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AB8BDC0E586FC30387258A28006EADDE Hearing Summary




PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For PRESENTATION ON OVERREPRESENTED POPULATIONS IN COLORADO’S CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM

INTERIM COMMITTEE  COLORADO'S CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE
Date Sep 12, 2023      
Location HCR 0112



Presentation on Overrepresented Populations in Colorado’s Child Welfare System - Committee Discussion Only

02:08:58 PM  
The committee recessed.
02:10:13 PM  
The committee came back to order.
02:11:02 PM  
Crystal Ward Allan,
Senior Director Strategic  Consulting, Casey Family Programs, and
Steve Ellis, Data Advocacy Analyst, Casey Family Programs, presented to
the committee.  The presentation was provided to the committee (Attachment
J).  Additionally, a copy of a presentation from Doris Tolliver, Principal,
Health Management Associates, was provided to the committee (Attachment
K).  Mr. Ellis reviewed Colorado child welfare data related to race.
02:21:38 PM  
Ms. Allen Ward discussed
the overall trends in Colorado data and the need to establish and support
systems that support all types of families.  She discussed national
approaches to advance race equity in the area of child welfare, as well
as the Colorado Kinnected Kinship Navigator Program and Family Connects
Program.  Ms. Allen Ward discussed racial disparities in mandated
reporting and the need for better training of mandated reporters, especially
in regards to racial disparities.  She spoke about what some other
states have done regarding mandatory reporters and creating prevention
hubs, including Texas, New York, New Hampshire, and Ohio.
02:33:51 PM  
Melanie Jordan, Policy
Director, Office of the Respondent Parents Counsel, and Nicole Bishop,
Director, Action in Advocacy, presented to the committee.  The presentation
was provided the committee (Attachment L), along with additional materials
(Attachments M through O).  Ms. Bishop discussed the overrepresntation
of people with disabilities in the school-to-prison pipeline and shared
data related to people with disabilities regarding Colorado's child welfare
system.  Ms. Jordan discussed the availability of data related to
people with disabilities involved in the child welfare system.
02:41:25 PM  
Ms. Bishop continued by discussing a study by the National Council on Disabilities related to child welfare. She shared her personal story with the child welfare system. Ms. Jordan provided an overview of the information contained in the materials provided by her office.
02:48:49 PM  
The panelists responded to questions from the committee.






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