Kin-First Symposia Brings Child Welfare Two Steps Closer to a Kin-First Culture

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.

On Nov. 7 and Dec. 6, 2023, leaders and practitioners serving California’s Child Welfare Systems of Care took two big steps from evolutionary family finding practices to a revolutionary Kin-First culture by attending and contributing to the first-of-its-kind Kin-First Symposia in Northern and Southern California, respectively. Hosted by the Center for Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement and Support, the symposia combined to facilitate motion across California toward an inclusive, humanistic and forward way of thinking to support healing, belonging and permanency for all children within their family. 

Dr. Jessica Pryce, a research professor at Florida State University’s College of Social Work, opened the symposia with the topic of “Family-Centered Equity by Adopting a Kin-First Culture,” where she discussed the urgent need for empathy and honesty when communicating with a child’s loved ones to reduce family separation and establish stronger relationships with kinship families.

“Dr. Pryce was inspirational,” one attendee shared while another added, “…brilliant, so smart and relatable.” 

County panel presentations in Davis were facilitated by Sixto Cancel, founder and CEO of Think Of Us, and in Anaheim by Sonali Patel, the same organization’s vice president of Community Implementation and co-lead of the Center for Lived Experience. The discussion focused on Kinship Research Sprint from Think Of Us and explored takeaways from a partnership with Casey Family Programs, where research was conducted in four California counties and three states.

An afternoon panel was held in each region to present models that champion kin-first culture and was filled with panelists from programs that put kinship connections first. Panelists included: Kevin Campbell, co-founder and CEO of Pale Blue and developer of the Family Finding and Family Seeing™ program; Shannon Deinhart, executive director and co-founder of Kinnect; Kristi Burre, the director of strategy at Kinnect; Margaret Jackson, executive director of Cultural Brokers, Inc.; and Jennifer Justice, the senior vice president of Strategic Program Development for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption. Their programs built successful models and strategies that helped foster a supportive environment for children and families.

An inspired attendee wrote, “Hearing from the model programs gave me great ideas for my county that I hadn’t already considered.”

“I really enjoyed hearing from Kevin Campbell,” shared another attendee. “He truly illuminated the perspective of trauma and how it plays such a vital role in the shaping of youth and their adaptation to survival, given their specific circumstances.”

Closing out the symposia in each region was Judge Bill Thorne, a Pomo/Coast Miwok Indian who graduated from Stanford Law School and served as a judge in 30 tribal courts. Thorne spoke from experience, inspiring attendees to acknowledge the importance of kin-first culture and emphasizing the tools and models that can be used to reunite and bring families back together.

“Judge Thorne gave an impactful presentation,” shared an attendee. “A lot of this information should be shared with child welfare workers. It’s important to be reinspired when you are in the ‘trenches’ and forget the ‘why’ of what made you enter this workforce."

The Center for Excellence in Family-Finding, Engagement and Support at UC Davis Human Services thanks all attendees, speakers, panelists and staff who made the Kin-First Symposia happen and for striving toward a kin-first culture that ensures familial connection for children.

Learn more about the Center for Excellence in Family Finding, Engagement and Support.