Alia reposted this
Child Welfare System Innovator. Keynote speaker, author, and changemaker in awe of leaders who pave the way.
Our child welfare system is built on an outdated financing model that reflects a bygone era. Decades ago, when the system was designed, there were few resources available to support families in crisis. Removal became the primary intervention, driven by the “battered child syndrome” mindset. But now, we know better. We understand the trauma of family separation, and we have a range of resources that could help families thrive together. The problem? The funding hasn’t kept up. Federal dollars are still disproportionately directed toward placing children in foster care, while only a fraction supports keeping families safely together. Many foster care agencies are reimbursed based on the number of children they have "in care," with these funds often covering social workers’ salaries and operational costs. When the financial model rewards separation over prevention, where is the incentive to keep children in their homes? This outdated system perpetuates a cycle where family separation becomes the default response rather than a last resort. The reality today is that the majority of removals—83%, in fact—are for neglect, often tied to poverty, mental health, substance use, or racial bias. These are challenges for which we now have resources to address, yet the funding remains tied to outdated approaches that prioritize removal over support. Imagine if we reallocated more of these funds to support housing stability, parenting programs, and mental health services—shifting from a system of reaction to one of prevention. This is our vision for co-designing UnSystems: systems that invest in families from the start, providing the resources they need to thrive together. We need a model that truly works for children and families—not one that is funded when families are separated. It’s time to challenge this outdated system and build a new way forward. PS - This post is part of my ongoing series on the flawed foundation of the U.S. child welfare system. Please join me in the conversation below, and share your thoughts on how we can create a system that invests in families before crisis. Follow for more! #ChildWelfareReform #PreventiveCare #FamilySupport #UnSystem #FundingReform
As a public administration scholar I agree about the financing structure but I also see a bigger picture about the literal administrative structure as well. It’s a little difficult to put in words, but there is something too decentralized, technocratic, adversarial, and exploitative about how the myriad of systems we refer to broadly refer to as “the child welfare system.” To transform child welfare partly means to revolutionize how these systems are structured and how they function, and where public administration fits in. It’s far easier for me to speak about this than to write because there is so much to unpack. But it’s a combination of refinancing and expanded funding, centralizing of information and resources, and integrating democratic engagement and accountability. I’m happy to stay involved or elaborate kore if anyone cares to listen, but this is a great discussion!
I posted almost the same thing myself in response yo an Australian report in Aboriginal children and the system. I certainly ask it of myself and others every other day. I am yet to have any meaningful response - or response at all - from anyone in any agency! I have so many examples of when and how this plays out. It is crazy making! How do we push this further and harder?
Hello Dr. I would like to have chat together unfortunately I couldn't reach your inbox
Chynna Phillips, MPH, MSW I am sure you will appreciate.
Thanks for these such a good reminder to keep on advocating!!
Thank you so much for this post!!!
Researcher
6hFirst things first. First, the child rights movement originated because of the animal rights movement. It was there before the child rights movement. If we look at social welfare, and child welfare policy there is built into the system many misconceptions about those parents who are either disabled or poor. The pseudoscience of eugenics plays a large in this arena. In addition in tackling this system one needs to use several disciplines and their respective intersectionals to actually take apart this system to solve for its issue.