
accountability
– Budget equity
– Family/youth Inclusion in decision making
_ Data-driven management practices
– Statewide disproportionality strategy
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18. A Closer Look at the Work
Child Welfare( juvenile justice) practice and
decision making
– Identification and engagement of extended family
support networks / kinship resources / especially
paternal relatives
– “Teaming” and “family engagement” approaches to
case planning and decision making
– Placement decisions “least restrictive”
_ Parent/youth advocate programs
– Efforts to divert families/youth to support resources
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19. A Closer Look at the Work
Workforce Development
– Employee Skills & Professional Development
– Performance Assessment and Evaluation
– Agency-University partnerships
Available Resources
– Video: History of the US Child Welfare System and Disproportionality
– Video: Race… The Power of an Illusion
– Knowing Who You Are (video and e-learning)
– Undoing Racism Workshop
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20. A Closer Look at the Work
The role of judges, courts, and the broader legal
system
– Critical role in decision making
– Reasonable efforts
– Evidence and documentation of diligent efforts by
caseworkers and supervisors
– Racial equity and potential bias in legal
representation for children and families
– Partnerships in Model Courts sites
– CASA-related work efforts
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21. Judicial Engagement: Themes from
Major Work Efforts and Discussions
• Listening to the Voice of Youth and Families
– Importance of listening directly to youth and families in the
professionalized context of “represented parties”
– Opportunities for “straight talk” with youth and families in
the judge’s chambers
– What is their perspective on their needs, challenges,
interests and services most likely to be responsive?
– What is their assessment of the effectiveness and
responsiveness of services and service providers made
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22. Promising Initiatives
• CCC, National Council of Juvenile and Family Court
Judges: Revising the Bench card
• Oregon: Statewide Taskforce: Decision Point Analysis:
Portland State
• Kentucky, Michigan, Washington State: Parent
Partners
• Colorado: State Disparities Center: AHA
• Woodbury County, Iowa; Race equity scorecard
• Denver Indian Family Resource Center
• Michigan: External Analysis, center for parent
representation

23. Promising Initiatives (cont.)
• Texas: disproportionality coordinators(regionally
assigned)
• Kansas: Governor ‘s Taskforce
• Minnesota: legislation to study, remedy and report
• California: external analysis, regional coordinators
• Iowa: state Indian Child Welfare Act
• New York: State Taskforce
• CSSP/Casey Alliance
• Black Administrators in Child Welfare/Casey
partnership

24. What will it matter
that we have talked
together? Adam

25. No less than we would
want for our own children.

26. Online Resources:
Casey Family Programs:
www.casey.org
Casey Family Programs
Breakthrough Series Collaborative:
www.casey.org/Resources/Projects/BSC
Publication:
Outcomes and Lessons Learned:
Casey’s Breakthrough Series Collaborative on Reducing Disproportionality and
Disparities for Children and Families of Color in the Child Welfare System
http://www.casey.org/Resources/Publications/DisproportionalityBSCReport.htm
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27. Contact Information:
Susan Kelly
Senior Director, Strategic Consulting
Casey Family Programs
Phone: (734) 547- 9164
Email: skelly@casey.org
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