The Future of Child Welfare

In Episode 5 of the 100% Future Podcast, host Rubina Cohen engages in a thought-provoking conversation with child welfare experts and change agents Dr. Katherine Ortega Courtney and Dominic Cappello on the critical topic of "The Future of Child Welfare." As the episode unfolds, the guests shed light on the systemic challenges embedded in child welfare systems across the nation and the urgent need for a paradigm shift. Child welfare, they reveal, is often set up to respond only after crises have reached alarming levels, lacking the capacity to engage in systemwide prevention strategies. The data-backed insights shared by Dr. Courtney and Dominic Cappello highlight the prevalence of child neglect and its connection to government-sanctioned poverty and adverse social determinants of health. They emphasize the importance of transitioning from child welfare’s culture of fear around data to using it as a tool for continuous improvement. Moreover, the episode underscores that fixing child welfare requires a comprehensive approach, with local communities and the state-level agencies of public health, education, and child welfare coming together to create a shared vision for thriving families and communities. Listeners are invited to explore the ten vital services that prevent child maltreatment and engage with the 100% New Mexico initiative, a movement dedicated to building a brighter future for all. This episode provides a compelling and enlightening perspective on child welfare's challenges and the path to reform, inspiring bold action in designing thriving communities, cities, and counties.

 

TRANSCRIPTION: Full Transcript Text or PDF

 

SHOW NOTES: Episode 5 - The Future of Child Welfare

 

Segment 1: Understanding Child Welfare

- Discussion on what child welfare is and how it is set up to fail.

- Child welfare system is designed to intervene after problems become severe, focusing on intervention rather than prevention.

- Calls to the statewide central intake often get screened out, and investigations are not always substantiated, meaning few families receive adequate support.

- A majority of child welfare cases involve neglect, often linked to lack of access to vital services.

- Highlighting the need for a broader systems approach to address child welfare’s shortcomings.

 

Segment 2: Challenges in Child Welfare

- Challenges in the child welfare system include a lack of coordinated services, data-driven decision-making, and a culture of fear surrounding data.

- The importance of a shift in culture to view data as a tool for improvement rather than punishment.

 

Segment 3: Fixing Child Welfare

- The need to acknowledge that child welfare issues require a comprehensive systems approach, involving multiple agencies and services.

- Mention of the 100% Community initiative, which aims to address child welfare challenges at the local level by addressing root causes..

- Emphasizing the importance of community involvement, shared vision, and engagement with state-level agencies to bring about lasting change.

 

Segment 4: Ten Vital Services

- Reference to the ten vital services for surviving and thriving discussed in episode 2 of the podcast.

- Encouragement for listeners to explore episode 2 for an in-depth understanding of these vital services.

 

Conclusion

- Thanking the guests for their insights and participation.

- Inviting listeners to engage with the 100% New Mexico initiative and follow it on social media platforms for more updates.

 

RELEVANT LINKS:

- Anna, Age Eight - Download the book for free https://www.100nm.org/books/

- 100% Future Podcast Blog https://100nm.org/100-future

- 100% New Mexico Website https://100nm.org

- CYFD 360 Report https://www.cyfd.nm.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/360ANNUAL_FY21_FINAL.pdf