Exploring the History of Bias Within the Child Welfare System and Seeking Solutions

Exploring the History of Bias Within the Child Welfare System and Seeking SolutionsPart 2

The Ensuring Racial Equity Committee, in collaboration with the Juvenile Justice and Child Welfare Committee and the Fairness and Access Committee, is honored to present a series of discussions on the institutional history of the child welfare system. From a national perspective, these discussions will shed light on the structural bias and racial disparities within the child welfare system and the negative impact such bias has on families of color, particularly African American families. We will present data demonstrating that these families are disproportionately brought into the child welfare system and discuss reasons for their overrepresentation. We will highlight strategic and creative action being taken nationally to address and dismantle the bias giving rise to these disparities.

The objectives for our second discussion are to:

1. Provide a brief overview of the historical perspective of the child welfare system and present
data showing the disparate representation of families of color in the system and the resultant
negative affect on these families.
2. Learn from a young adult, Mr. Hawkins, who will share his Lived Experience in the system,
from the initiation of the case to the conclusion of his case, along with suggestions he and his lawyer, Ms. Diaz, have for judges handling these cases.
3. Discuss strategic and creative action being taken to address and dismantle the bias in the child welfare system at every stage of the decision-making process.

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