Renee Danser’s Post

The claim that the system is broken, and workers are a tool to oppress clients' needs to be rethought. A more balanced narrative can be shared in which child welfare addresses child maltreatment, neglect and child wellbeing and supports families while recognizing that workers function in a system influenced by other systems, social pressures, competing narratives, and abuse and well-being thresholds that can be difficult to navigate. Imagin for a second attempting to deal with the trauma of others on a daily basis, dealing with strong emotions including fear for your own safety and assuming responsibility should things go wrong when working with a largely involuntary clientele. Imagine the responsibility to get things right in the absence of physical evidence while balancing competing versions and the influence of secrecy. No wonder it has been said that "the profession is not rocket science, it's harder". It is the classic dammed if you do and dammed if you don't scenario. Working in child welfare is an admirable high skilled profession and speaks to the commitment of all those that work supporting families and balancing the needs of children and their families at the same time.

I'm excited to share this recent blog developed with colleagues here at AIR that talks about why taking a public health approach to building capacity and advancing equity is essential for preventing child abuse and neglect and improving youth and family well-being...Included are several recommendations to consider. Also included are a variety of resources...I hope you find these helpful. Would love to know your thoughts and please feel free to share!

I don't think it shocks anyone to say that Child Welfare is "a system no one would choose to use if they had the choice." When The State comes to talk to a parent about their children's wellbeing, no one thinks "oh thank god they're here, this will make everything easier." And yet... And yet I am sitting in a room surrounded by Department of Child Welfare colleagues at both the state and county levels who are fighting tooth and nail to reimagine a system that instead of invoking terror generates hope. A system that does not demand assimilation but instead supports struggling families as they are in the moment. A system where black families are not nearly 3x more likely to be involved compared to their white counterparts. A system that does not traumatize children for the crime of being born into poverty. A system that values community expertise as much as peer review. A system where families determine what happiness and health looks like for them rather than a system that prescribes a uniform type of "help." This is the good shit. This is why I walked away from a career where I could have expected to be making six figures by now. It was so that I could be in these conversations about remaking a world that sucks a little less. And this is the hard shit. We have one more day together and then we return to our daily grind. Our county partners will return to offices where they are doing too much with too few resources. Those of us at the State will return to an office where we very rarely interact with the families we serve. And it will be so easy - so, so easy - to fall back into the habit of putting out the immediate fires instead of addressing where the tinder is coming from. I present to you, then, my LinkedIn colleagues this my sincerest hope: One year from now, I hope I can present to you the beginnings of a world that sucks a little less.

Call for Papers: Human Trafficking and Child Welfare Populations Abstract submission deadline: March 15, 2024 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eGQERApV Child Welfare journal is happy to share another call for abstracts. We are planning a special issue dedicated to examining issues related to human trafficking in the United States and its impact on children, youth, and families. The special issue will focus on the intersection of US domestic human trafficking and child welfare. We are interested in examining intersections of human trafficking and child welfare—particularly children, youth, and families who come into contact with anti-trafficking and child welfare systems. This may include special populations such as youth in juvenile justice, disproportionality of BIPOC or LGBT youth who are trafficked, familial trafficking and child welfare response, etc. Submission topics should address both systems—anti-trafficking and child welfare—with a focus on children, youth, and/or families. Human trafficking in the United States has only been federally defined since the year 2000, and therefore research into this issue with a focus on subgroups such as LGBT youth, family trafficking, and BIPOC populations has been insufficiently studied. Further, the responses of child welfare systems to trafficking both, as intervention and prevention, as well as coordination of care with anti-trafficking organizations, requires further study. In studying human trafficking, it’s crucial to make sure scholars understand where different systems may intersect. Human trafficking and child welfare intersections have been studied in various US regions, but more specific study of populations or issues within this group is needed. The goal of this special issue is to advance our understanding by featuring policy, theoretical, and empirical papers focused on the intersection of human trafficking and child welfare. We are especially interested in examples from other systems that might be relevant for use within the child welfare system. Guest editors are M. Elizabeth Bowman (Gallaudet University) and Daniela Peterka-Benton (Montclair State University). Prospective authors should submit abstracts of up to 750 words, along with a current author bio and topic-relevant CV, to Child Welfare’s managing editor, Rachel Adams, at radams@cwla.org by March 15, 2024. #childwelfare #humantraffickingawareness #humantrafficking

What does justice look like in child welfare? Are we protecting children or policing families? Is it time to end the child welfare system as we know it? In a world where child welfare often means surveillance and separation, the upEND Movement offers a revolutionary alternative. Founded on the principle of abolition, upEND is dedicated to dismantling the current child welfare system and reimagining how we support families and children. 🔗 Read the Full Article https://lnkd.in/gnKJbe-S Why Abolish the Child Welfare System? For too long, the child welfare system has disproportionately affected Black, Native, LatinX, and poor children, leading to trauma and negative outcomes that can last a lifetime. Instead of temporary fixes, upEND advocates for a complete overhaul to eliminate these systemic inequities and replace them with community-driven, supportive measures. Key Points from the Article: The harm caused by the child welfare system is both immediate and enduring, necessitating a radical redefinition of child welfare and well-being. Abolition is not just about ending harmful practices but about fundamentally rethinking how society can support its most vulnerable members. Meet the Team Behind upEND: Josie Pickens, a seasoned organizer and educator, leads our programs with a focus on abolishing the family policing system. Sydnie Mares brings her expertise in communications and graphic design to amplify our message and mission. Alan Dettlaff, Maya Pendleton, and connease warren are among the advisors who bring a wealth of knowledge and dedication to the cause. This movement is not merely a critique but a constructive approach towards a more just and equitable society where every child and family can thrive without the shadow of surveillance. Join us in rethinking child welfare. Maybe itt isn’t a broken system, but a system that needs to be broken. #upENDmovement #ChildWelfare #SocialWork #AbolitionSocialWork #Abolition #RevolutionarySocialWork

This past Wednesday, the US House of Representatives passed the Protecting America's Children by Strengthening Families Act with overwhelming support (405-10)!    This is a groundbreaking bipartisan bill that brings long-awaited reforms and investments to our child welfare system. The bill explicitly calls for people with lived experience to have a key role in shaping child welfare. As Alia continues to design new ways of preventing foster care alongside impacted parents, we co-sign the importance of building new ways forward alongside those most impacted. The bill also increases funding (by $75 million/year), provides direct cash support (to prevent family separation due to poverty), expands support for kin caregivers, simplifies processes for Tribes (a HUGE win!), and strengthens courts & child welfare workforce.   These changes bring us closer to a system that supports and empowers families, rather than tearing them apart. We are not there yet, but every step we take in the right direction is a reminder of the incredible momentum our movement has across the nation. We are making progress each and every day.   Now, it’s time for the Senate to act swiftly so we can get these reforms implemented! 💪    #ChildWelfareReform #FamiliesFirst #ProtectKids #LivedExperienceMatters https://lnkd.in/giQ6teH7

### **Is a CPS that is Focused on Child Safety Too Much to Ask?** Professors Putnam-Hornstein and Font don’t think so. They point out a concerning gap in the current strategy of the U.S. Administration for Children and Families. The "strategic plan" and the "current issues and priorities" from the Children’s Bureau lack any mention of critical terms like *child abuse, safety, maltreatment,* or *fatalities*. If our child welfare system doesn’t prioritize child safety, what are we really working towards? #ChildWelfare #ChildSafety #PreventingAbuse #PolicyMatters #ACF #ChildProtection #SocialWork #PublicHealth #FamilySupport -

Raise your hand if you've felt like the system you're a part of isn't working as well as it could be for the people it aims to serve. What if instead of prescribing top-down solutions, we started by asking communities to define what wellbeing looks like for them? This #WellbeingWednesday, we're spotlighting the powerful transformation happening at the Public Children Services Association of Ohio (PCSAO) as an example of centering community in the child welfare system. Over two and a half years, they've modeled a profound shift — moving from a top-down approach to co-creating a framework led by those most impacted. Their journey illuminates vital lessons for all of us on creating safety, sharing power and supporting community wellbeing. Starting with wellbeing means centering the real experts — the individuals, families and communities impacted by our work. It means recognizing that equitable access to wellbeing can't be achieved without engaging communities as equal partners. Rather than professionals calling all the shots, this mindset shift requires co-designing solutions alongside those with lived experience of the issues.

The United Coalition For US Child Welfare Reform (UCUCWR) consists of experts on the effects of childhood trauma and the US Child Welfare System. Through thoughtful discussion and credible research, the ultimate goal of UCUCWR is to be a catalyst for enacting federal, state, county, and community reforms to make the US Child Welfare System safer and to help system-impacted youth thrive. If you have lived experience, are a physician experienced with mandated reporting, a children's rights lawyer, a child welfare judge, a child-trafficking investigator, an advocate for LGBTQIA2S+ youth, an advocate for homeless youth, an advocate for justice system-involved youth, a mental health or behavioral health practitioner, a social service worker, a caseworker, a case manager, a researcher, a policy expert, a journalist, a data analyst, a filmmaker, a podcaster, or anyone with relevant experience with the US Child Welfare System, then please join our group. We are open to all perspectives and productive conversations. Please keep the conversations diplomatic and bear in mind when composing your messages that members may have trauma triggers to avoid. It is time to reform the US Child Welfare System. Let us work together and discuss the vital legislation that is necessary to keep children and youth in care safe and thriving. https://lnkd.in/e7pfyQ5u #FosterCare #ChildWelfare #LivedExperience #ChildrensRights #Advocates #Allies #MentalHealthMatters #Traums #JuvenileJustice #Homelessness #TeenPregnancy #LGBTQIA2S+ #Change #Reform #HHS #FCAM2024 #MHAM2024

Reimagining and redesigning the child welfare system is already being done. I highly recommend reviewing this report (even if you focus just on the recommendations). https://lnkd.in/gYeseCFv Here's the kicker: the recommendations are completely logical and practical and if implemented, would lead to a more compassionate and equitable child welfare system. It would also lead to a dramatic reduction of families unnecessarily being torn apart- in some cases- forever. Far less children would be in foster care. The report highlights many things that I kind of think we already know we need to do. The question is whether we have the will. * Will we have the will to "invest in critical social safety nets for children and families delinked from the child welfare system and implement social and economic policies to reduce income and wealth inequality" rather than breaking up families because they're living in poverty? A majority of children are in foster care because of "neglect", not abuse. It has been well-established that many families could be preserved by just ensuring that their basic needs are met. * Will we have the will to enact "legislation that helps children maintain ties with their families when parental rights are terminated"? Unfortunately, there will be children who will not be able to return to their birth parents or remain within their families. As was in my case, this can often mean being completely disconnected from everyone and everything you know, including your culture. This is absolutely UNACCEPTABLE and AVOIDABLE. Children can maintain connections with their families of origin in some capacity if we do the right thing and find the will to sometimes do the complicated thing. * Will more of us find the will to move through our guilt, shame, fragility, and sense of powerlessness to accept that "the modern child welfare system was formed and exists within the context of America’s history of racial bias and systemic racism impacts and exists in the current child welfare system"? Will we then do our part to disrupt injustice, inequity, and harm in whatever ways we can? Take a look at the report and let me know what you think.