Using an Institutional Analysis to Identify Systemic Barriers to Racial Equity in the Child Welfare System Fresno County DSS Howard Himes & Wendy Osikafo

Background and Steps that Led to Institutional Analysis  2003 ~ Fresno County began implementing Annie E. Casey’s Family to Family Initiative  Community Partnership and Self Evaluation Strategies Intersect through gathering and presenting baseline data to the community  Present ~ Child Welfare partners with the community and convenes the Disproportionality Advisory Committee – now called the Racial Equity Action Team  Steadfast commitment to transparency and to addressing this issue is made by Child Welfare Director and agency leadership

Our Call to Action Over-representation of African American children in the child welfare system and the poorer outcomes they experience is a local and nationwide problem we cannot ignore. Our Commitment We are committed to understanding the causes of inequities for African American families and taking action that will ultimately improve outcomes for all children and families.

2006 ~ Focus on education and building awareness:2006 ~ Focus on education and building awareness: Staff & Community participate in Fairness & Equity Conferences, Undoing Racism training, Ongoing staff trainings and brown bag sessions, etc. 2007/2008 ~ Focus on development and implementation of Cultural Broker Program 2007/2008 ~ Focus on development and implementation of Cultural Broker Program 2008/2009 ~ California Disproportionality Breakthrough Series Collaborative 2008/2009 ~ California Disproportionality Breakthrough Series Collaborative

 Early 2009 ~ Go deeper with the data and conduct case reviews to determine next steps: Findings are unclear and complicated…now what???  Spring 2009 ~Timing is everything: Invited by Annie E. Casey to participate in an Institutional Analysis  Spring 2009 ~ Timing is everything: Invited by Annie E. Casey to participate in an Institutional Analysis

What is an Institutional Analysis? An analysis is a qualitative methodology that uncovers how a particular outcome is produced. The analysis looks at the GAP between what a child, youth, or their families need in order to be safe and what the institution is set up to do… 8

PRESUME…PRESUME… every worker is coordinated and organized to think about and act on cases in institutionally authorized or acceptable ways 9

Foundations of the Institutional Analysis It’s the system, not individual workers. Institutional view of clients is rarely neutral. “One size does not fit all” when working with families. Institutional changes can improve outcomes for families. 10

11 Institutional Analysis Framework CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM Child and Family OUTCOMES:  Safety  Reunification/Alternative Permanency  Nurturance  Time in Care  Strengths/Resources  Challenges  Child Maltreatment COMMUNITY:  Formal and Informal Supports/Resources  Constraints  Strengths/Resources  Challenges  Child Maltreatment COMMUNITY:  Formal and Informal Supports/Resources  Constraints Other Mission, Purpose, Function Concepts and Theories Education and Training Resources Linkages Rules and Regulations Administrative Practices Accountability  Knowledge of Client(s)  Effective Intervention  Capacity to Intervene/Act AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY:

12 African American Family/Community AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY:  Strengths/Resources  Challenges  Child Maltreatment COMMUNITY:  Formal and Informal Supports/Resources  Constraints  Strengths/Resources  Challenges  Child Maltreatment COMMUNITY:  Formal and Informal Supports/Resources  Constraints

13 Problematic Practices CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM Other Mission, Purpose, Function Concepts and Theories Education and Training Resources Linkages Rules and Regulations Administrativ e Practices Accountability  Knowledge of Client(s)  Effective Intervention  Capacity to Intervene/Act

14 OutcomesOutcomes Child and Family OUTCOMES: Safety Reunification/Alternate Permanency Nurturance Time in Care

Institutional Analysis Process June-November 2009 ~ Review of Data and Big Picture Interviews with 13 individuals including agency leadership, juvenile court judge, community partners, technical assistance providers, etc. November 2009 ~ In-depth Case-Based Analysis of 6 Cases including interviews with 49 individuals.

IA Process Cont’d December 2009 ◦Individual interviews with 60 agency social work staff, private providers and community partners; ◦18 observations including juvenile court, parenting classes, team meetings and shadowing workers; ◦12 focus groups (parents, youth, guardians, attorneys, foster parents, social workers, cultural brokers); ◦guided review of 32 case files.

2010 Racial Equity Action Plan Highlights Provided Racial Sobriety training to entire workforce to increase awareness of each individual’s opportunity to mitigate bias. Established a Quality Supervision approach which supports supervisors in modeling, coaching and guiding Fresno social workers to continuously develop and enhance their engagement and teaming skills with families. Implemented visitation contracts that include expanded visitation hours (9am-8pm, Monday through Saturday and Holidays) in the neighborhoods in which our clients reside. Rolled out Joint Community Response practice (strategy which involves a coordinated joint response between a social worker and a Cultural Broker and/or Parent Partner) to more successfully engage African American families and conduct a more accurate, up-front assessment of the family’s needs.

Key Findings Gap between the county’s intent and the actual outcomes that the families experience. Limited understanding of the unique strengths and problems faced by African American families. Intervened through universal, rather than individualized assessments and service plans.

Key Findings Cont’d Services tended to be centrally located in Fresno, rather than in the communities and the operating hours were inconvenient. Minimal support of parents to achieve economic stability by linking them with other available services. Workers not directed to proactively and consistently find permanent families for older youth.

Major Steps Taken Post Release of Final IA Report Specialized Staff All Staff Trained on Quality Family Engagement and Teaming Practice Round Tables Domestic Violence Classes Community Resource Specialist Linkages Racial Equity Sub-Committee Structure

What’s Next? California Partners for Permanency ◦5 Year Federal Grant ◦Goal is to reduce long-term foster care for African American and Native American youth ◦Fresno is one of four pilot counties ◦The other 3 counties (& 10 replication counties) will participate in an Institutional Analysis. Knowing Who You Are Racial Sobriety Coaching Kinship Support Grant

Practice & Training Implications Implementation Science Training alone doesn’t have impact ~ Coaching is critical Adjusting System to meet intervention – not other way around (e.g. TDM) Adaptive Leadership/Supervision

To learn more about the Institutional Analysis visit or For a copy of Fresno County’s full report: ts/Children_and_Family_Services/PDF/Institutional% 20Analysis% pdf For questions related to Fresno County’s Institutional Analysis please contact: Howard Himes (559) or Wendy Osikafo (559) ts/Children_and_Family_Services/PDF/Institutional% 20Analysis% pdf