Spring 2014 1

The

Columnsocial work UniverSity of illinoiS at Urbana-Champaign

4 Children’s advocacy Centers

8 advocating in Situations of parental mental illness

12 advocating through varied roles

14 preparing Students for Child Welfare practice

16 the role of research in Child advocacy

18 groundbreaking Study on Dr

20 Children and racial equality

t o p i C :CHILD ADVOCACY

S p r i n g 2 0 1 4

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Strengthening vUlnerable familieS• FOR 70 YEARS •

f o l l oW U S o n S o C i a l m e D i a

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advocating for Children and families

for 70 years, we have been committed to improving the lives of vulnerable children and families – specifically by advocating for them. This commitment is reflected in the articles throughout this newsletter. As you page through, you can read about:

• Twoof ouralums,AdelaideAime,MSW2006,andJennaKempen,MSW2013, whohavegoneontopositivelyimpactchildren’slivesthroughadvocacyand adoptionservices,respectively.ThesetwoalumsrepresentboththeSchoolandthe Universityof Illinoiswell.• TheinsightsthatProf.TeresaOstlerhasgainedfrom20yearsof researchand clinicalpracticeinparentalmentalillness.Ostler’scontributionshaveinfluenced practicenotonlyinIllinois,butaroundthecountry,wheresheisrecognizedasa leaderinthistopic.• AgroundbreakingstudyconductedbyourChildrenandFamilyResearchCenter, ledbydirectorTamaraFuller,onDifferentialResponse.Thisapproachrepresents amajorchangefromthetraditionalinvestigativeapproachtakenbychildprotective serviceagencies.• ThelatestCFRCannualChildDeathReviewTeamreport,aswellastheB.H. ConsentDecreereport.CFRCundertakesthesereportsfortheIllinoisDepartment of ChildrenandFamilyServices,forwhichtheCFRChasbeenmonitoringthe safety,permanence,andwellbeingof childrenunderDCFScareforthepast18years.• Thewisdom,understanding,andexperiencethatBobBlackwell,MSW1978,has gainedduringhiscareerspentadvocatingforchildreninhisroleswiththeDCFS.

Thesearticlesgetattheheartbeatof whoweareasweadvocateforchildrenandfamilies.Andknowthatforanyfiveorsixstoriesweshare,wehavetotableafewdozenothersfor latertelling.Ourexcellentfacultyandalumniprovideuswith innumerableshiningstoriestotell.

Werecognizeyouasavaluedfriendandmemberof ourteam,helpingustoachieveourmission.Thankyouforsupportingus.Wecouldn’tdoitwithoutyou.

Kindregards,

WynneS.Korr,PhD,DeanandProfessor

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Several timesperweek, a scaredchildarrives atmy agency’sdoor.Althoughaccompanied by a parent or relative,you can see the tension in her smallshoulders, and the fear in her brightface. After brief introductions, I leadthe child from our plain foyer into abrightly-painted playroom filled withgames,puzzles,toys,andawell-stockedReadingCorner.Thechild’seyes lightup,hershouldersrelax,andsheforgets,

foramoment,whyshehascometoourCenter.Shecanjustbeakidagain.

Such children are visiting the Children’s Advocacy Center(CAC) of Champaign County, Illinois. The CAC is the firstpointof contactforchildrenoryouthswhohavebeensexu-allyabused.Sadly, inChampaignCountyalone,we interviewovertwohundredchildrenperyear.Weprovideachild-friend-lyplace for the interview,supportiveservices to thechildoryouthandtheirnon-offendingfamilymembers,andweworktoholdoffendersaccountable.

When a child or youth discloses sexual abuse, investigatorsfromlawenforcementandchildprotectiveservices,alongwitha non-offending parent, schedule a time to bring the youngpersontoourhome-likeCenter.There,thechildisinterviewedbyourexpertchildforensicinterviewer,whocanbringoutthe

Children’s advocacy Centers:Shepherding the healing process

an estimated 1 in 10 children will be sexually abused before his or her 18th birthday. Children’s advocacy Centers are here to help.

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pertinentinformationinalegallysoundbutsensitivemanner,ensuringthattheyoungpersonisnotre-traumatized.Were-cordtheinterviews,sparingthechildfromhavingtorecounthisorherabusemultipletimes.Wedoallwecantomakethedaygoassmoothlyaspossible.

Ourcasemanagerworkscloselywithanon-offendingparenttohelpthechildandfamilygetbackontheirfeet.Asyoucanimagine, if the alleged perpetrator is a relative or neighbor,thechildandparents’ livesmaybe turnedupsidedown.Forinstance, if the suspect is the family breadwinner, the childandparentmightfind themselveswithoutan income. If thesuspectownsthehousethefamilylivesin,thechildandpar-entmaybecomehomelessovernight,nowthattheabusehascometolight.We’llworkwiththefamilyforuptotwoyears,orlongerif thereisacourtcase,tohelpthemnavigatetheirlifechanges.Wealsoprovidefreecrisiscounselingforthechildandanynon-offendingfamilymemberwhowantsit.

Onmy desk is a small cloth bag containing some polishedrocks.Notlongago,oneof thegirlswehavehelpedstoppedbytheofficetogiveusthisgift.Shewasverygratefulforourunderstanding and support, andwanted to give uswhat shecalled“magicrocks,”whichwould“helpustohelpotherkidsthatarelikeher.”

I’mnot surewhatkindof magic is in these rocks,but Idoknowtheyinspirethestaff onsomedarkdays.

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guest Columnist adelaide aime, mSW 2006, lSW

executive Director Children’s advocacy Center of Champaign County

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(ChilD aDvoCaCy CenterS, ContinUeD)

Oneof theforemostCACresearchersnationwideisDr.TheodoreCross,SeniorResearchFellowattheSchoolof SocialWork’sChildren and Family Research Center. Dr. Cross’s work hasinformedthedesignandevaluationof manyChildren’sAdvo-cacyCenters,bothinIllinoisandacrossthecountry.Dr.CrossandcolleagueshavefoundthatcommunitieswithaCACexpe-riencethefollowing:

• Increased caregiver satisfaction with the investigative process• Increased likelihood that the child will receive crucial mental health services• Increased likelihood that the child will receive a specialized medical exam to prevent long-term health consequences of the abuse • Increased cooperation between law enforcement and child protective services investigators

DeanWynneKorrintroducedmetoDr.Crossinthefallof 2014,soonafterIassumedmyjobasexecutivedirectorof theChildren’sAdvocacyCenter here inChampaignCounty. I’mhopingthatourcentermaybeincludedasaresearchsiteinoneof Dr.Cross’sfutureprojects;itwouldbeanhonortopartici-pateinexpandingtheknowledgebaseaboutCACs,andsocialworkinterventionsingeneral.

Oneof thegravechallengesthatouryoungclientsfaceisthestigmaof sexualabuse.Perpetratorsoftenusethreatsandin-timidationtoenforcesecrecyabouttheabuse,sothechildcan-notseekcomfortfromtrustedadultsinhisorherlife.Tomakemattersworse,oncetheabuseisdiscovered,andtheperpetra-torisfinallyarrestedandheldaccountable,thelocalpublicityoftengeneratesnegativecommentsaboutthechild.Becausethe comments can and do happen anywhere – on the play-ground, in the neighborhood, at a park or store – the childonceagaindoesnotfeelsafe.

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AtCACsacrossthecountry,staff worktocombatthisstigmathroughcommunityeducation–bothin-personandthroughwrittenandelectronicmedia.WhenIspeaktogroupsaboutwhatwedoat theCAC,Iaskeachaudiencemember tobe-come an ambassador for children who have been sexuallyabused.Ichallengethemtospreadtheword:

• It is never the child’s fault that they have been sexually abused.• We will believe what they tell us.• We will walk beside the child and family as they begin to heal. • We will be a refuge for these kids.

For children,onwhat isoften theworstdayof their younglives,theCACprovidesunderstanding,apromisetolistenandbelieve,andsupportastheytaketheirfirststepstowardshealing.

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For20years, professor teresa ostlerhasbeenadvocatingforchildrenandfamilieswhereaparentismentallyill.Suchadvocat-ing,Ostlersays,canbe“complexandthorny.”

“Forone,childrenof parentswithmentalillnessarevulnerabletobeginwith,”Ostlersays.“Second,parentswhoseillness ischronicandsevereareathighriskof losingcustodyof theirchildren.Weknowthroughresearchintheattachmentfieldthatseparationscanhaveamajorimpactonayoungchild’swell-beinganddevelopment,especiallywhenthechildor infanthasanattachmenttotheparent.”

Decidingwhatwillleadtothechild’soptimaldevelopmentisnotalwaysclear-cut.“Insomecases,fosteringachild’swell-beingcanbestbeachievedbyaddressingtheparent’smental illnessandbolsteringtheirsupportasaparent,”Ostlersays.“Whilethismaybethe‘best’pathwayinsomecases,itdoesnotguaranteethatthechild’spathwaywillbeoptimal.Hopefully,itwillbe‘goodenough.’”

Incaseswheretheparentcannotchangewellenoughorquicklyenough,thechildmayneedtobeplacedinanotherhometogethisorherattachment,emotional,developmental,andphysicalneedsmet,Ostlersays.

“Butweknowthroughexperiencethattheseneedsaren’talwaysmetandthatmanychildrenwhohavebeeninfostercareremainhighlyvulnerable,”sheadds.

advocating in Situations of parental mental illness

“ostler has forged a national reputa-tion as an expert on the effects of parental mental illness on children.”

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“Sochildadvocacyneedstobeputintoalong-termperspective,withaconstantrelookingatchildren’swell-beingastheygrowolderandastheybecomeparents,”shesays.“Theearlieronwelookatthis,themorechanceswehavetohelpchildrenandtheirparents–whetherbiological,foster,oradoptive–ontohealthierpathways.”

need for evidence-based practiceOstlerhasforgedanationalreputationasanexpertontheeffectsof parentalmentalillnessonchildren.Sheservedasleadof theParentingAssessmentTeam,amultidisciplinaryteamfundedbytheDepartmentof ChildrenandFamilyServicesthatevaluatedparentingcompetencyinpeoplewithmentalillness.Herexpertisehasledtospeakingengagementsaroundthecountry.

ThroughherworkwiththeParentingAssessmentTeam,shesays,“Itbecameclearthatparentingriskassessmentswerenotbasedinevidenced-basedpractice.Wecanonlymakeadifferenceforvulnerablechildrenandtheirparentsif ourteaching,thinking,assessmentsandclinicalworkarebasedinprinciplesof evidence-basedpractice.

“Ilikeresearchthatcanbetranslatedintoactionandthatcanmakeadifferenceforindividuallives.Formanyyears,then,Ihavefocusedonfindingvalidandevidenced-basedmeasuresthatcanbeusedtoassessparentingcompetencyandriskinparentswithmentalillnessandtheirchildren.”

“i like research that can be translated into action and that can make a difference for individual lives”

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Critical to See the human SideInherclinicalworkandherresearch,shelearnedhowcriticalitistoseethehumansideof mentalillness.

“Many individualsaredeeplyashamedtoadmit that familymembers,or they themselves,havemental illness,”Ostlerexplains.“Childrenareoftenunwillingtotalkabouttheeffectsonthemselvesandfamilyfunctioning.Manychildrenfeartheywilldevelopmentalillnessthemselves,andforsome,thismaybethecase.Unlesswecanreachindividualsonahumanbasis,welosetheopportunitytoworkwiththemtomakeadifference.Seetheperson,don’tforgettheillness,butseektounderstandandtreatit,worktogethertofindwaystotipthebalancetowardsmorehealth.”Ostlernotesthatmanychildrenof parentswithmentalillnessdownplaytheirownneeds.“Yettheyareahighlyvulnerablegroup,”shesays.“Sincemanypresentasself sufficient,theirownneeds,emotionalandothers,oftengounrecognized.”

Theresult,shesays,ischildrenoftendeveloplowself-esteem,poorcopingskills,andrelationshipdifficulties.

“Childrentrytomakesenseof theirparents’behavior,”Ostlersays.“Theymayfeeltheycausedtheirmothertofeelirritable,depressed,orangry,ortobecomepsychotic.”

(aDvoCating in SitUationS of parental mental illneSS,

ContinUeD)

“

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the role of the Social WorkerEarlyidentificationof childrenandparentsatriskiskey,Ostlersays.“Establishingarelationshipwherethereissometrusttodiscussandassessproblems is important,”shesays.“Socialworkers’strength-basedtraininghelpsthemtoapproachmentalillnessinawaythatcanoftenengagefamilies.Yet,itisimportanttobalancethiswithseeingriskswhentheyarepresent.”

Ostlerhasfoundthatallisnotnecessarilylostwhenaparenthasmentalillness.

“Manyparentswithmental illnessareable tocarefor theirchildren,”shesays.“Someareabletodothisintermittentlywithconsiderablesupport.Mentalillnessesaretreatable.Whilemanyillnessesarechronic,muchcanbedonetomakeadifferenceforindividuals,children,andwholefamilies.Howfamiliesareapproachedcanmakeahugedifferenceingettingthemonboardfortreatment.Beingrespectfulandlisteningwithoutjudgmentcanmakeadifference.Thisdoesnotmeanforgettingrisks.”

“many parents with mental illness are able to care for their children...”

“Unless we can reach individuals on a human

basis, we lose the opportunity to work with

them to make a difference.”

”“

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Jenna Kempen, mSW ’13,learnedalotaboutchildadvocacyinher internshipatTheBabyFoldinNormal,Illinois.

“Jenna helped shape the transcul-tural parenting curriculum, developedadditional resources and support forfamilies adopting children with spe-cial needs,helped in theplanning andexecutionof our annual adoptioncel-ebration,anddidallthiswhileprovid-

ingoutstandingservices toourclientbase,”says Jeff Doerr,AssistantDirectorof FamilyandCommunityServices.

learning on the JobPartof beingabletoprovidethoseoutstandingservicescamefromwhatshelearnedfromDoerrandLaraRaper,bothIllinoisgrads (Doerr receivedhisMSWin1998fromtheSchoolof SocialWork).RaperwasKempen’sdirectsupervisorduringherinternship.

“FromJeff,Ilearnedthatdoingtherightthinginsocialworkisthemostimportantthing,”Kempensays.“Healwaysremindedmethatnomatterwhat,attheendof theday,thedecisionswemakehavetobebasedonwhat’sbestforthefamilyandthechildren.

“And fromLara, I learned togivepeople thebenefitof thedoubtandconsiderwhatthey’reexperiencing,andnotcreateassumptionsabouttheirlivesbecauseof arashcomment.Shetalkedalotaboutpatienceandworkingthroughthingsslowly.”

advocating through varied roles

“During her internship, Kempen worked in interna-tional adoptions. as part of her work, she helped prepare families, who went through a 12-hour certifi-cation program, to adopt international children.”

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advocating as a therapistAfterKempen graduated lastDecember, shewas hired full-timebyTheBabyFold,wheresheisnowafamilytherapistintheirAdoptivePreservationprogram.Whatshelearnedasanadvocate inher internshiphascarriedover tohernewposi-tion – including that ability to be patient andwork throughthingsslowly.

“Ididn’trealizehowpatientandempatheticandcompassion-ateIcouldbetowardthefamilies,”shesays.“InmydailylifeIdon’tknowthatInecessarilydoratehighlyinthosequalities,butwhenI’mwitha family, I feel likeI’ma totallydifferentperson.IknowI’mtheretohelpthem,andmyattitudetowardthem canmake all the difference in the relationship I buildwiththem.”

Doinghermaster’sworkattheSchoolof SocialWork,Kem-pensays,helpedprepareher forwhat shewould face in theworkingworld.“Iwaspreparedtofacealotof differentsitu-ations,”sheexplains.“IknewgoinginthatthingswouldnotalwaysgothewayIwantedthemto,andthatallfamiliesaredifferent.Soyouhavetobereadytolookforasolutionevenif theproblemisdifferentthanyouexpectedatthebeginning.”

DoerrpointstoKempen’smaturity,workethic,andskilllevelaskeystoherabilitytocontributetoTheBabyFoldduringherinternship.“BothLaraandIwouldrateJennainthetoponepercentof theinternswe’veworkedwith,”hesays.

AsforKempen,shecontinuesadvocatingforchildrenassheundertakesherdutiesasafamilytherapist.

“at the heart of what she does, she helps families and children. And that, she says, is what it’s all about.”

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Moststudentsaren’tthrilledwiththespecterof afinalexam,butthestudentsinbrenda lindsey’s ChildWelfareIssuesandTrendscourseareperhapsmoreintimidatedthanusualwhentheirfinalexamapproaches.

That’sbecausethefinaldoublesastheirchildwelfarelicensingexam.“They’reproudof themselveswhentheypass,andthey’reabletobelicense-readyoncetheygraduate,”Lindseysays.

Thelicense-readyidea ispartof whatspurredtheSchooltodevelopthecourse,whichwasfirstofferedinthefallof 2012.“Someof ourMSWstudentshadplacementsforinternshipsatDCFS,andtheywerelimitedinwhattheycoulddo,becausetheydidn’thavethiscourseorthetrainingtheyneededpriortotheirinternship,”Lindseyexplains.“AndwewerebeginningtoplaceBSWstudentswithDCFSandotherchildwelfareagencies,andwewantedthemtohaveabroad,robustlearningexperience.”

Supplementing the DCfS CourseSoLindsey–withhelpfromprofessorsJan Carter-black, Susan Cole, Judy havlicek, mary maurer and tara earls larrison – developedthecourse,usingDCFS’sFoundationTrainingcourseastheirownfoundation,andsupplementingitwith“contentrelatedaroundculturalcompetenceanddiversity,”shesays.

BothMSWandBSWstudentsapplywhattheylearnintheclasstoreal-lifecasestudies,comingupwithinterventionsandevalu-ationassessments,Lindseysays.Theundergradsandgradsaremixedintheclass,butseparateintotheirowndiscussionsections,sheadds.

preparing Students for Child Welfare practice

“both mSW and bSW students apply what they learn in the class to real-life case studies, coming up with interventions and evaluation assessments.”

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“Thecourseexaminesthetheoreticalandprogrammaticaspectsof childwelfarepractice,”Lindseysays.“Weputalotof emphasisonwhattherolesandfunctionsof thechildwelfareworkerare,andtheirpracticalapplicationsandknowledgeandskillsthattheyneedforaneffectivechildwelfarepractice.”

Studentsdelveintoavarietyof issuesthattheywouldencounterinchildwelfarepractice,fromengagingfamiliestoassessingmaltreatmenttoplanninginterventionsandexploringpermanencyplanningissues.

Course relevent to all Students“Regardlessof whetheryou’regoingtoworkinchildwelfareorinsomeotherarea,theseareexactlythetypesof clientsandfamiliesyou’regoingtodealwith,”Lindseynotes.“So,knowingaboutchildabuse,knowinghowtoidentifyit,butalsounderstandingfamilydynamicsandhowtoeffectivelyintervenewiththosefamiliesisimportantforeveryoneregardlessof whatkindof socialworkpractice,micro,macro,whateveryouwanttodo.”

“It’sbeenanongoingprocess,”Lindseyacknowledges.“DCFShasupdateditsmaterials,I’veupdatedourmaterials.Eachyearhasbeenanimprovement,andthatwillcontinue.Youhavetokeepthematerialfreshandcutting-edge,andadaptasthepoliticallandscapechangesinchildwelfareissues.”

Asforthestudents,“theyreallylikethecontent,”Lindseysays.“Theythinkit’sinteresting,andit’schallenging.”And,oncetheygetovertheirconcernsaboutthefinalexambeingthelicensingexam,they’rehappy–andbetterpreparedtoentertheworldof socialwork.

“you have to keep the material fresh and cutting-edge, and adapt as the political landscape changes in child welfare issues.”

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Child advocacy happens at various levels and in various ways–inworkingwithvulnerablechildrenandfamilies,forexample.Inadvocatingatthe local,county,state,ornational levelforchildreninneed.

Andinconductingandmonitoringresearch,andrecommendingpoliciesbasedonthatresearch.

TheChildrenandFamilyResearchCenter(CFRC)wascreatedforsuchpurposes,andtothatendtheCenterregularlyproducestworeports:amonitoringreportof theB.H.ConsentDecreeandanannualChildDeathReviewTeamReport.

Both reports areprepared for the IllinoisDepartmentof ChildrenandFamilyServices(DCFS).Infact,theCFRCwascreatedin1996asadirectresultof theB.H.ConsentDecree,whichcameoutof a lawsuitagainsttheDCFSallegingthatfosterchildrenweren’treceivingthementalorphysicalhealthservicestheyneeded.

“TheDCFShadbeensuedonbehalf of afosterchildwhoseinitialswereB.H.,”explainsCFRCDirector, tamara fuller.“SotheCFRCwascreatedtohelptheDCFSmonitortheiroutcomesinrelationtothedecree.”

the role of research in Child advocacy

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ThecurrentB.H.ConsentDecreereport,availableontheCFRCwebsite,evaluatesandmakesrecommendationsregardingchildsafety,well-being,substitutecareissues,andlegalpermanenceissuesinIllinois.

InadditiontomonitoringoutcomesregardingtheB.H.ConsentDecree,since2003theCFRChasbeenwritinganannualChildDeathReviewTeamreportfortheDCFS.

TheCentertakesdatacompiledbyeightregionalteamsthrough-outthestateandanalyzesitfortheDCFS,Fullersays.

“TheCDRTshave recommendedpolicychanges that theDCFShasimplementedthroughoutthestate,”shesays.Twoexamplesarepublichealthcampaigns,oneonwatersafetyandanotheronsleepsafety.

“ThereasontheChildDeathReviewTeamsareinplaceistomakerecommendationstotheDirectorof theDCFS,”Fullersays.“Intermsof broad-basedpreventionefforts,it’sareallygoodmechanismforchange.”

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In2009,theIllinoisDepartmentof ChildrenandFamilyServiceswanted to evaluate the effectiveness of a new approach toengagingandservingfamilies.TheyturnedtotheChildrenandFamilyResearchCenterattheUniversityof Illinoistodoso.

CFRCDirector,tamara fuller acted as lead investigator forthefour-yearstudyonDifferentialResponse,anapproachthatrepresentsamajorbreakfromthetraditionalinvestigativeap-proachtypicallytakenbychildprotectionserviceagencies.

“TheideabehindDifferentialResponseisnotalltypesof mal-treatment allegations need an investigative approach,” Fullerexplains.“Insomeinstancesthatwewouldcharacterizeasne-glectandnotphysicalorsexualabuse,wecanengageparentsratherthaninvestigatethemtoensurethatchildrenaresafelyandadequatelycaredfor”shesays.

a massive evaluationFullerledherstaff inthestatewideevaluation,whichincludedalmost8,000families,makingitoneof thelargestchildwelfarestudieseverconductedinIllinois.

“Itwasmassiveintermsof scopeandcomprehensiveintermsof thetypesof datawecollected,”shesays.TheCFRCsurveyedand interviewedparents,caseworkers, investigators, supervi-sors,administrators,andstakeholderswhowere interested inDR.TheCenteralsotrackedchildwelfareoutcomesforfami-liesoverthecourseof theevaluation.“Itwaschallenging,butveryrewarding,”Fullersays.

In addition to Dr. Fuller, Martin Nieto and Saijun Zhangwere responsible for analyzing the quantitative survey dataandadministrativedataonoutcomes,andMeganPaceleyand

Children and family research Center leads groundbreaking Study on Dr

“the focus with Differential response is on engaging families, on material ser-vices, rather than on investigating and substantiating allegations.”

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Jill Schreiber took on the qualitative analysis. The team haspublishedtwoarticlesonDRandhasseveralmoreinprepara-tion;thefinalreportthattheCFRCpreparedfortheDCFSisontheCFRCwebsite.

promising findings“Families who received DR were more engaged,” she says.“They had higher levels of satisfaction and received the ex-periencemore positively.” In addition, she says, the amountandtypeof servicesDRfamiliesreceiveddifferedfromthosefamilieswhowerebeinginvestigated,andtheconnectionswithcaseworkerswerestronger.

Finally,childsafetyforthosefamilieswhocompletedDRser-vices (about22percentof the familieswere switched to in-vestigations)was not compromised. “Families thatwere notswitchedtoaninvestigationandcompletedDRserviceswerere-reported to child protective services at the same levels asthosewhoreceivedaninvestigation,”Fullersays.Inaddition,therewere nodifferences betweenDR and investigations intermsof childremovalsfromhomes,shesays.

AlthoughtheStateof IllinoisdecidednottocontinuetheDRprogram,theCFRC’sworkishardlyfornaught.

“Iknowalotof otherstateswerelookingtoIllinoisbecausewewerethefirststatetoimplementDRstatewide,”Fullersays.

“Hopefullyother statescanuse the IllinoisDR implementa-tionandoutcomeevaluationresultstoguidedecision-making,becauseDRisaverypromisingpractice.”

“We have a small but mighty team at the CfrC, so we will be analyzing this data for the next year or so,” Fuller says. “It’s going to make a tremendous con-tribution to our knowledge about child welfare.”

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bob blackwellfigureshewouldhavemadeagreatarchitect.Hehasalwaysloveddesigning structures, fromhisearliestdayson.

Buthewentintosocialwork,attaininghisMSWfromtheUniversityof Illinoisin1978,withoutashadowof adoubtastowhathiscareershouldbe.

NowtheRacialEquityPracticeLiaisonfortheIllinoisDepartmentof ChildrenandFamilyServices(DCFS),Blackwellsays,“It’snoaccidentIfindmyself inthissenior-leveladministrationpositioninthechildwelfaresystem,withtheopportunityandresponsibilitytodealwiththisissueof raceandracism.Itwasmydestiny.”

BlackwelloverseestheDCFS’seffortstoaddressrace-baseddisparitiesinthestate’schildwelfaresystem.“Weaddresstheimpactof systemicandinstitutionalizedracisminthepracticeof childwelfare,”Blackwellsays.Thoseeffortsareaimedateducatingpeople,transformingpolicyandpractices,engagingmajor stakeholders, and improvingpermanencyoutcomes,especiallyfocusedonfamiliesof color.

racism: a big Challenge“Oneof thebiggestchallengeswestill face inchildwelfareandhumanservicesiscomingtotermswithracism,”henotes.“Wehaveaprettygoodhandleonhelpingpeopleingeneral,

advocating for Children and racial equality

“one of biggest challenges we still face in child welfare and human services is com-ing to terms with racism...”

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butracismisthebigelephantintheroom.Wecantalkaboutdiscrimination,butwecan’ttalkaboutracisminanymeaningfulway.So,aslongasyou’retalkingaboutdiscrimination,you’regoingtobefritteringaroundtheedgesof equity.If you’renotdoingthingsequitably,thenyou’regoingtohaveatoughtimeekingout justice inourrelationshipone toanother, inourinterventionsforthesocialwellbeingof families.”

Inpointingoutsomeof theracialdisparitiesinchildwelfare,BlackwellsaysthatAfricanAmericanchildrenrepresentabout16percentof thepopulationinIllinois–andabout52-54percentof thechildwelfarepopulation.

“That’sahugeanddisproportionatelevelof representation,”hesays,andaddsthatissuesof povertycannotexplainthatdisparity.It’sdisparitiessuchasthisthatdrewBlackwelltotheprofession.Racism,hesays,isan“unconscious,baked-insocializationthatdrivesmuchof theexistenceof ourcountry”–somuchso,hesays,thatevensocialworkersof colorareprogrammedtosupporttheconceptof a“lesserbeing.”

“Youkindof goalongwiththisthingtogetalong,”hesays.“Becausetheminuteyoustartpushingbackagainstissuesof race, it’s likehavinganargumentaroundreligion.Thewholeroomisgoingtoblowup.It’sadifficulttopic,oneinwhichwe’renotverywellversedinhowtoengageeachotheron.”

“african american children represent about 16 percent of the population in illinois – and about 52-54 per-cent of the child welfare population.”

(ContinUeD)

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(aDvoCating for ChilDren anD raCial eqUality,

ContinUeD)

Blackwell iscommitted to trying tohelp thesocialwelfaresystemunderstandtheracialinequitythatworksagainstpeopleandfamiliesof color,andthendismantlethatinequity.Tothatend,hehelpsprovidetrainingforIllinoisjudgesonracialequityandjustice.

Coursework at illinois prepared himHiscourseworkattheSchoolof SocialWorkhelpedhimgainanunderstandingof policy issues thatstill impacthisworknearly40yearslater.“AtIllinois,Ilookedatpolicyissuesandtheecologyof systems,howandwhytheyoperate,whotheyserve,andhowyougoabouteffectingchangeintheseorganizations,”heexplains.“If youdon’tunderstandhowothersystemsimpactyoursystem,you’regoingtohaveadifficult timehavinganimpactonbroad-basedsystems.”

Blackwellbelievesthatthechallengesof racismarenotwellunderstood inoursociety,because it’sgenerallynot taught.“It’sbasically ignored inallareasof oureducationsystem,fromkindergartenon,”hesays.“Thereareexceptionstothis,butthat’stherule.”

human Services needs to Understand racism betterIt’snotjustthegeneralpublicthatneedsthiseducation,hesays.It’shumanservicesaswell.“Wehaveaworkforcethatdoesnotunderstandandhasnolanguagetodiscussissuesof racialdisparity,”heexplains.“Wehavestarteddoingsometrainingof ourownstaff,andwe’rehavingtofigurethisoutourselves,becausetherearenogoodmodelsorprecedentsforeducatingastaff sothattheymightbebetterrace-informed.”

Schoolsof socialwork,hesays,needtoembedthestudyof racialinequalityintheircurriculums,“sothatwhengraduatesgettoclientsandtheygettous,wedon’thavetostartfromscratch,tryingtohelppeopleunderstandthisissue.”

Institutionalracism,Blackwellsays,harmsfamiliesof colorandsocietyatlarge.“There’snotenoughpeopleinourhumanservicessystemsandoursocietywhounderstandhowinstitu-tionalizedracismimpactsourfamiliesandourabilitiestoservicefamilies,”hesays.“Weneedmorepeoplewhounderstandittohavetheimpactweneedtohave.”

“We have a workforce that does not under-stand and has no language to discuss issues of racial disparity...”

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hope for the futureBlackwellseeslotsof workthatneedstobedone–buthealsoseeshopeforthefuture.

“I’dsayinthenext20years,you’regoingtofindthis[studyof racialinequality]verymuchembeddedintocollegecurriculums,becausethereisamovementinthiscountrytowardthisdirec-tion,”hesays.

“Andweareseeingsomereductionsinthemeasuresof dispro-portionality,”headds.“It’sencouraging,thoughit’searlyandnotembeddedacrossallsystemsof humanservices.”

Blackwellhasspenthiscareerworkingtogetthosedispropor-tionalitiesintobetterproportion.“If we’regoingtodealwiththeseinequities,thensomeonehastofocusattentiononthesechildrenwithsomeintentionality,”hesays.“Ialwaysfeltlikeif weweregoingtomakethesechanges,somebodywasgoingtohavetoleadpeopletothesethings.Ifeltthatwaspartof myanointing,mycalling,sothismadesenseformeinworkinginpublicpolicy.”

a passion for Child advocacyItallboilsdowntochildadvocacy.

“Themostvulnerablepeople inoursocietyarechildren,”heexplains.“Childrenrepresent thepromiseof ourfuture.SoIhavecommittedmyself toasectorof society that’smostvulnerableandspeaksmostsignificantlytowhatourfutureisgoingtobe.Thatspeakstomypassion.”

(ContinUeD)

24 the ColUmn

“Whenyoucombinethatwithwhatisfair,whatisjust,wetalkaboutchildrenbeingourmostpreciouscommodity,andthenyouseethedisparities ineconomicsandpoverty,howmanychildrenareinpoverty…Whywouldwecommitthekindof atrocitiesthatwecommitthroughthingslikeracismandpovertyandexploitationif childrenaresoprecioustous?It’sasystemicandproblematiccontradictiontomethatmotivatesmetoworkontheirbehalf.”

advice for Students going into Child advocacyBobBlackwellhasspenthiscareerasachildadvocate,andhehasafewwordsof adviceforthoseenteringthatarena:

“Forthoseheadingintosuchacareer,Iwouldsaytheyneedtopreparethemselvesbotheducationallyandculturallytobestservechildren,”hesays.“Theyneedtoexaminetheirownneedsandtheirowndarkplaces–weallhavethem–andtheyneedtomakesuretheyunderstandwhotheyarebeforetheyrunoff tryingtohelpsomeoneelse.Weallhaveourownissues,ourowntraumasandfears.Thisworkistoocomplexforyoutonothaveovercome,understand,orbeinconstantconflictwithyourself.Becauseitwillaffectyourworkwithfamilies.

BeyondthatIwouldsaybewellanddogoodwork.”

(aDvoCating for ChilDren anD raCial eqUality,

ContinUeD)

Spring 2014 25

Supporting Success

Introducing Meredith Olson, Chief Advancement Officer

DearAlumni,Friends,andColleagues

Forthepast3years,Ihavehadthepleasureof workingwithmanyof youinmyroleastheAssistantDirectorforAdvancement.Together,we’vehadthechancetobuildtheSchoolof SocialWorkAlumniAssociation,hostcontinuingeducationcoursesandnet-workingopportunitiesforalumni,aswellascreateprogramstosupportstudents.

Thankstoyoursupportwe’veseenanincreaseof over25%inannualgivingoverthelast3years,andtheFundforFieldhasprovidedmorethan25studentsinunpaidinternshipswithastipendduringthattime.

TherenewedBSWprogramhasseentremendousgrowthandhasbegunadmittingfresh-manforthefirsttimeintheSchool’shistory.Studentshaveprovidedmorethan3000hoursof communityservicethroughtheCommunityLearningLabwhichwasformedtocreateandsupportrelationshipsbetweenthecommunityandtheSchool.Ourfacultyandstudentsareconductingground-breakingresearchinsuchdiverseareasassubstanceabuse,childwelfare,mentalhealth,maternalhealthdisparities,internationalsocialwork,andmore.

TheSchoolisheadedinanexcitingdirection.Now,astheChief AdvancementOfficer,Ilookforwardmeetingwithyoutolearnaboutwhatyouaredoing,anddiscussingwaysthatwecansupporteachotherasweworktowardsfurthersuccess.

Mydoorisalwaysopen!

Mybest,

MeredithA.OlsonChief AdvancementOfficer

26 the ColUmn

23rd Annual Daniel S. Sanders Peace and Social Justice Lecture Recap

On April 7th, 2014, the School of Social Work welcomed guest lecturer, Suzanne Scholte, president of Defense forum foundation (Dff) and Chairman of north Korea freedom Coalition.

Ms. Scholte presented, “Will North Korea Ever Be Free? Reflections from the Front Lines in the Battle for Human Rights in North Korea” Scholte discussed the human rights situation in north Korea, the dramatic changes that have occurred that give her hope, and what the free world must do to help the people of North Korea.

mark your Calendars for Upcoming events

8th annual brieland visiting Scholar lecture

oCtober 15, 2014 | benjamin Wolf, associate legal Director attorney, Director and chief legal counsel of the ACLU of Illinois’ Institutionalized Persons Project will deliver the 8th annual Brieland Visiting Scholar Lecture on October 15, 2014. the brieland visiting Scholar lecture honors Donald brieland, leader in child welfare and social work and the law, who served as Dean of the School of Social Work from 1975 - 1981. the brieland visiting Scholar is supported by an endowment created by Dean brieland and his family to advance scholarly discussion in social work and social welfare. Details to come.

homecoming 2014

oCtober 25, 2014 | Save the Date! Details to come.

Staying Connected

Spring 2014 27

it’s now easier than ever to give

back and make a difference.

1. Visit the School’s website: www.socialwork.illinois.edu

2. Click the “Alumni & Giving” tab at the top right of the page. 3. Click the “Make a Gift” button.

4. That’s it! Thank you for making an impact at the School of Social Work.

T H A N K Y O U .

engage with the School on Social media

facebook.com/socialwork.illinois

twitter.com/UofISocialWork

youtube.com/socialworkillinois

go.illinois.edu/linkedin_UofISocialWork

instagram.com/illinois_socialwork

28 the ColUmn

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