ACS - Racial Equity & Cultural Competence

Administration for Children's Services

Keeping Children Safe & Supporting Families


Initiatives

Racial Equity & Cultural Competence


Introduction

Racial Disproportionality refers to the overrepresentation of children of color in child and family serving systems, and can be attributed to multiple factors including racism, poverty, less than responsive organizational culture and service strategies, and inadequate resources.

Like other child and family serving systems across the country, ACS, has undertaken an effort to address the systemic issues that contribute to disproportionality.

The ACS Racial Equity and Cultural Competence Committee supports the development of a child welfare and juvenile justice system that responds respectfully and effectively to people of all racial and cultural backgrounds.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Racial Equity and Cultural Competence Committee is to promote racial equity throughout child welfare, juvenile justice, and early care, and education systems. We do so by:

Developing and implementing specific actions that promote equitable outcomes for children and families of color;

Building the capacity of Children’s Services’ staff at all levels to respond effectively to structural racism and individual bias and promote culturally competent policy and practice;

Partnering with community and other systems that play a key role in the achievement of positive service outcomes to promote racial equity and cultural competence, and;

Informing policies, training, hiring practices, and program practice guidelines where needed to ensure continuity and sustainability in promoting equitable outcomes for children, families, and staff.

History & Overview

ACS established the Taskforce on Racial Equity and Cultural Competency in 2006 to support the development of a system of directly provided and contracted services that responds respectfully and effectively to people of all racial and cultural backgrounds. In 2011, the Task Force was renamed the Racial Equity and Cultural Competence Committee, and includes a diverse representation of Children’s Services staff, and external stakeholders and professionals committed to achieving its goals.

Features

Historical Child Welfare Timeline Exhibit: A Transformational Experience

Implicit Bias – Dr. Shawn Marsh Part 1

Implicit Bias - Dr. Shawn Marsh Part 2

The Story of the Racial Equity & Cultural Competence Committee

Timeline - Committee on Racial Equity and Cultural Competence RECC Priorities

ACS Racial Equity Group Tackles Race and Culture Matters

Race Expert Joyce James Addresses ACS RECC Committee

Racial Equity Research & Reports

NYC Community Snapshots and Data Information

National Resource Permanency Data

People’s Institute Undoing Racism

OJJDP-DMC Virtual Resource Center

Child Welfare Watch December 2012

Programs & Initiatives

Adopt or Foster a Child

Open your heart and home to a child in foster care; become a foster or adoptive parent.

Open your heart and home to a child in foster care; become a foster or adoptive parent.

Open your heart and home to a child in foster care; become a foster or adoptive parent.

Report Child Abuse

Identify the signs of child abuse and maltreatment. Help protect a child by making a report.

Identify the signs of child abuse and maltreatment. Help protect a child by making a report.

Identify the signs of child abuse and maltreatment. Help protect a child by making a report.

New York City Kids are Our Kids

Get involved in the lives of children in your community. Volunteer as a tutor, mentor, or coach.

Get involved in the lives of children in your community. Volunteer as a tutor, mentor, or coach.

Get involved in the lives of children in your community. Volunteer as a tutor, mentor, or coach.

Child Support for Employers

Get information for employers on withholding income, reporting new hires, and more.

Get information for employers on withholding income, reporting new hires, and more.

Get information for employers on withholding income, reporting new hires, and more.

Homebase

If you are about to become homeless, Homebase can help you stay out of shelter.

If you are about to become homeless, Homebase can help you stay out of shelter.

If you are about to become homeless, Homebase can help you stay out of shelter.