Culture Creations Inc

"It is time for us all to create open and respectful spaces for everyone. As the song lyric in my mom’s favorite song, Let There Be Peace on Earth, reminds us: And let it begin with me." -Holly J. Mitchell In 2023, during a Foster Youth In Action webinar, "Understanding the Crown Act: What are the Roots of Respect, How do we Build Resilient Spaces for Mental Health & Self-Expression", foster care advocates across the US joined in the conversation to discuss how the CROWN Act impacts child welfare system impacted populations. Listening to the voices of current and former youth who experienced care, allies, and philanthropic partners, one theme was made clear. Our youth do not feel supported in decisions around hair and wearing cultural wrappings because hair is not seen as a priority. It is evident how mainstream American societal issues such as hair discrimination and cultural discrimination can trickle down and intersect with our child and family serving systems. Our solution was rooted in collaboration and understanding the power of listening to the lived experience experts and allies who navigate communities and systems. In partnership, we created 5 Tipsheets for clinical staff & social workers, advocates & allies, caregivers, legal advocates(lawyers, CASA, GAL), and youth & young adults to inform about the importance of hair hygiene {maintenance and care} and cultural coverings for all populations in substitute care {foster care, kinship, juvenile, mental health, adoption} nationwide. Our purpose is to build capacity, connect people to resources, and challenge the way care is given & received within the United States, jurisdictions, territories, and tribes. In addition to the five tipsheets, there will be a Spanish version for the youth and young adults. Join us on October 29th, 2024, for the official release date of the tipsheet resource. This resource will be available on all social media platforms. Virtual PDFs will be shared upon request.  We hope to engage with you then. Onwards! Culture Creations Inc Glenda Clare, Ph.D. Kristen Nicole Powell Whitney Rodgers #AR4G #Advocacy #Community #Childwelfare #FosterYouthVoiceMonth

At Risk 4 Greatness is proud to launch a National Hair Care and Cultural Autonomy Resource for all substitute care impact stakeholders and populations. Thank you to Culture Creations Inc, The Lost & Found Institute, Foster Family Alliance of NC, Burgess Consultative Group, SAYSO, NC Child Welfare Family Advisory Council, NC Stakeholders, and others for making this resource a reality. Scan the bar code and get your copy today! In the spirit of community, there will be a webinar on February 21st, 2025 2 pm-4:30 pm EST. Join advocates and like-minded individuals around the country to discuss hair care reform for system-involved populations. https://lnkd.in/eMXSrSKC  Along with the release of the tipsheets, there is a social media toolkit for people to use and engage online with others. In this toolkit, there are graphics, captions, social media hashtags, and a message template for emails. https://lnkd.in/efifWUbh If you have questions or need printable tipsheets, please email Lanitta Berry at Lanitta.berry@gmail.com. Looking forward to seeing you engage with the community on this journey of supporting all hair within the child welfare and intersectional systems. Onwards! #FosterYouthVoiceMonth #Advocacy #ChildWelfare #Community #Nonprofit #HC4E #HairCare #WellBeing #MentalHealth #Mental #Health #CROWNAct #FosterYouth #AR4G #ICareForFosteringHair #FosteringHair #Culture 

Last night we launched our new monthly hair care Q&A! I knew this was huge need. Adoptive and foster parents fear and fret over hair care. They believe they are unequipped or even uncapable of caring for different textured hair. We wanted to bring a monthly resource that showed parents that that isn’t true and that they can learn how to care for their child hair and even teach their child. We had message and after message like the one below. Children need adults that can care for them and teach them how to care for themselves. Let’s make sure children go into homes that can empower them and care for them together!

Had the pleasure to attend the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Children’s Bureau Annual Grant Recipient Meeting for the Field-Initiated Approach to Addressing Racial Bias and Inequity in Child Welfare in D.C. this week. This was a place where all the grant recipients came together for a couple of days to engage with one another, develop different tools & perspectives, & learn more about the projects happening nationwide. There is something special about being in a room with folks with the same goal (eliminating racial disparities) yet everyone is going about it in a different & creative way. The Racial Equity Collaborative is honored to be apart of this inaugural grant cohort led by KU School of Social Welfare, and partnered with Culture Creations Inc & @Kfan….we are ready to go!!