LA County Board

2. Blind Removals Moving Forward: Color Consciousness and\nSafeguarding Against Racial Bias\nRecommendation as submitted by Supervisor Mitchell: Instruct the Director\nof Children and Family Services to consider and incorporate, as\nappropriate, the recommendations found in the University of California Los\nAngeles’ Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families “Beyond\nBlind Removal: Color Consciousness and Anti-Racism in Los Angeles\nCounty Child Welfare” report, beginning with the implementation of\nupstream enhancements, targeting the root cause of disproportionalities\namong Black families and children in the child welfare system; and take the\nfollowing actions:\nRequire Eliminating Racial Disproportionality and Disparity (ERDD)\nroundtables discussions at all Department of Children and Family\nServices (DCFS) regional offices, normalize talking about race,\nincluding conversations during the review process, touch points and\nChild and Family Team Meetings, along with meaningful dialogue\naround anti-Black racism, discussions and talks about race and\ndisproportionality should be regular, and occur in both individual and\ngroup supervision, including unit and general staff meetings, and\ndevelop a Departmental implementation and sustainability plan that\nwill include, but not be limited to, the following efforts:\nERDD roundtable and debrief session discussions led by\ntrained/skilled facilitators and/or coaches being held at all\nDCFS offices to build on equity practices; and\nCreation of safe spaces that will allow trained/skilled facilitators\nand/or coaches to support staff and address the elevated\nemotions that may arise from having discussions about race\nand culture;\nIn consultation with the Executive Director of Racial Equity, reimagine\nand transform the organizational culture of the workforce by\nconducting an equity audit on upcoming reform efforts, as well as\ndirect practices and training, identify gaps where current strategies\nare not being properly implemented or require improvement, identify\nregional office champions to assist with implementation and\naccountability;\nIn consultation with the Executive Director of the Office of Child\nProtection, identify and determine that all external support is\nengaged, including members of impacted communities, the\nCommission for Children and Families, the Alliance for Children’s\nRights, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations,\ntrusted messengers, etc., for the ongoing development and\nevaluation of the DCFS’ Office of Equity; and\nAuthorize the Director of Children and Family Services, for the Office\nEquity, to identify and execute an agreement with an equity consultant to\nconduct racial bias training, for DCFS University and new hire orientation,\nexecutive leadership, union representatives, management, hotline staff,\nAssistant Regional Administrators, Supervising Childrens Social Workers,\nChildrens Social Workers, and all applicable staff. (24-1486)