Advancing Racial Equity in Child Welfare: Child Welfare Virtual Expo (CWVE) 2021
Explore strategies to advance racial equity in child welfare presented by families and youth with lived expertise and other national experts. Pair videos with the related discussion guide to prompt learning and reflection on racial inequities and develop plans to put ideas into action in these key areas:
- Build a Foundation for Racial Equity in Child Welfare
- Data and Racial Equity in Child Welfare
- Racial Equity and Authentic Engagement in Child Welfare
- Racial Equity and the Child Welfare Workforce
Ready to Get Started?
First, select the topics that align with your personal and team interests. Then, answer the reflection questions in the discussion guide to prepare individuals for group learning. Finally, use the conversation starters and team activities to facilitate team discussions, create a shared understanding of how these topics relate to your everyday work, and develop action plans to move the work of racial equity forward.
CWVE 2021 Discussion Guide
The guide includes:
- Descriptions of the videos
- Individual reflection questions tailored to each topic
- Conversation starters to spark discussion of ideas and strategies for advancing racial equity with your colleagues and leaders
- Team activities for child welfare staff and collaborative partners to brainstorm how to put these ideas into action
- Strategies, resources, and tips for having conversations about racial equity
Explore how and why racial and ethnic disparities exist in child welfare systems and in outcomes for children, youth, and families. Watch the videos and work through the discussion guide activities in this topic to:
- Gain an understanding of the history that has created the modern-day U.S. child welfare system
- Examine how racial and ethnic disparities show up in the child welfare system
- Learn about examples and strategies for advancing racial equity, including meaningfully sharing power and decision-making with youth and families
Closing Remarks From Children’s Bureau Associate Commissioner Aysha E. Schomburg
Discover strategies for moving beyond acknowledging the problem of disproportionality and disparate outcomes to using data to build evidence; engage youth, families, and other partners in data exploration; and move toward racial equity. Watch the videos and work through the discussion guide activities in this topic to:
- Consider how racial inequities can be measured and how to distinguish factors related to race from other commonly examined contributing factors (e.g., poverty, neglect)
- Review strategies, tools, and frameworks that agencies may implement as first steps to assess and address racial inequities in child welfare systems
- Learn about strategies for presenting data in actionable ways that can lead to real change
- Hear about effective strategies for data sharing and data collaboration
- Examine ways jurisdictions can integrate strategies to promote equity in continuous quality improvement (CQI) and evaluation efforts
Using Data and Evaluation to Advance Racial Equity in Child Welfare
"We See It, We Know It, and Now We Must Do Something About It:” Working Together to Reduce Inequity
Learn about the vital connection between racial equity and authentic engagement of youth, families, Tribes, and communities. Watch the videos and work through the discussion guide activities in this topic to:
- Hear about the experiences of diverse individuals with lived and/or professional child welfare expertise, as well as a deep understanding of racial equity and family engagement
- Learn strategies for authentically partnering with youth, young adults, Tribes, families, and communities of color to inform and improve child welfare research, practice, and policy
- Discover ways to center youth and family voice, experience, and expertise in the work of child welfare
- Examine the importance of moving toward cultural humility and cultural safety in child welfare practice
- Identify and learn how to implement strategies that encourage the equitable engagement of fathers
From Understanding to Action: Shifting Power Dynamics to Advance Racial Equity
Co-Creating Equitable Child Welfare Policies and Practice
Explore ways to help child welfare systems foster a healthy organizational culture and climate and improve the well-being of the child welfare workforce. Watch the videos and work through the discussion guide activities in this topic to:
- Learn how child welfare organizations can create equity in the workforce by promoting diversity and emphasizing the need for organizational assessments
- Understand how to build a culture and environment that value lived experience and expertise
- Explore strategies for addressing moral distress (impaired well-being that is connected to the continual inability to implement actions that one considers morally appropriate) and combating implicit bias
Connect With Us
Learn how we can help your agency build the capacity to thrive.
Email: capacityinfo@icfi.com
Phone: 1.844.222.0272
Visit the Center for States' Contact Us webpage for more information.
Continuing Education Credits
We are pleased to offer social work, clinical psychology, counseling, and marriage and family therapy continuing education units (CEUs) with this learning experience. Links to purchase CEUs are provided on the 2021 CWVE CEU webpage.
*Note: The CEU sponsor, R. Cassidy Seminars, maintains responsibility for its CEU program. For more information on the licensing program and requirements, please visit the sponsor’s website.