4: Slow and Steady Wins the Race of Child Welfare Equity
National Webinar: February 15, 2018
Learning Exchange: February 22, 2018
NCWWI describes six workforce and organizational actions for promoting racial equity:
- Institutional analysis;
- Cross-systems and tribal partnerships;
- Data collection and analysis;
- Agency and workforce development;
- Agency-university partnerships; and
- Sustainability.
Over the continuous course of the last four years, the Connecticut Department of Children and Families (DCF) has moved to take action in all six areas. Constantly balancing the need for both patience and urgency, the agency has strived to address all aspects of racial justice, including implicit and explicit bias, interpersonal and internalized racism, and institutional and structural factors. This webinar will focus on DCF’s work related to agency and workforce development, as well as sustainability, as the team shares their experiences on what it seems to take to keep the work of racial justice in the forefront, in the background, and at all levels—in ways that ultimately impact children, families, and communities.
Every child, youth, and family deserves effective supports and services to meet their unique needs. Addressing racial justice at the organizational level ultimately improves outcomes for children, youth, and families that the organization serves.
Presenters from Connecticut DCF include Commissioner Joette Katz, Connecticut Department of Children and Families; Susan R. Smith, Chief of Quality and Planning; Jodi Hill-Lilly, Director of Academy for Workforce Development; Tracy Davis, Assistant Director of In-House Faculty; Vannessa Dorantes, Regional Administrator; Jen Agosti, President, JRA Consulting, Ltd.; and William Rivera, Director of Office of Multicultural Affairs and Immigration Practice.
Recordings:
- Webinar Recording (video)
- Learning Exchange Recording (video)
- Webinar MP3 (audio only)
- Learning Exchange MP3 (audio only)
Handouts and Resources:
CT’s Profile in Strategies to Reduce Racially Disparate Outcomes in Child Welfare
Sessions:
- Using an Institutional Analysis to Identify Core Issues and Spur Change – July 2017
- Community Collaboration & Grassroots Effort (Cross-systems & Tribal Partnerships) – September 2017
- A Data-Driven Approach to Improving Outcomes for Black Girls in Child Welfare – December 2017
- Slow and Steady Wins the RACE of Child Welfare Equity – February 2018
- Strengthening Our Efforts Through Partnerships with Academia – June 2018
- Sustaining Racial Improvements in Child Welfare – September 26, 2018