Equitable practice is the consistent and just treatment of all people, including individuals who belong to underserved and marginalized communities, including the LGBTQIA2S+ community. This practice is about reducing disproportionality and disparities, providing equitable access to culturally responsive services, and improving experiences and outcomes.
Systemic racism and implicit bias have created inequalities in representation in child and family serving systems. As a result, some families may feel reluctant to seek or receive services from public agencies. Authentically engaging and listening to those most impacted by the system can be a valuable source of information for moving toward more equitable practice. Respecting and learning about another culture with humility and curiosity can help foster meaningful partnerships with families and communities to create an equitable child- and family-serving system.
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Subtopics
Addressing Disproportionality
Black and American Indian/Alaska Native children are overrepresented in child welfare and experience inequitable outcomes once they are involved with the system. Learn about racial disproportionality in child welfare and contributing factors.
Equity for LGBTQIA2S+ Individuals
Addressing inequities for LGBTQIA2S+ youth and families served by the child welfare system is a collaborative effort between agencies, community partners, and those with lived experience.
Serving Diverse Families
Serving diverse families involves connecting families with the services that fit their unique needs, taking race, culture, locality, sexual orientation, or disability into consideration.
Engaging a Diverse Group of Partners in Child Welfare
Round 4 of the Child and Family Services Reviews emphasizes the need to engage diverse partners and those with lived experience to help inform child welfare strategic planning efforts and improve outcomes for children and families.
Featured
Addressing Disproportionality, Disparity, and Equity Throughout Child Welfare
Examine the Children's Bureau's commitment to addressing disproportionality and disparity in child welfare for people of color; those who experience poverty; and other populations who historically have experienced disproportionality and disparity.
Racial Equity
Browse a list of resources to support child welfare staff and leaders as they confront implicit bias, address disproportionally and disparity, implement system changes, and work to achieve racial equity within their organizations and across systems.
Child Welfare Practice to Address Racial Disproportionality and Disparity
Explore factors that contribute to racial and ethnic disproportionality and disparity in the child welfare system. The publication also outlines strategies to assist professionals with addressing these issues and decision-making along the continuum.
Transforming Child Welfare: Prioritizing Prevention, Racial Equity, and Advancing Child and Family Well-Being
Explore the need for a transformational shift of the child welfare system to become more focused on the prevention of child maltreatment and racial equity and learn how the child welfare system should improve and sustain child and family well-being.
Strengthening Families Using a Racial Equity Lens
Learn how professionals can use an awareness of power to adopt and embrace an antiracist mindset. Real case scenarios create an opportunity to learn how mindset impacts policy development and child welfare decisions.
Provisions of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)
Learn about the Every Student Succeeds Act, under which State education agencies must coordinate with child welfare agencies to ensure educational stability requirements for children in foster care resulting in minimal interruptions to learning.