Undoing Racism

The Race, Community and Child Welfare Initiative addresses the disproportionate number of African American children in the foster care system. The state Department for Community Based Services, of the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, created this statewide initiative to target communities where data reveals a strong correlation between child welfare and racism. Lexington-Fayette County is one of 11 targeted counties in this comprehensive initiative that includes the community, its people and systems that report abuse and neglect to child protective services and those that respond and provide services. In Fayette County, 14% of the population is African American, while 46% of children in foster care are black.

In partnership with DCBS, LexLinc convened an initial planning team for this initiative in 2007. In May 2007, the planning team held a summit organized by LexLinc and hosted by the University of Kentucky, Office of Community Engagement. For local media coverage of the event, click here. The planning team is in the process of creating a higher-level advisory council and scheduling educational and strategic forums through the People’s Institute.

For more information about race in the child welfare system, log on to http://www.jointheconversation.net/.