Did you know that over 1,800 children are abused and neglected each day in the U.S. and approximately 435,000 children are currently in the foster care system? Children who experience trauma, including abuse and neglect or loss of one or more parents, known as Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs), are more likely to face lifelong challenges to their well-being. How can we spare children and families from having deeper involvement in the social service systems? In this one-hour webinar, Abt and a distinguished panel explored the social and policy conditions that influence disproportionate representation of children of color in the child welfare system, including:
- racism
- access to services, including Medicaid and CHIP and
- lack of economic opportunity and affordable housing and childcare among others.
Panelists identified ways in which leaders across sectors make decisions that impact the families encountering the system, and described changes needed to reduce family and child engagement with the systems.
Speakers:
- Frank Alexander, Vice President of Systems Transformation and Collaborative Ventures, Abt Global
- David Ambroz, J.D., Author of A Place Called Home
- Sandra Gasca-Gonzalez, M.S., B.A., Vice President, Center for Systems Innovation at Annie E. Casey Foundation
- Mark Washington, Executive Director of BCBS NC Healthy Blue Child and Family Specialty Plan
Moderator:
- Ginger Pryor, MSW - Principal Associate at Abt Global
Additional Resources
Building a 21st Century Road Map to Child Welfare Transformation
For far too long, the child welfare system has been designed to be reactive, where caseworkers respond after child maltreatment and other adverse childhood experiences have occurred, with the primary intervention being removal from the home. For young…
Narrowing the Equity Gap and Promoting Social Determinants of Health Approaches
This paper identifies strategies for addressing the social determinants of health that make health equity such a challenging issue.
Protecting High Risk Youth: Opportunities in Education and the Justice Systems
In this Abt webinar, panelists discuss the impacts of involving youth in the justice and child welfare systems, which can increase the lifelong risk for poor health and wellbeing.
Reaching Equity: Data, Collaboration, and the Social Determinants of Health
Chris Tappan and Lori Hunter discuss data, collaboration between agencies, and the vital importance of equitable services in this episode of The Intersect.