Exploring Racial Inequities in the Child Welfare System
Information
Date & Time
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Educational Goal
Participants will gain insight into racial disparities in the child welfare system.
Description
Black children are overrepresented in the child welfare system. The reason for the child welfare crisis is complex and intersects with the education, health, and criminal justice systems from mandatory reporting to exits from care. Can communities and systems address the crisis by engaging in an equity-and-trauma informed approach? What if achieving equity means encouraging mandatory supporting instead of mandatory reporting?
This presentation will explore racial inequities in the child welfare system and provide guidance on addressing the crisis through an equity-and-trauma informed approach. The presentation will engage participants in a discussion about mandatory supporting.
Target Audience
- Counselor
- Marriage & Family Therapist
- Social Worker
- Substance Use Disorder Professionals
Presenters
Ms. Rollins received her BS in Psychology from Texas A&M University in 1990 and her MSW from Texas State University-San Marcos in 2007. Ms. Rollins is employed in the fields of child welfare and higher education. She retired after thirty years in the Texas child welfare system where she served in roles as investigator, intake specialist, intake supervisor, training specialist, training manager, and most recently the Child Protective Services Disproportionality Manager. In the role of Disproportionality Manager, she was charged with examining the racial and ethnic disparities in the child welfare system while working with internal and external partners to eliminate the disparities. She is currently a PHD student, research assistant, and sole proprietor of Inspiring Voices: Equity and Inclusion Consulting, LLC.
She was instrumental in the implementation of the Knowing Who You Are project in Texas. She has had the pleasure of providing consulting services to other states interested in implementing Knowing Who You Are. Ms. Rollins served as an adjunct faculty member at Texas State University-San Marcos School of Social Work. She has presented at numerous national, regional, and state conferences on poverty, child welfare, racial and ethnic identity, and disparities in the child welfare system.
Ms. Rollins holds the belief that we must unpack the “why” of all disparities that lead to poor outcomes for children and youth and develop strategic plans to eliminate the disparities. She is committed to engaging individuals and organizations in this important dialogue.