California’s human services workforce is as vast and diverse as it is vital to the health and well-being of the children, adults, families and communities it serves. As national leaders in the transformation of human services through innovation, collaboration and pursuit of best practice, UC Davis Human Services frequently produces practice-specific Toolkits to meet the specialized needs of this valued workforce.
As September's National Kinship Care Month comes to a close, we wanted to take a moment to express our gratitude to our colleagues and community partners who continue to put the safety and stability of families first. This date also marks the end of our first full year featuring the monthly Kin-first Systems Spotlight series.
Imagine, as a child or youth, being guided by someone you don’t know to their car, to be driven to the house of someone you don’t know. You are told this is where you will stay. When you ask how long that will be you are told “we are not sure.” When you ask when you will be able to see your family again, you are told “soon.” What comes up for you imagining this scenario?
Only 35.8% of California’s more than 40,000 children in foster care are placed with relatives or extended family members [1]. Yet research tells us that when children are unable to remain safely in the care of their parents or guardians, they do better when they remain living with and connected to their family [2].
Introduced in 1978, the passage of the Federal and State Indian Child Welfare Acts (ICWA) marked a significant civil rights legislative achievement. Enacted as a remedial measure, the law sought to “recognize the essential tribal relations of Indian people and the cultural and social standards prevailing in Indian communities and families” [1]. The Act put pressure on the child welfare system to focus efforts on family preservation instead of family separation.
Navigating the Waters of System Change: A Framework for Kin-first Culture
At the heart of our mission lies Kin-first Culture, a concept that prioritizes preserving familial bonds and community connections within the child welfare system. When children experience abuse or neglect at home, interventions must prioritize maintaining familial connections whenever possible to foster healing within the fabric of kinship networks.
The Center for Excellences in Family Finding, Engagement and Support is at full speed for 2024, but we'd be remiss to miss this opportunity to reflect upon the recent success of the 2023 Kin-first Symposia.
178 Northern and 143 Southern California attendees learned from statewide and national experts and participated in the important discussion on how to stop the separation of children from their families and communities, and instead keep them connected to those they love.
Our vision is that every child finds solace and safety within the loving embrace of their family, especially during times of separation from their parents. The Center for Excellence is dedicated to ensuring that children remain unified with their families, communities, and Tribes.
In a significant move, the Budget Act of 2022 allocated $150 million General Fund (GF) in one-time funding to be used for permanency work. Funding must be used for specialized permanency services and supports, including training, staffing, outreach and implementation. Opt-in is required by June 30, 2025.
"There is no more culturally relevant resource than family.” Read about what it means to commit to a kin-first culture and meet the CFE Advisory Committee.
Youth in California’s foster care system will soon have a new statewide resource to help keep them connected to family – one of the goals of California’s foster care system.
The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) and the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) are launching the Center for Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement and Support (Center) to support county child welfare agency efforts to keep youth linked with their family members.
