In this final episode of season 3, I invited Kate Luster from Rock County to help us bring many of the strategies from this season together. As you have heard throughout this podcast, too many children and families, especially Black families, are being investigated and separated by child protective services. As part of our Strong Families, Thriving Children, Connected Communities initiative, we review the data from all the counties across Wisconsin to see what counties are meaningfully addressing issues like racial disproportionality or reducing the number of children separated from their families and placed in foster care for reasons of neglect. This past year, Rock County jumped off the page as we saw a significant decrease in the number of children entering foster care. We wanted to know why and how this had happened. So we reached out to Kate, and she shared the story of Rock Families First, which we will explore today. While you are listening to Kate, I encourage you to look for examples of how she and Rock County bring to life many of the strategies that you heard earlier this season. How have they disrupted system mindsets? How have they reimagined engagement and embedded community leadership? How have they invested in their workforce? Then, ask yourself, how might we do something like this and where can we start? Subscribe and listen wherever you get your podcasts. https://lnkd.in/gXPVYMdi Rock County Human Services, Wisconsin Department of Children and Families, Chapin Hall, Children's Wisconsin, Children's Home Society of America, Children's Home Society of North Carolina, Children's Home Society of Florida, Marlo Nash, Helen Bader School of Social Welfare #LivedExperience #MentalModels #SystemsChange #SystemsTransformation #WorkforceInclusionandInnovation #CommunityLeadership #CommunityEngagement #PowerSharing #Collaboration #ChildWelfare
