Children of Color Task Force Status Report
Committee Agenda Date: November 15, 2006
Agenda Item No.7
.::ounty of Santa Clara
Social Services Agency
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Department of Family and Children's Services
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CSFC SSA04 111506
Prepared by: Randy Parker
Social Work Supervisor
Reviewed by: Norma Doctor Sparks
Director, Department of Family
and Children's Services
DATE:
November 15, 2006
TO:
Supervisor James T. Beall, Jr., Chairperson
Supervisor Don Gage, Vice-Chairperson
Children, Seniors & Families Committee
FROM:
Will Lightbourne
Agency Director, Social Services Agency
SUBJECT: Children of Color Task Force Status Report
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Accept Children of Color Task Force Status Update.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
There are not fi scal implication associated with the recommended action.
Board ofSupervisors : Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugt1, .J im Beall, Liz f<ni ss
County Executive: Peter Kutras J r.
r
'
Committee Agenda Date: Novem~_~r 15,,20()~
Agenda Item No.7
CONTRACT HISTORY
Not applicable.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION
The Children, Seniors and Families Committee requested a status update on the Unified
Children of Color Task Force. The last report to the Committee on was on May 10, 2006.
STATUS UPDATE
The Task Force met on May 9, July 11 and September 12, 2006. In June, Task Force members
attended training by Dr. Rita Cameron Wedding on "Addressing Racial Disproportionality in
Child Welfare Services." In addition, a subcommittee has met 3 times to conduct a case
review of a random sample of families about whom abuse or neglect allegations where
substantiated in April 2006.
During Phase I of the Task Force's work in early 2006, members studied a wide variety of
data from the Department of Family and Children's Services (DFCS) to determine factors
contributing to overrepresentation at various decision points in the child welfare continuum of
services. In March, this work culminated in the.group selecting child abuse referrals,
children's first entries into foster care and referral disposition decision making for more
intensive study.
The Task Force started Phase II of their work at their meeting on May 9, 2006 by receiving a
presentation on DFCS Emergency Response referral and investigation processes, including
Enhanced Joint Responses by social workers and law enforcement officers. The group also
reviewed a presentation on risk assessment and the latest drafts of the Comprehensive
Assessment Tools (CAT) to be implemented in DFCS, and an update on the Differential
Response Community Workgroup. Outcome and demographic data was presented on
abuse/neglect allegation types, referral dispositions, voluntary and informal supervision cases,
child removal reasons, child removals by child abuse reporter type, permanent placements,
and living situation outcome at exit from placement (i.e., with kin or non-kin).
Board of Supervisors: Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugh, Jim Beall, Liz Kniss
County Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.
2
Committee Agenda Date: November 15, 200~
Agenda Item No.7
June, Dr. Rita Cameron Wedding, Professor of Women's Studies and Ethnic Studies at
CSU - Sacramento, provided training on "Addressing Racial Disproportionality in Child
Welfare Services." This remarkable and enlightening training provided new insights and
corrective strategies concerning the subtle and not-so-subtle socialization processes that
result in nearly all, if not all people, unwittingly exercising biases based on race and ethnicity,
and how policies and practices supportive of biases become unwittingly and insidiously
institutionalized. All DFCS staff will receive this training in January 2007.
~1
On July 11th, the Task Force reviewed material provided at Dr. Cameron Wedding's training
and discussed application of her concepts and strategies in Santa Clara County. The Manager
over Emergency Response presented information about the legal definitions of abuse and
neglect, and the criteria and evidence for substantiating abuse and neglect allegations. Also
presented and discussed were the research protocol for the subcommittee's review of
substantiated child abuse and neglect referrals and recent outcome data on children exiting the
Child Welfare System between October 2004 and September 2005 (i.e., reunified, adopted,
guardianship, emancipation and other).
~he subcommittee reviewing substantiated child abuse and neglect referrals met on August
_8, October 2 and October 16, 2006. Case documents contain no identifying information.
Judge Lucero approved the case file review. Subcommittee members have reviewed 8 cases
thus far.
At the Task Force meeting on September 12th, data on the overrepresentation of children of
color upon first entry into foster care was examined. Other agenda items included review of
the minutes from the Differential Response Workgroup, a pre-pilot report on Gardner Family
Care Corporation's Enhanced Differential Response Program, an update on the case file
review, Contra Costa County's program to reduce disproportionality, and updates on Enhance
Joint Response and the CAT risk assessment tools.
The October 10th meeting was cancelled due to uncertainties related to a possible labor group
work action at DFCS. The next meeting is scheduled for November 14, 2006.
BACKGROUND
Board of Supervisors: Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete Mc Hugh, Jim Beall, Liz Kniss
County Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.
3
Committee Agenda Date: November 15,.2006
· · · ·· ·
· ··· ..· ·· ·
lte~ No~7
Reducing the overrepresentation of children of color in all phases of child welfare services
remains a vitally important goal in Santa Clara County. Over the past several years, the Social
Service Agency, Department of Family and Children's Services, the Child Abuse Council, and
the Social Services Advisory Commission separately focused efforts to determine how best to
address this disparity. In late 2005, they joined forces with representatives from Offices of the
County Board Supervisors, Court Appointed Special Advocates~ Juvenile Welfare Office of
the Ombudsman, San Jose State University, numerous community-based service
organizations and concerned citizens to form the Unified Children of Color Task Force. The
Task Force members share the goal of reducing the overrepresentation of children of color by
carefully studying how various factors and conditions within the community and within DFCS
operations can be enhanced or modified to reduce the disparity. Andre Chapman, President
and CEO of Unity Care, and Jorge Gonzalez, DFCS Social Services Program Manager
co-chair the Task Force.
CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION
Negative action would result in the Committee not receiving a status update on the Children
of Color Task Force.
STEPS FOLLOWING APPROVAL
The Clerk of the Baord will follow the usual procedures for a report of this type.
ATTACHMENTS
•
Board of Supervisors: Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugh, Jim Beall. Liz Kniss
County Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.
4
Agenda Item No.7
.::ounty of Santa Clara
Social Services Agency
c,OUivr-}--
<v,,
.
.
Department of Family and Children's Services
.
'fl'c)
.
,
'--~ - C.,,~ _.
___
CSFC SSA04 111506
Prepared by: Randy Parker
Social Work Supervisor
Reviewed by: Norma Doctor Sparks
Director, Department of Family
and Children's Services
DATE:
November 15, 2006
TO:
Supervisor James T. Beall, Jr., Chairperson
Supervisor Don Gage, Vice-Chairperson
Children, Seniors & Families Committee
FROM:
Will Lightbourne
Agency Director, Social Services Agency
SUBJECT: Children of Color Task Force Status Report
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Accept Children of Color Task Force Status Update.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS
There are not fi scal implication associated with the recommended action.
Board ofSupervisors : Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugt1, .J im Beall, Liz f<ni ss
County Executive: Peter Kutras J r.
r
'
Committee Agenda Date: Novem~_~r 15,,20()~
Agenda Item No.7
CONTRACT HISTORY
Not applicable.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION
The Children, Seniors and Families Committee requested a status update on the Unified
Children of Color Task Force. The last report to the Committee on was on May 10, 2006.
STATUS UPDATE
The Task Force met on May 9, July 11 and September 12, 2006. In June, Task Force members
attended training by Dr. Rita Cameron Wedding on "Addressing Racial Disproportionality in
Child Welfare Services." In addition, a subcommittee has met 3 times to conduct a case
review of a random sample of families about whom abuse or neglect allegations where
substantiated in April 2006.
During Phase I of the Task Force's work in early 2006, members studied a wide variety of
data from the Department of Family and Children's Services (DFCS) to determine factors
contributing to overrepresentation at various decision points in the child welfare continuum of
services. In March, this work culminated in the.group selecting child abuse referrals,
children's first entries into foster care and referral disposition decision making for more
intensive study.
The Task Force started Phase II of their work at their meeting on May 9, 2006 by receiving a
presentation on DFCS Emergency Response referral and investigation processes, including
Enhanced Joint Responses by social workers and law enforcement officers. The group also
reviewed a presentation on risk assessment and the latest drafts of the Comprehensive
Assessment Tools (CAT) to be implemented in DFCS, and an update on the Differential
Response Community Workgroup. Outcome and demographic data was presented on
abuse/neglect allegation types, referral dispositions, voluntary and informal supervision cases,
child removal reasons, child removals by child abuse reporter type, permanent placements,
and living situation outcome at exit from placement (i.e., with kin or non-kin).
Board of Supervisors: Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugh, Jim Beall, Liz Kniss
County Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.
2
Committee Agenda Date: November 15, 200~
Agenda Item No.7
June, Dr. Rita Cameron Wedding, Professor of Women's Studies and Ethnic Studies at
CSU - Sacramento, provided training on "Addressing Racial Disproportionality in Child
Welfare Services." This remarkable and enlightening training provided new insights and
corrective strategies concerning the subtle and not-so-subtle socialization processes that
result in nearly all, if not all people, unwittingly exercising biases based on race and ethnicity,
and how policies and practices supportive of biases become unwittingly and insidiously
institutionalized. All DFCS staff will receive this training in January 2007.
~1
On July 11th, the Task Force reviewed material provided at Dr. Cameron Wedding's training
and discussed application of her concepts and strategies in Santa Clara County. The Manager
over Emergency Response presented information about the legal definitions of abuse and
neglect, and the criteria and evidence for substantiating abuse and neglect allegations. Also
presented and discussed were the research protocol for the subcommittee's review of
substantiated child abuse and neglect referrals and recent outcome data on children exiting the
Child Welfare System between October 2004 and September 2005 (i.e., reunified, adopted,
guardianship, emancipation and other).
~he subcommittee reviewing substantiated child abuse and neglect referrals met on August
_8, October 2 and October 16, 2006. Case documents contain no identifying information.
Judge Lucero approved the case file review. Subcommittee members have reviewed 8 cases
thus far.
At the Task Force meeting on September 12th, data on the overrepresentation of children of
color upon first entry into foster care was examined. Other agenda items included review of
the minutes from the Differential Response Workgroup, a pre-pilot report on Gardner Family
Care Corporation's Enhanced Differential Response Program, an update on the case file
review, Contra Costa County's program to reduce disproportionality, and updates on Enhance
Joint Response and the CAT risk assessment tools.
The October 10th meeting was cancelled due to uncertainties related to a possible labor group
work action at DFCS. The next meeting is scheduled for November 14, 2006.
BACKGROUND
Board of Supervisors: Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete Mc Hugh, Jim Beall, Liz Kniss
County Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.
3
Committee Agenda Date: November 15,.2006
· · · ·· ·
· ··· ..· ·· ·
lte~ No~7
Reducing the overrepresentation of children of color in all phases of child welfare services
remains a vitally important goal in Santa Clara County. Over the past several years, the Social
Service Agency, Department of Family and Children's Services, the Child Abuse Council, and
the Social Services Advisory Commission separately focused efforts to determine how best to
address this disparity. In late 2005, they joined forces with representatives from Offices of the
County Board Supervisors, Court Appointed Special Advocates~ Juvenile Welfare Office of
the Ombudsman, San Jose State University, numerous community-based service
organizations and concerned citizens to form the Unified Children of Color Task Force. The
Task Force members share the goal of reducing the overrepresentation of children of color by
carefully studying how various factors and conditions within the community and within DFCS
operations can be enhanced or modified to reduce the disparity. Andre Chapman, President
and CEO of Unity Care, and Jorge Gonzalez, DFCS Social Services Program Manager
co-chair the Task Force.
CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION
Negative action would result in the Committee not receiving a status update on the Children
of Color Task Force.
STEPS FOLLOWING APPROVAL
The Clerk of the Baord will follow the usual procedures for a report of this type.
ATTACHMENTS
•
Board of Supervisors: Donald F. Gage, Blanca Alvarado, Pete McHugh, Jim Beall. Liz Kniss
County Executive: Peter Kutras Jr.
4
Document
Report from Will Lightbourne, Agency Director of the Social Services Agency to Supervisors Jim Beall & Don Gage and the Children, Seniors & Families Committee regarding the Children of Color Task Force.
Initiative
Collection
James T. Beall, Jr.
Content Type
Report
Resource Type
Document
Date
11/15/06
District
District 4
Creator
Will Lightbourne, Agency Director, Social Services Agency
Language
English
Rights
No Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-US/1.0/