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October 27, 2016
Greetings,
Emerging science around the effects of toxic stress and trauma on brain development highlight the importance of incorporating a trauma-informed lens in our efforts to build stronger youth-serving systems. Indeed, much of our work at CSSP involves supporting state agencies and local programs in centering trauma and resiliency in their efforts to ensure youth well-being. As the articles featured in this month's Alliance newsletter demonstrate, the stress of institutionalized racism and systemic discrimination add another layer of trauma to the experiences of youth of color in our education, juvenile justice and child welfare systems.
As we lift up the role of trauma and the ways in which public systems can best respond, we also continue to explore the use of predictive analytics in child welfare. This technology uses cross-systems data, statistical algorithms and machine learning techniques to help system's assess youth and family needs, including levels of risk for future abuse and neglect. Systems leaders, advocates and stakeholders have expressed concerns about the potential for biased outcomes from this technology, especially given prevalent racial and ethnic disparities. Please look out for our second webinar in the series, Predictive Analytics in Child Welfare: A Broader View from the Field on November 17th from 2:00-3:00 pm EST.
All the best,
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How the Stress of Racism Affects Learning
A recent study from Northwestern University suggests that the stress resulting from racial discrimination contributes to gaps in academic performance. What many black and Latino youth experience as a lack of concentration, motivation, and learning is often a physiological response to race-based stress that can occur on a daily basis. Read the full article discussing the study
here.
Resilience the Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope
 Toxic stress can occur when a child experiences prolonged adversity, such as exposure to violence, caregiver mental illness, abuse or neglect. Though children living in poverty are most at risk, toxic stress can affect anyone and result in a greater likelihood for negative outcomes like disease, homelessness, involvement in the criminal justice system, and early death. The documentary film
Resilience spotlights the leaders in various fields that are working to combat the effects of toxic stress. Watch the trailer for the film
here.
The film also offers a facilitator's guide, which can be accessed
here.
Yale Study on Implicit Bias in Preschools
A new study from Yale University's Child Study Center uncovered racial biases among preschool teachers. According to the study, teachers are more likely to expect misbehavior from black children, particularly black boys. Read the full brief
here.
Proposed Tax Credit to Hire Former Foster Youth
For many foster youth aging out of the child welfare system finding employment continues to be a major hurdle. Studies show they are less likely to be employed and often earn lower wages than their peers. The bipartisan Improving Employment Outcomes for Foster Youth Act would allow employers to receive an annual tax credit for hiring former foster youth. Read about it
here.
Native American Youth and Trauma
 According to the Justice Department, in 2014 Native American children experienced post-traumatic stress at the same rate as veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Given the high rates of public system involvement for Native American youth, the courts are uniquely positioned provide support. A two-part special report explores how courts are addressing trauma with Native American families. Read the report
here.
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On October 11, 2016 the United Nations celebrated the International Day of the Girl Child. The day was declared by the United Nations on December 19, 2011 to recognize the rights of girls and the challenges and barriers they face around the world. This year, CSSP shed light on the ways in which young women and girls still face gender and racial discrimination, personal and community violence and added trauma that result from involvement in foster care, juvenile justice and other intervening public systems. Read the blog
here
.
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Predictive Analytics in Child Welfare: A Broader View from the Field
In our first webinar on predictive analytics in child welfare we discussed Oregon's and Allegheny County, Pennsylvania's efforts to develop and implement their predictive modeling tools. On November 17th from 2:00 to 3:30 pm EST, we'll hear from Carole Hussey and Heather Baker from the Public Consulting Group who will discuss the benefits and challenges of predictive analytics, the types of tools and methods used to perform predictive analytics, real world examples and methods for mitigating bias. We'll deepen our dialogue around racial equity in predicative analytics, including considerations for jurisdictions to keep in mind while launching sophisticated data technology. Register for the webinar here.
Join the Network
The Alliance for Racial Equity in Child Welfare has formed the Social Service Administrators Racial Equity Network to facilitate information sharing and strategy building among a community of child welfare and social service administrators committed to achieving equity for children and families involved with the child welfare system.
Through this network, child welfare and social service administrators dissect the range of effective policies and system improvement strategies that promote racial equity and improved outcomes for children and families of color. The network includes thought leaders and administrators from social service and human service systems, as each of these broader systems provides critically important supports and services.
Please contact Tashira Halyard
at the Center for the Study of Social Policy if you're interested in joining this network.
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Established in 2004, the
Alliance for Racial Equity in Child Welfare provides national leadership in support of improved outcomes for children and families of color involved with the nation's child welfare system. The Alliance is guided by a coalition of national organizations, state and local leaders, judges, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, advocates and parents, as well as alumni and youth who have directly experienced the child welfare system.
The Alliance is supported by funding from the Annie E. Casey foundation and is managed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy. |
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