Opportunities to Create Change That’s a lot of failure. While I have never encountered a fl awless system, the failings of the child welfare system feel especially heavy, given they impact so many and some of the most vulnerable among us. It’s critical to recognize these shortcomings to make improvements and adjustments. Just as the system has ample opportunities to cause harm, it’s also full of potential to improve. Investing more in the staff of Children’s Services is imperative. This encompasses providing better supports and resources for caseworkers and their supervisors. They play a crucial role in shaping the trajectory of cases and ensuring the sustainability of the entire system. It’s essential to ensure caseworkers receive necessary training, processes, protocols, and practices are clearly documented, and effective communication is facilitated within and across departments. Providing families with more individualized support, access to resources and guidance. Instead of viewing parents with children involved in the system as simply bad people, let’s cultivate understanding and see them for who they really are. Often, they are individuals who don’t have the resources and support they need to be the parents they want to be. Increased respect and consideration for the expertise and humanity of foster parents is essential. Effective, consistent communication in a collaborative and caring manner is integral to addressing the current foster home shortage and ensuring long-term sustainability. Providing more support, guidance, and resources to kinship caregivers is crucial. They often step in to provide care for children in their extended family and supporting them adequately is vital for the well-being of both the caregivers and the children. Improved collaboration with CASAs is important for the holistic support of children in the system. Working together can ensure that the needs and best interests of the children are prioritized and met. Having compassion for everyone involved in the system is paramount. Acknowledging the challenges and complexities of the system and honoring the humanity of everyone involved can help create a more supportive and understanding environment. Developing and refi ning legislation focused on prioritizing the well-being of children. This includes nurturing their attachment needs, ensuring access to necessary services and support, and fostering connections with their biological family when it’s safe. Once the legislation is in place, it’s crucial to integrate it into the system with careful consideration, attention to detail, and a commitment to continuous improvement. This integration involves aligning policies and practices with the intentions and objectives of the law, ensuring its effective implementation. Finally, for those with the time, energy, and interest, get involved. Our community needs individuals who can engage with the system from a position of compassion and understanding. Whether it’s foster parent, kinship care provider or volunteering with local organizations (like Lucas County CASA) supporting children and families, there are numerous ways to make a meaningful difference. A simple online search or a call to 2-1-1 can provide information about organizations working to educate, strengthen, and empower individuals and families. The reform and change I am calling for here will not be easy or quick. Shifting long-standing and intricate systems is tough, probably one of the hardest things to do. But I truly believe we can make strides toward a child welfare system that’s more in tune with what families, kids, and our community deserves. Let’s co-create a system where compassion, respect, dignity, and trauma responsiveness are more than words on paper, but entrenched in everything we do, from policy to action to law. There is HOPE in recovery! One in five adults in the U.S. LIVE with mental illness. Those in Lucas County receiving mental health services are learning every day how to LIVE productive and meaningful lives while taking care of their mental health. PAUL Connect with us and learn more about the resources available to LIVE with mental illness: Visit hope.wernertcenter.org Page 11
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