2022 Signature Report

Improving the lives of children and families requires addressing the social conditions that get in the way of families being able to raise their children safely and successfully. Investing in families means strengthening them, not separating them unnecessarily. As a society, and as individuals, we have a profound opportunity to ensure that every family, regardless of where they live or who they are, has access to boundless possibilities to prosper. At Casey Family Programs, we have come to recognize that the safety and well-being of children must be seen in the context of their families, and that the stability and resilience of those families must be seen in the context of the conditions in the communities where they live. We invite you to explore this report to learn how investing equitably in all three — child, family, community — can move us toward our shared goal of sustaining hope for every child and family.

Those who have lived experience with the child welfare system must have seats at the table so they can help improve how future families are supported.

Introduction

families and the communities they live in are best positioned to understand what they and their children need to be and feel safe.

In one East Coast state, investments in listening to families over the past four years are helping to build trust and partnership with communities in ways that are measurably improving child safety and family stability for all. The goal of this work goes beyond improving the function of the traditional child protection agency — it is to work with communities to create a true child and family well-being system, one that can provide the kinds of service and supports that all families need to thrive and reduce the risk that children are exposed to maltreatment. One of the latest efforts in New Jersey is Powerful Families, Powerful Communities NJ. This work, supported by the state’s Department of Children and Families (DCF), Casey Family Programs and numerous other public and private partners, is a collaboration in which families and communities design their future together, with a bold goal of making obsolete the need for non-kin foster care placement.

An investment in equity pays dividends for all families

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Parent Voices

Tamia's Story

Advocates who have experienced the child welfare system themselves are working to bring hopeful change to their communities. From New Jersey to Washington state, they are making sure the voices of lived experience are heard. Explore more of their work in the photo galleries.

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When we listen to birth parents, their children, and relatives who have helped care for them, we better understand how decades, even centuries, of a “child rescue” practice have done harm to families by separating them, not supporting them. “I started in this work because of my experience that I had going through the dependency system,” says Jason Bragg, now a contracted social service worker with the Washington State Office of Public Defense. “I oftentimes didn’t feel supported. … I didn’t want any other dad to have the kind of experience that I had going through the system.” For much of the past century, the voices of parents have been conspicuously absent in the creation and perpetuation of the child welfare system in America. Too often, they have been viewed as the target of the system’s actions instead of as critical partners in building stronger, more resilient families. Casey Family Programs believes those voices must be heard if we are serious about creating a child and family well-being system. Bragg is one of many parents who have experienced the child welfare system and are sharing their expertise to influence positive, transformative change in how other parents like them are supported. Through the Birth Parent National Network (BPNN) – supported by the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance and Casey Family Programs – these parent experts join together with other stakeholders and organizations to promote and support the voices of parents to inform policies and practices that affect children and families. Bragg successfully reunified with his son and now is actively involved with advocacy and advisory groups in Washington state for those whose lives are affected by child welfare. “I think that the individuals that are involved in the system with lived experience, we’re change agents,” he says. Similar to the BPNN, a Birth Parent Advisory Committee (BPAC) provides advice and guidance to Casey Family Programs itself. Advice from these parents informs the foundation’s efforts to keep parent engagement at the forefront of our work with child welfare agencies and other partners to support strategic planning, policy and practice change, and implementation. Sandra Killett serves on both advisory groups. “I believe that bringing all individuals together is what’s going to move the system,” says Killett, whose older son spent time in foster care and successfully returned home. “The voice of those impacted by the system, that voice is not going to be all roses. That voice needs to be heard. It’s families’ voices involved, telling you about a system that has impacted them, and continues to impact us and society.” Killett is a 2015 Casey Excellence for Children Award recipient and shares her expertise as a consultant.

Why family voices matter

Parent Voices

Tamia Govan is the community manager for Powerful Families, Powerful Communities NJ (PFPC), building and maintaining relationships with co-designers and community partners as they work to create a new model for child welfare reform in New Jersey. “PFPC is about power sharing, to bring lived expertise to the table, value that lived expertise, and give it the same weight as those who have expertise in policymaking,” Govan says. “So power is actually shared.” Govan is a passionate advocate for families, partnering with New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) on this and other work, even though her personal experience with the system disappointed her. “I touched the child welfare system in every way possible,” says Govan, who was adopted out of foster care after her mother struggled with an undiagnosed mental health disorder. Govan has since become the legal guardian of a biological sister and has five other children. During her divorce, she sought mental health help from the system for herself and her children, but it was short-lived. Ultimately, her ex-husband was awarded primary custody, though she sees her children nearly every day. Her experiences led her not only to PFPC but also to another innovative effort that New Jersey calls the Four Branch Institute. We have all heard of the three branches of government — executive, legislative and judicial — all of which play critical and distinct roles in creating the policy and practices that undergird child and family safety and well-being. But in New Jersey, DCF leadership recognized that a “fourth branch” needed to be involved if they were going to make the kind of effective and sustainable changes that would position children and families to truly thrive. That fourth branch? The families themselves. The New Jersey Four Branch Institute launched earlier this year in partnership with Casey Family Programs, bringing together about 50 participants from the executive, legislative and judicial systems alongside those with lived experience. The goal is to “identify a common understanding of the current child welfare system and a shared commitment to a future that best meets the needs of children and their families without unnecessary investigations and placements into foster care.” “A lot of times what happens in those groups, that fourth branch is missing, and instead you have advocates speaking on their behalf,” says Govan, who serves as a constituent participant with the Four Branch Institute. “A lot of these conversations are had about people but not with them. … People are making decisions about people in these circumstances without ever having been there themselves.”

A place at the table drives change for New Jersey families

Tamia's Story

Listening to voices of lived expertise

At Casey Family Programs, our mission is to provide and improve – and ultimately prevent the need for – foster care. This has been a guiding star for us as our work has evolved over more than a half century. Child protection systems were intended to keep all children safe. But as our ability has improved to collect and analyze data and other information about those involved in today’s child welfare system, we have come to see troubling disparities impacting who is engaged with the child welfare system and what kinds of outcomes they experience. To achieve our mission, it is imperative that we not only understand how systemic and institutional barriers impact families and communities, but also find ways to support communities in identifying, addressing and removing those barriers. Here, both an understanding of history and a clearer view of data can help point the way forward.

Data sheds light on systemic barriers

in child welfare

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Data Drives Change

DatA Drives Questions

Lucas County Children Services in Toledo, Ohio, is sparking community collaboration as it tackles disproportionality in the system. One example: a well-attended service fair at an apartment complex with community organizations providing everything from diapers to COVID-19 vaccinations. Central to Lucas County’s efforts is the presence of a new diversity, equity, inclusion and strategy director.

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Five years ago, Casey Family Programs started a conversation about racial inequities that were visible in child welfare data from a particular group of states. When looking at the data disaggregated by race, the disparities were clear, as was the call to action. The data was so compelling that 15 jurisdictions joined in the effort to tackle the massive disparities. The resulting Race Equity Improvement Collaborative, established in 2019, is guided by this vision: “Ultimately, we envision a child and family well-being system that is free of structural racism and that benefits all children, families and communities equitably … and where outcomes for vulnerable children and families can no longer be predicted by race or place.” The collaborative’s work started by learning about race equity and inclusion principles and each participating institution’s history. Participants created local teams that had to have people with lived experience with the child welfare system, community partners outside of the child welfare agency and, where relevant, representatives from American Indian tribes. Each participating jurisdiction is in a different stage in its journey. For Lucas County, Ohio, the collaborative provided an opportunity. Lucas County Children Services has a bold goal: to reduce the number of children the agency takes into foster care by 75%. “I started talking about sustainability, and how it wasn’t sustainable to bring the number of kids into care that we were bringing in,” says Robin Reese, the agency’s executive director. “I figured the way to tackle that was through disproportionality, looking at that.” Disproportionality is the concept that the child protection system treats families of color differently than it treats majority families, leading to an overrepresentation of minority families with child welfare involvement when compared to their proportion of the general population. Casey’s support helped Reese engage with other partners in her community. “The message was received in a different kind of way,” she says. “With Casey at the table, they said, ‘OK, let’s talk about that.’” That dialogue has spurred true collaboration in Toledo. “The other important thing that has come out of this is that we have changed the perception of Children Services in the community,” Reese says. “We wanted people to see us as a helping agency. We’re not here to destroy families, we’re here to help.”

We wanted people to see us as a helping agency. We’re not here to destroy families, we’re here to help.

– Robin Reese, executive director of Lucas County Children Services in Toledo, Ohio

When Data drives change

Data Drives Change

Foster care is supposed to be a temporary living situation for children who cannot live safely with their families or kin. Although communities across America are making progress to safely reduce the need for foster care, too many children still are being separated from their families, removed from their communities and left to grow up in foster care. Child protective services that emerged in the 1970s were designed as a response to deaths and serious abuse. They weren’t built for the millions of referrals they receive today alleging neglect. Indeed, most children enter foster care due to neglect and other reasons – not because of physical or sexual abuse. The unfortunate truth for those who experience the foster care system is that they face significant challenges in the areas of mental health, education, and employment and finances. And data show us that children and families of color are adversely impacted the most by foster care. Black children make up 23% of all children in foster care but only 14% of the total U.S. child population. American Indian/Alaska Native children make up 2% of all children in foster care but only 1% of the child population, according to the 2020 AFCARS Report and The Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kids Count Data Center. Disparate outcomes for Black and American Indian/Alaska Native children have been well documented for many years. These inequities occur at every decision point within the existing child protection system. While disproportionality has decreased, much work remains. At Casey Family Programs, we believe that data should inform child welfare policies, as well as the practices used to work with communities and families, and the decisions made about individual cases. Data helps inform critical thinking to ultimately improve the day-to-day decisions we make in partnership with youth and families. Disaggregating that data — the process of understanding the impact on individual groups or communities — helps bring to the surface the areas that must be better understood and addressed if we want to make the kinds of broad, sustainable changes that will ensure all children and families have the support they need to thrive.

Data drives hard questions

Child protective services that emerged in the 1970s were designed as a response to deaths and serious abuse. They weren’t built for the millions of referrals they receive today alleging neglect.

Date Drives Questions

Date Drives Questoins

For much of Casey Family Programs’ history, we have invested resources in supporting Native American tribes and communities working to improve the well-being of children and families. But what began as focusing on an area of great need — Native American children and families are significantly overrepresented in child welfare — has led to critical insights and experience that shape what we believe can best help improve outcomes for all children and families regardless of their community or culture. Carefully listening to diverse perspectives and experience, engaging communities equitably, and recognizing and supporting inclusive leadership leads to sustainable progress for all children and families.

Investing in the role of children, families and the communities where they live

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Allegheny County

Family First Act

Gold Standard

Children who can live with family fare better than those who don’t have that opportunity. A grandmother in Texas and a big sister in Arizona are two kinship caregivers who are providing hope for their own families as well as others. In the Navajo Nation, a journey of 400 miles builds connections.

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Where do communities that want to adopt the gold standard principles of child welfare start? One place is to focus on extended family members. Research demonstrates that children placed in kinship care fare better than those placed in foster care to live with strangers. Understanding the benefits to child well-being, several communities across America have adopted a “kin-first” approach in placements to ensure children can grow up in a family setting most familiar to them. Kin-first means communities have committed to making every child’s first — and hopefully only — out-of-home placement with kin. Placing children with kin can become the norm, and placing children with strangers the exception. Leaders in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania (in and around Pittsburgh), partnered with a community nonprofit specializing in kinship care services and adopted policy that provides relative caregivers the same benefits for raising their kin as nonrelative foster caregivers. The result of this shift has been a 70% kin placement rate. In Pennsylvania, the rate is 44%, while nationally, 34% of children in foster care were in relative placements in 2020. “It’s a moral imperative that young people have the opportunity to be reared by those they know best and that love them,” says Dr. Sharon L. McDaniel, CEO of A Second Chance Inc., which started partnering with Allegheny County in 1994 to provide kinship services. “No child in crisis ever asks to be placed with a stranger.” A Second Chance Inc., which has served 38,000 young people in the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas, works with what it calls the triad: young people, their birth family and caregivers. Everyone has to play a role to achieve reunification. Tailored supports and services that are available when families need them are also key. “Equity is about starting where families are and getting the chance to choose. With kinship care, families are able to choose where their children are placed. That is equity,” says McDaniel, herself an alumni of foster care and also a Casey Family Programs trustee.

Keeping children with Kin

Allegheny County

We wanted people to see us as a helping agency. We’re not here to destroy families, we’re here to help.

– Robin Reese, executive director of Lucas County Children Services in Toledo, Ohio.

The 2018 Family First Prevention Services Act (known as Family First) invests in strengthening families through upstream supports. The landmark law changed how the federal government traditionally has funded child welfare services. While federal Title IV-E funding still reimburses states for foster care services, Family First allows Title IV-E funding also to provide reimbursement for critical, culturally responsive prevention-based supports for families — before a child maltreatment crisis and foster care placement occur. The goal of Family First is to allow children to remain safely at home with their parents by enabling and incentivizing child welfare agencies to provide children and families the services they need to promote their well-being. These services must meet an evidence-based standard, and they address social conditions and family challenges we often see precipitating a crisis that leads to involvement of the child protection system, including poverty, a lack of parenting skills, behavioral and mental health issues and parental substance use. Family First also prioritizes that children grow up in safe, nurturing, family-based settings. The law includes provisions to limit unnecessary placement in institutional foster care settings, and it requires that any such placements demonstrate clinical need, be trauma-informed, and include participation from the family in case planning and after-care supports.

A powerful tool to support the gold standard — the Family First Prevention Services Act

Family First Act

Research demonstrates that children placed in kinship care fare better than those placed in foster care to live with strangers.

Congress enacted the landmark Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) in 1978 in response to a long history of unwarranted removal of American Indian children from their families and tribal communities in alarming numbers over many decades. As a foundation, we are committed to working with communities to ensure that provisions of ICWA are being regularly and properly implemented. As our work supporting Native American tribes and partners in this area has deepened, we have come to see ICWA as not just a law that applies to child and families of sovereign tribal nations, but as an embodiment of an approach to keeping children safe and families strong that would produce better outcomes for all communities. We call these the “gold standard principles” of child welfare. The approaches, policies and actions shown to be most effective in protecting children — children of any race, ethnicity, culture or background — are those that keep children safely in their own homes and connected to their own families, communities and culture whenever possible. At its core, ICWA honors tribal sovereignty, but the law was truly ahead of its time in identifying child welfare best practice. The overriding goal of these gold standards is child safety, with an emphasis on strengthening families within their own communities instead of separating families and sending children to live with strangers. An abundance of research shows that children fare best when they can remain safely with their own families and access supports that respond to the needs of their families. The gold standards of child welfare help define the best interests of a child as making “active efforts” to keep them connected to their own people, communities and culture ─ the very foundations that all of us need to thrive. Despite the overwhelming evidence that these gold standard principles work best for all children, much of the child welfare system in America is still too often rooted in approaches that remove children from the stability of extended family, familiar culture and communities that have provided care and support their entire lives. The gold standard principles of child welfare keep more children in a place best suited to help them thrive.

Adopting the gold standard: What we can learn from the Indian Child Welfare Act

Gold Standard

Building up hope by building up one another

Building hope by building up one another

We know that for children and families to thrive, they must have equitable and abundant opportunities. We also know that in this country’s history, such opportunities have been withheld or otherwise been out of reach for many. The pressures of a global pandemic have brought this disparity into sharper focus. Diverse perspectives, equitable engagement and inclusive leadership have been core to the work and mission of Casey Family Programs for more than 50 years. We believe that these values are integral to ensuring the well-being of all children and families in America. Without them, we risk compounding the challenges that families already face. We make their loads heavier. In this time of ongoing recovery in our nation, each of us has the chance — and the responsibility — to make sure every child, every family and every community is surrounded with the resources and support they need to emerge stronger, healthier and happier. Together, we can co-create these opportunities by listening carefully to what families tell us they need and working with them, and with each other, to build supportive child and family well-being systems. We must tap our collective strength and invest together in equitable and sustainable approaches that improve our lives. Our founder, Jim Casey, once said, “One measure of your success … will be the degree to which you build up others who work with you.” I invite you to work with Casey Family Programs and with the families in your own communities to build up each other so that all have the opportunity, and the hope, to reach their full potential. Sincerely, Walter H. Smith, Jr., Ph.D.

Chair, Board of Trustees

Walter H. Smith, Jr., PH.D.

A focus on Sustaining hope for children and famiLies

investment, with more than 34% of assets placed with diverse-owned firms. Every child deserves a Community of Hope, where they experience this commitment in tangible ways that help them thrive. We cannot rest until every child knows the safety, the nurturing, of a community that says, “I see you, I hear you, and I stand for you.” Together, we can build Communities of Hope. Sincerely, William C. Bell, Ph.D.

shared desire for more equitable and sustainable outcomes. This work has included learning collaboratives, convenings and research resources all aimed at strengthening knowledge, understanding and capacity in systems. We have engaged the diverse voices of those with lived experience with the child welfare system in our consulting and technical assistance efforts. These include working with national partner organizations to create the Birth Parent National Network, Birth and Foster Parent Partnership and Birth Parent Advisory Committee. We also partnered with people with lived expertise in the development and implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act. The priorities that these lived experience experts highlighted are reflected in the landmark 2018 law and its ongoing implementation. Listening is paramount. Those who have lived experience with the child welfare system must have seats at the table so they can help improve how future families are supported. They have told us this, and we are eager to help more communities launch a model where this is a reality. This is why we have supported an innovative partnership, Thriving Families, Safer Children, that encompasses more than 22 sites across the nation, including one sovereign tribal nation. We all approach this work with a spirit of humility and equal partnership, sharing what we have learned and learning from those with whom we work. I’ve taken those words directly from our Child and Family Services Practice Model, and it is something we can all strive toward. This approach runs throughout the entire organization, from the conversation with a child and parent to whom we provide service all the way through the work of investing our resources to sustainably support the work of the foundation. I’m honored that Casey Family Programs was recognized by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as among the top four foundations for diverse

and families to partners across the nation. From the start of Casey Family Programs, we have worked directly with children and families to provide and improve foster care and related services. Some work has been organic, such as engaging those in communities we serve who could bring a particular cultural lens to working with Black or Latinx youth if Casey’s experience was lacking, yet all the while, we intentionally learn and grow and build our internal strength. We developed specialized trainings and increased engagement with birth families, and we are always working to find more sophisticated ways to listen to the needs and desires of youth in foster care. We have learned and taught, we attended trainings, and we developed training when a need was identified. For example, Casey supported a job training to address the disparate employment and homelessness outcomes experienced by youth who age out of foster care. Listening to families has helped us evolve. Understanding the impact of trauma and what is needed to heal is the lens through which we view our work with families. We recognize that they know their own challenges and needs, and we help them discover and develop their own strengths and solutions. The goal of these efforts has always been to increase permanency for youth in care – to ensure each and every one of them has a parent, family member or other committed caring adult in their lives. And this is accomplished only through broader partnerships in communities — enhanced work with schools, juvenile justice systems and tribal communities. Our direct practice work also focuses on kinship, including helping youth form positive connections with relatives even when reunification with birth family or guardianship is not an option. Our work with public systems Casey has brought a focus to our work with child welfare systems on societal and institutional barriers that inhibit the well-being of youth and families, recognizing the disproportionality that exists alongside a

From those early conversations that began during our first decade, Casey Family Programs’ history of valuing a diversity of perspectives and experiences and promoting equitable investments in children and families has continued to evolve. We have worked to develop best practices and to build awareness, to incorporate this into our own direct practice with children and families, and to build our internal capacity so we can share our learning with others in our field. In addition to building a staff that reflects who we are as a nation, we have intentionally grown the diversity of our leadership, knowing that broader conversations require diversity of thought, life experiences, background and beliefs in the room, including the boardroom. Since 2001, representation on our Board of Trustees has grown to include more trustees of color and to add diversity in the areas of gender, geography and lived experience. Today our board holds expertise in financial investments and in the law, and they bring forth work and life experience in the fields of public health, education, social services and economic development, among others. They include a member who experienced foster care and works to support extended family members in raising children and another who is a leader in one of America’s great tribal nations. They include those who have spent their careers working directly with children and families in communities across our nation. Our board members are practiced in civic leadership and include those who touch several sectors, including business, philanthropy and nonprofits. I am honored to work alongside each and every one of them. Working with families in the communities where they live At Casey, we often refer to the “standard of our own.” This is the notion that each child in America deserves the same chance to fulfill their dreams that each of us would want for our own children. We recognize that a safe, stable and permanent family is central to achieving that. To that end, our Child and Family Services (CFS) staff have taken the lead in making the kind of practice changes that demonstrate an approach to achieving better outcomes for children

Equity, Equality and Inclusion: We believe in the intrinsic dignity and value of every person. We strive for fairness and justice in the way people — our staff and our communities — are treated and the opportunities they have to succeed by addressing racism, inequitable treatment and other barriers to inclusion.

course corrections and recognizing and supporting efforts that deliver and sustain better outcomes for those we serve. I’d like to share reflections on our organizational journey with the sincere hope that you take away from our journey and lessons learned the shared opportunity before us for transformative shifts that improve the lives of children and families. I hope our commitment inspires you to envision what is possible when we work together to invest in equity and sustain hope for families, for children and for communities all around our great nation. In the following pages, I invite you to explore and consider what is possible together. Reflections on our own journey Our organization was founded in 1966, just two years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act. From day one, our commitment to serve youth of all racial backgrounds was explicitly named. At the same time, we recognized that our staff of caseworkers faced challenges effectively serving youth of color. Our work within tribal nations to support American Indian youth in the 1970s underscored the importance of experience working with diverse populations, and it drew attention to the cultural and identity issues of children of color, almost all of whom were placed with white families at that time.With this knowledge, Casey Family Programs deliberately set out to hire a staff that reflected all of the people we served, to train ourselves in working with diverse populations, and to have challenging conversations with ourselves, all in the name of better service to all youth and families. Today, that cornerstone of cross-cultural effort has grown and evolved to become one of our core values: Diversity, Equity, Anti-racism and Anti-discrimination.

Every child deserves a Community of Hope, where they are truly seen, heard and supported in ways that help them and their families thrive. Casey Family Programs has recognized from our earliest days that to fully serve children and their families, and to help them reach their full potential, we must listen to them closely, so our services match their needs in a way that reflects their culture and community. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is visible in the many aspects of our work: in the direct services work that we do with families, in the consulting work we do with systems around the country, in our work with tribal nations and states in upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act, in our work with those who have lived experience with the child welfare system, and even in the investments we make to sustain the work of our foundation. In discussions around the country much attention is being paid to DEI — conversations in corporate and nonprofit board rooms, within the halls of government, in churches, synagogues and mosques where people of faith are gathering, and in the day-to-day conversation in communities and neighborhoods. As we look at what is happening in the world around us, it is clear that conversations need to continue; we need to enter into deeper discussion and we need to listen to each other. Casey Family Programs continues to focus on authentic listening and equitable engagement as principles of our work with children, families and other stakeholders. We all must learn how to move beyond defensive listening and anticipatory listening. True listening does not involve the listener anticipating the moment when they can speak to defend their predetermined position. True and authentic listening involves being intentionally focused on hearing and digesting the words of the other person so that you can gain a better understanding of their perspective. If we are going to heal from and overcome the trauma that is impacting children and families in this nation, we must listen to each other. True and authentic listening is a critical component of Casey Family Programs’ efforts to improve the life outcomes of children and families in diverse communities across America. In this report we will share some reflections from Casey’s organizational journey over the past 56 years with the sincere hope that our journey inspires you to envision what is possible when we work together to invest in equity and sustain hope for families, for children and for communities across our great nation. In the following pages, I invite you to explore and consider what is possible as we continue to work together. Reflections on our own journey Our organization was founded in 1966, just two years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act. From day one, our commitment to serve youth of all racial backgrounds was explicitly named. At the same time, we recognized that our staff of caseworkers faced challenges effectively serving youth of color. Our work within tribal nations to support American Indian youth in the 1970s underscored the importance of working with diverse populations, and it drew attention to the cultural and identity issues of children of color. With this knowledge, Casey Family Programs deliberately set out to hire a staff that reflected all of the people we served, to train ourselves in working with diverse populations, and to have challenging conversations with ourselves, all in the name of better service to all youth and families. Today, that cornerstone of cross-cultural awareness and efforts has grown and evolved to become one of our core values: Diversity, Equity, Anti-racism and Anti-discrimination. From those early conversations that began during our first decade, Casey Family Programs’ history of valuing a diversity of perspectives and experiences and promoting equitable investments in children and families has continued to evolve. We have worked to develop best practices and to build awareness, to incorporate this into our own direct practice with children and families, and to build our internal capacity so we can share our learning with others in our field. In addition to building a staff that reflects who we are as a nation, we have intentionally grown the diversity of our leadership teams, knowing that broader conversations require diversity of thought, life experiences, backgrounds and beliefs. Since 2001, representation on our Board of Trustees has grown to include more trustees of color and to add diversity in the areas of gender, geography and lived experiences. Today our Board holds expertise in financial investments and in the law. They have work and life experience in the fields of public health, education, social services and economic development. Casey’s Board includes a member who experienced foster care and who now works to support extended family members in raising children. The Board also includes a member who is a leader in one of the more than 574 sovereign tribal nations across America. Casey’s Board includes members who have spent their careers working directly with children and families in communities across our nation. Our Board includes members who come from all five sectors of the community: the business sector, the philanthropic sector, the government sector, the nonprofit sector, and the sector of the people. I am honored to work alongside each one of them. Working with families in the communities where they live At Casey, we often refer to the “standard of our own.” This is the notion that each child in America deserves the same chance to fulfill their dreams that each of us would want for our own children. If the conditions in a community or a standard of living that other parents’ children are facing is not good enough for our children, then it should not be good enough for any child in this country. We recognize that a safe, stable and permanent family is central to achieving this standard. To that end, our Child and Family Services (CFS) staff have taken the lead in making the kind of practice changes that demonstrate an approach to achieving better outcomes for children and families across the nation. From the start of Casey Family Programs, we have worked directly with children and families to provide and improve foster care and related services. Some work has been organic, such as engaging those in communities we serve who could bring a particular cultural lens to working with Black, Latinx or Native American youth. We also developed specialized trainings and increased engagement with birth families. We are always working to find more effective ways to listen to the needs and desires of youth in or at risk of entering foster care. Listening to families has helped us evolve. Understanding the impact of trauma and what is needed to heal is the lens through which we view our work with families. We recognize that they know their own challenges and needs, and we work with them to discover and develop their own strengths and solutions. The goal of these efforts has always been to increase permanency for youth in care — to ensure each and every one of them has a parent, family member or other committed caring adult in their lives. And this is accomplished only through broader partnerships in communities — enhanced work with schools, juvenile justice systems and tribal communities. Our direct practice work also focuses on kinship, including helping youth form positive connections with relatives even when reunification with birth family or guardianship is not an option.. Our work with public systems Casey has brought a focus to our work with child welfare systems on societal and institutional barriers that inhibit the well-being of youth and families, recognizing the disproportionality that exists alongside a shared desire for more equitable and sustainable outcomes. This work has included learning collaboratives, convenings and research resources all aimed at strengthening knowledge, understanding and capacity in systems. We have engaged the diverse voices of those with lived experience with the child welfare system in our consulting and technical assistance efforts. These include working with national and local organizations to create the Birth Parent National Network, the Birth and Foster Parent Partnership, and the Birth Parent Advisory Committee. We also partnered with people with lived expertise in the development and implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act. The priorities that these lived experience experts highlighted are reflected in the landmark 2018 law and its ongoing implementation. Listening is paramount. Those who have lived experience with the child welfare system and other systems must have seats at the table so they can help improve how future families are supported. They have told us this, and we are eager to help more communities launch a model where this is a reality. This is why Casey Family Programs is supporting the innovative cross-sector partnership, Thriving Families, Safer Children, that encompasses more than 22 sites across the nation, including one sovereign tribal nation. We all must approach this work with a spirit of humility and equal partnership, sharing what we have learned and learning from those with whom we work. This approach runs throughout Casey Family Programs, from the conversation with a child and parent to whom we provide services all the way through the work of investing our resources to sustainably support the work of the foundation. I am honored that Casey Family Programs was recognized by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as among the top four foundations for diverse investment, with more than 34% of Casey’s assets placed with diverse-owned investment firms. Every child deserves a Community of Hope, where they experience this commitment in tangible ways that help them and their families thrive. We cannot rest until every child knows the safety and the nurturing of a community that reminds them every day, “We see you; we hear you; and we will always stand up for you.” Together, we can build Communities of Hope for every child, in every family and in every community in this nation. Sincerely, William C. Bell, Ph.D.

A focus on sustaining hope for children and fmailies

President and CEO

Dr. William C. Bell

Learn more about the importance and power of voices with lived experience. Visit Questions from the Field and Lifting Up Voices at casey.org

It’s a moral imperative that young people have the opportunity to be reared by those they know best and that love them.

– Dr. Sharon L. McDaniel, CEO of A Second Chance

Autumn Adams deeply believes in the importance of connecting with family, community and culture. Adams, an alumni of foster care, has guardianship of her younger brother and sister. A member of the Yakama Tribe in Washington state, she relied on her connection to family and culture as a first-year law student more than a thousand miles from home at Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. “My siblings and I wouldn’t be as successful as we are right now if it wasn’t for our culture,” she says. With one sibling starting high school and the other graduating, “it helps us to have what we have been taught by our elders, it helps us keep our hearts pure and to want to make the world better for others.” Adams was recognized with a 2021 Casey Excellence for Children Kinship Caregiver Award for her advocacy efforts on behalf of youth and the implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act. She continues to serve on the youth advisory board of the Center for Native American Youth. Her family in Washington understands the yearning for connection and has sent salmon and other dried traditional foods so the siblings can have a touch of home while they are in Arizona. “My aunts keep reminding me of our oral histories, and our creation stories and our teachings about perseverance, about strength, and that it’s OK for me to be away right now,” she says. “That connection is so needed for everyone. If I didn’t have that right now, we wouldn’t be here. … Really, everyone needs to have that in their lives.”

Connection is so needed

My aunts keep reminding me of our oral histories, and our creation stories and our teachings about perseverance, about strength, and that it’s OK for me to be away right now.That connection is so needed for everyone.

– Autumn ADams

Autumn's Story

When Casey Family Programs’ Child and Family Services staff work with young people in care, every case plan addresses culture and connection with family. Among the important tools is family finding — working diligently to turn up family connections for a youth. Oftentimes, youth come into Casey’s care with no apparent links to family. Staff do everything they can to find them. In one case, a social worker was driving a youth around town when he recognized the neighborhood as the place where he used to live. They continued to drive and managed to find his aunt, who said she had been searching for her nephew. They ended up finding a permanent home together. Family finding can sometimes create a support network for a youth. Rather than looking for one person as a permanent connection, staff try to locate as many family members as possible so if one relative can’t provide a living space, perhaps they can provide transportation to school. If it’s not possible to place youth back with their family, staff do whatever it takes to reconnect them to their culture, whether it’s taking them to a tribal celebration or community festival or connecting them with a book club or other activities. This same persistence applies when Casey works with child welfare systems to demonstrate best practices and support systems in improving theirs. When staff work with child welfare systems on permanency reviews and staff coaching, each workplan calls out equity and inclusion, disproportionality and disparities. Youth and parents are brought to the table. Respecting the dignity and possibility of every child and every family is key. In one project specifically focused on diversity, equity and inclusion, a child welfare system in Oregon is working with American Indian tribes to understand tribal definitions of permanency and remove barriers for youth. Working together to address barriers to permanence removes system bias and ultimately addresses disparities and disproportionality.

Whatever It Takes

When staff work with child welfare systems on permanency reviews and staff coaching, each workplan calls out equity and inclusion, disproportionality and disparities.Youth and parents are brought to the table.

– Dr. Sharon McDaniel, CEO of A Second Chance.

Whatever It Takes

Whatever It TAkes

SiiHasin means “hope” in Navajo. And on the Navajo Nation, a Community of Hope exists. The Navajo Nation is led by President Jonathan Nez, a recipient of the 2022 Casey Excellence for Children Leadership Award, and a visionary team that includes Vice President Myron Lizer, First Lady Phefelia Nez and Second Lady Dottie Lizer. Together this team of four has brought forth initiatives for the Navajo people — in early childhood education, language immersion, healthy eating, exercise that keeps families active and moving, suicide prevention, and missing and murdered indigenous people — to make sure that children are safe, families are supported, all are connected to community and culture, and the best outcomes possible are ensured for the Navajo people. Navajo Nation leadership articulates that “positive outcomes for our children and families are the main goal. Prevention of ACEs and early intervention in the early ages of life do prevent negative outcomes in a child’s life.” They recognize that accomplishment at this scale is not done without enormous contributions from all five sectors, including other leaders within the community and deep partnership between agencies, businesses, philanthropy, nonprofit organizations and the community members themselves. One such leader is Navajo tribal member and bike-riding enthusiast Claudia Jackson. Nearly a decade ago, Jackson wanted to organize children and community members to ride bikes through the community and bring awareness of suicide prevention. Casey contributed to the fledgling SiiHasin Bike Program, and what began as a bike-riding club for youth and their families has grown into a program that engages all five sectors and includes the annual Tour de SiiHasin traversing 400 miles over 12 days across the Hopi and Navajo nations.

A journey of hope In the navajo nation

– Dr. Sharon McDaniel, CEO of A Second Chance.

Navajo Nation

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Gold standard for child and family well-being

How data can help make lasting change

Listening to voices of lived expertise

Messages from our leadership

Introduction

INVESTING EQUITY

2022 signature report

Sustaining hope children and families

for

Order PRINT Report

READ Message

We must tap our collective strength and invest together in equitable and sustainable approaches that improve our lives.

Chair, Board of Trustees

Dr. Walter H. Smith, Jr.

READ Message

Treasurer, Board of Trustees

Dr. Sharon L. McDaniel

READ Message

President and CEO

Dr. William C. Bell

Building hope by building up one another

No child in crisis ever asks to be placed with a stranger. Given a choice, any one of us would choose to be supported by those we know and love. In the world of child welfare, equity is about all families having the chance to choose. As CEO of a nationally recognized kinship care service agency, a Black mother and a former child of the foster care system, I know that providing children the best care means putting families at the center. A true child and family well-being system transcends historical barriers and applies a truly inclusive approach. I’m honored to be the longest-serving Casey Family Programs trustee of color, at 17 years and counting. Our core value of Diversity, Equity, Anti-racism and Anti-discrimination has fundamentally shaped how we do our business. We have intentionally examined and pursued how we can best support the children, families and communities we serve. And these children, families and communities tell us what they need. We must not only listen to these voices but also make sure that leaders and partners in communities across America hear their stories and strive each day to improve and transform our collective work so that each family has the chance to make equitable choices. In this report you will learn about communities, including my own, that have chosen to equip families with what they need. They have chosen to invest in equity. We owe it to our children to explicitly name the changes we want, changes on which we will not compromise. Sustaining hope for children and families requires nothing less. Sincerely, Sharon L. McDaniel, PhD, EdD, MPA

EquitABLE CHOICES

Treasurer, Board of Trustees

Sharon L. McDaniel, PhD, EdD, MPA

Our investment strategy supports equity

Casey’s commitment to our values is evident in our investments approach. We believe that advancing diversity, equity and inclusion with our investment partners and portfolio companies can lead to better decision-making and better business outcomes. In essence, doing good is good business. Addressing inequities within asset management is essential to run our investment portfolio successfully. Our commitment is underpinned by the return on investment resulting from greater inclusion, in how we work to improve the well-being of America’s children and families, and with our investment partners. As Casey relies solely on investment income to support our mission and hundreds of employees, we focus on generating returns with an emphasis on capital preservation. Integrating diversity has added tangible value to Casey in enhancing investment returns and reducing risks; its benefits are irrefutable. Advancing diversity is not about checking boxes or sound bites. It is a matter of investment governance. A 2021 study by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation listed Casey Family Programs as among the top four foundations for diverse investment, with each of the four investing more than 34% of assets with diverse-owned firms. We highlight our investments approach as another way to show that what businesses do and say absolutely affects children and families. The private sector is a critical partner in what we call Building Communities of Hope, where children and families have the support they need to thrive. Every child has the potential to be a business owner, an employee, a community leader, a doer, an influencer and a customer. The challenge of harnessing this powerful, hopeful potential lies with each one of us. An investment in the future of America’s children is an investment in hope.

Financial Summary

Progress has been made, but there is more work to be done.

View Infographic

AS MANY AS

Black/African American children at every protection point in the child welfare system

Native American/Alaska Native children at crucial points in the child welfare system

AS MANY AS

Black/African American

There was an overrepresentation of Black/African American children at every protection point in the child welfare system ranging from 1.4 times to 2.1 times their proportion in the general population.

AS MUCH AS

Data source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau (2005-2020). AFCARS and NCANDS 2005-2020 [Dataset]. Available from the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect website, https://www.ndacan.acf.hhs.gov/

Native American/Alaska Native

There was an overrepresentation of American Indian/Alaska Native children at crucial protection points in the child welfare system ranging from 1.3 times to 3.3 times their proportion in the general population.

AS MUCH AS

Download PRINT Report

READ Message

A focus on Sustaining hope for childreN and families

President and CEO

Dr. William C. Bell

Every child deserves a Community of Hope, where they are truly seen, heard and supported in ways that help them thrive. Casey Family Programs has recognized from our earliest days that to fully serve youth and their families, and to help them reach their full potential, we must listen to them closely, so our services match their needs in a way that reflects their culture and community. Our staff, our leadership and our board of trustees have worked on our own education and understanding of cultural competency. It is an ongoing effort, begun at our inception and carried through today. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is visible in the many aspects of our work: in the direct services work that we do with families, in the consulting work we do with systems around the country, in our work with tribal nations and states in upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act, in our work with those who have lived experience with the child welfare system, and even in the investments we make to sustain the work of our foundation. In discussions around the country much attention is being paid to DEI — conversations in corporate and nonprofit board rooms, within the halls of government, in churches, synagogues and mosques where people of faith are gathering, and in day-to-day conversation in communities and neighborhoods. As we look at what is happening in the world around us, it is clear that conversations need to continue; we need to enter into deeper discussion — and we need to listen. Casey Family Programs has learned — and continues to learn — what active listening and equitable engagement looks like and sounds like. We work hard to bring forth these principles and to share what we are learning with the systems, partners and sectors that join us in the work to improve the lives of children and families. By committing ourselves to the principles of serving all children and families — as a broad organization and in our work with others — we have been more effective at influencing change, making appropriate course corrections and recognizing and supporting efforts that deliver and sustain better outcomes for those we serve. I’d like to share reflections on our organizational journey with the sincere hope that you take away from our journey and lessons learned the shared opportunity before us for transformative shifts that improve the lives of children and families. I hope our commitment inspires you to envision what is possible when we work together to invest in equity and sustain hope for families, for children and for communities all around our great nation. In the following pages, I invite you to explore and consider what is possible together. Reflections on our own journey Our organization was founded in 1966, just two years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act. From day one, our commitment to serve youth of all racial backgrounds was explicitly named. At the same time, we recognized that our staff of caseworkers faced challenges effectively serving youth of color. Our work within tribal nations to support American Indian youth in the 1970s underscored the importance of experience working with diverse populations, and it drew attention to the cultural and identity issues of children of color, almost all of whom were placed with white families at that time. With this knowledge, Casey Family Programs deliberately set out to hire a staff that reflected all of the people we served, to train ourselves in working with diverse populations, and to have challenging conversations with ourselves, all in the name of better service to all youth and families. Today, that cornerstone of cross-cultural effort has grown and evolved to become one of our core values: Diversity, Equity, Anti-racism and Anti-discrimination. From those early conversations that began during our first decade, Casey Family Programs’ history of valuing a diversity of perspectives and experiences and promoting equitable investments in children and families has continued to evolve. We have worked to develop best practices and to build awareness, to incorporate this into our own direct practice with children and families, and to build our internal capacity so we can share our learning with others in our field. In addition to building a staff that reflects who we are as a nation, we have intentionally grown the diversity of our leadership, knowing that broader conversations require diversity of thought, life experiences, background and beliefs in the room, including the boardroom. Since 2001, representation on our Board of Trustees has grown to include more trustees of color and to add diversity in the areas of gender, geography and lived experience. Today our board holds expertise in financial investments and in the law, and they bring forth work and life experience in the fields of public health, education, social services and economic development, among others. They include a member who experienced foster care and works to support extended family members in raising children and another who is a leader in one of America’s great tribal nations. They include those who have spent their careers working directly with children and families in communities across our nation. Our board members are practiced in civic leadership and include those who touch several sectors, including business, philanthropy and nonprofits. I am honored to work alongside each and every one of them. Working with families in the communities where they live At Casey, we often refer to the “standard of our own.” This is the notion that each child in America deserves the same chance to fulfill their dreams that each of us would want for our own children. We recognize that a safe, stable and permanent family is central to achieving that. To that end, our Child and Family Services (CFS) staff have taken the lead in making the kind of practice changes that demonstrate an approach to achieving better outcomes for children and families to partners across the nation. From the start of Casey Family Programs, we have worked directly with children and families to provide and improve foster care and related services. Some work has been organic, such as engaging those in communities we serve who could bring a particular cultural lens to working with Black or Latinx youth if Casey’s experience was lacking, yet all the while, we intentionally learn and grow and build our internal strength. We developed specialized trainings and increased engagement with birth families, and we are always working to find more sophisticated ways to listen to the needs and desires of youth in foster care. We have learned and taught, we attended trainings, and we developed training when a need was identified. For example, Casey supported a job training to address the disparate employment and homelessness outcomes experienced by youth who age out of foster care. Listening to families has helped us evolve. Understanding the impact of trauma and what is needed to heal is the lens through which we view our work with families. We recognize that they know their own challenges and needs, and we help them discover and develop their own strengths and solutions. The goal of these efforts has always been to increase permanency for youth in care – to ensure each and every one of them has a parent, family member or other committed caring adult in their lives. And this is accomplished only through broader partnerships in communities — enhanced work with schools, juvenile justice systems and tribal communities. Our direct practice work also focuses on kinship, including helping youth form positive connections with relatives even when reunification with birth family or guardianship is not an option. Our work with public systems Casey has brought a focus to our work with child welfare systems on societal and institutional barriers that inhibit the well-being of youth and families, recognizing the disproportionality that exists alongside a shared desire for more equitable and sustainable outcomes. This work has included learning collaboratives, convenings and research resources all aimed at strengthening knowledge, understanding and capacity in systems. We have engaged the diverse voices of those with lived experience with the child welfare system in our consulting and technical assistance efforts. These include working with national partner organizations to create the Birth Parent National Network, Birth and Foster Parent Partnership and Birth Parent Advisory Committee. We also partnered with people with lived expertise in the development and implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act. The priorities that these lived experience experts highlighted are reflected in the landmark 2018 law and its ongoing implementation. Listening is paramount. Those who have lived experience with the child welfare system must have seats at the table so they can help improve how future families are supported. They have told us this, and we are eager to help more communities launch a model where this is a reality. This is why we have supported an innovative partnership, Thriving Families, Safer Children, that encompasses more than 22 sites across the nation, including one sovereign tribal nation. We all approach this work with a spirit of humility and equal partnership, sharing what we have learned and learning from those with whom we work. I’ve taken those words directly from our Child and Family Services Practice Model, and it is something we can all strive toward.This approach runs throughout the entire organization, from the conversation with a child and parent to whom we provide service all the way through the work of investing our resources to sustainably support the work of the foundation. I’m honored that Casey Family Programs was recognized by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as among the top four foundations for diverse investment, with more than 34% of assets placed with diverse-owned firms. Every child deserves a Community of Hope, where they experience this commitment in tangible ways that help them thrive. We cannot rest until every child knows the safety, the nurturing, of a community that says, “I see you, I hear you, and I stand for you.” Together, we can build Communities of Hope. Sincerely, William C. Bell, Ph.D.

A focus on sustaining hope for children and fmailies

Equity is about all families having the chance to choose.

Every child deserves a Community of Hope, where they are truly seen, heard and supported in ways that help them and their families thrive. Casey Family Programs has recognized from our earliest days that to fully serve children and their families, and to help them reach their full potential, we must listen to them closely, so our services match their needs in a way that reflects their culture and community. Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is visible in the many aspects of our work: in the direct services work that we do with families, in the consulting work we do with systems around the country, in our work with tribal nations and states in upholding the Indian Child Welfare Act, in our work with those who have lived experience with the child welfare system, and even in the investments we make to sustain the work of our foundation. In discussions around the country much attention is being paid to DEI — conversations in corporate and nonprofit board rooms, within the halls of government, in churches, synagogues and mosques where people of faith are gathering, and in the day-to-day conversation in communities and neighborhoods. As we look at what is happening in the world around us, it is clear that conversations need to continue; we need to enter into deeper discussion and we need to listen to each other. Casey Family Programs continues to focus on authentic listening and equitable engagement as principles of our work with children, families and other stakeholders. We all must learn how to move beyond defensive listening and anticipatory listening. True listening does not involve the listener anticipating the moment when they can speak to defend their predetermined position. True and authentic listening involves being intentionally focused on hearing and digesting the words of the other person so that you can gain a better understanding of their perspective. If we are going to heal from and overcome the trauma that is impacting children and families in this nation, we must listen to each other. True and authentic listening is a critical component of Casey Family Programs’ efforts to improve the life outcomes of children and families in diverse communities across America. In this report we will share some reflections from Casey’s organizational journey over the past 56 years with the sincere hope that our journey inspires you to envision what is possible when we work together to invest in equity and sustain hope for families, for children and for communities across our great nation. In the following pages, I invite you to explore and consider what is possible as we continue to work together. Reflections on our own journey Our organization was founded in 1966, just two years after the passage of the Civil Rights Act. From day one, our commitment to serve youth of all racial backgrounds was explicitly named. At the same time, we recognized that our staff of caseworkers faced challenges effectively serving youth of color. Our work within tribal nations to support American Indian youth in the 1970s underscored the importance of working with diverse populations, and it drew attention to the cultural and identity issues of children of color. With this knowledge, Casey Family Programs deliberately set out to hire a staff that reflected all of the people we served, to train ourselves in working with diverse populations, and to have challenging conversations with ourselves, all in the name of better service to all youth and families. Today, that cornerstone of cross-cultural awareness and efforts has grown and evolved to become one of our core values: Diversity, Equity, Anti-racism and Anti-discrimination. From those early conversations that began during our first decade, Casey Family Programs’ history of valuing a diversity of perspectives and experiences and promoting equitable investments in children and families has continued to evolve. We have worked to develop best practices and to build awareness, to incorporate this into our own direct practice with children and families, and to build our internal capacity so we can share our learning with others in our field. In addition to building a staff that reflects who we are as a nation, we have intentionally grown the diversity of our leadership teams, knowing that broader conversations require diversity of thought, life experiences, backgrounds and beliefs. Since 2001, representation on our Board of Trustees has grown to include more trustees of color and to add diversity in the areas of gender, geography and lived experiences. Today our Board holds expertise in financial investments and in the law. They have work and life experience in the fields of public health, education, social services and economic development. Casey’s Board includes a member who experienced foster care and who now works to support extended family members in raising children. The Board also includes a member who is a leader in one of the more than 574 sovereign tribal nations across America. Casey’s Board includes members who have spent their careers working directly with children and families in communities across our nation. Our Board includes members who come from all five sectors of the community: the business sector, the philanthropic sector, the government sector, the nonprofit sector, and the sector of the people. I am honored to work alongside each one of them. Working with families in the communities where they live At Casey, we often refer to the “standard of our own.” This is the notion that each child in America deserves the same chance to fulfill their dreams that each of us would want for our own children. If the conditions in a community or a standard of living that other parents’ children are facing is not good enough for our children, then it should not be good enough for any child in this country. We recognize that a safe, stable and permanent family is central to achieving this standard. To that end, our Child and Family Services (CFS) staff have taken the lead in making the kind of practice changes that demonstrate an approach to achieving better outcomes for children and families across the nation. From the start of Casey Family Programs, we have worked directly with children and families to provide and improve foster care and related services. Some work has been organic, such as engaging those in communities we serve who could bring a particular cultural lens to working with Black, Latinx or Native American youth. We also developed specialized trainings and increased engagement with birth families. We are always working to find more effective ways to listen to the needs and desires of youth in or at risk of entering foster care. Listening to families has helped us evolve. Understanding the impact of trauma and what is needed to heal is the lens through which we view our work with families. We recognize that they know their own challenges and needs, and we work with them to discover and develop their own strengths and solutions. The goal of these efforts has always been to increase permanency for youth in care — to ensure each and every one of them has a parent, family member or other committed caring adult in their lives. And this is accomplished only through broader partnerships in communities — enhanced work with schools, juvenile justice systems and tribal communities. Our direct practice work also focuses on kinship, including helping youth form positive connections with relatives even when reunification with birth family or guardianship is not an option. Our work with public systems Casey has brought a focus to our work with child welfare systems on societal and institutional barriers that inhibit the well-being of youth and families, recognizing the disproportionality that exists alongside a shared desire for more equitable and sustainable outcomes. This work has included learning collaboratives, convenings and research resources all aimed at strengthening knowledge, understanding and capacity in systems. We have engaged the diverse voices of those with lived experience with the child welfare system in our consulting and technical assistance efforts. These include working with national and local organizations to create the Birth Parent National Network, the Birth and Foster Parent Partnership, and the Birth Parent Advisory Committee. We also partnered with people with lived expertise in the development and implementation of the Family First Prevention Services Act. The priorities that these lived experience experts highlighted are reflected in the landmark 2018 law and its ongoing implementation. Listening is paramount. Those who have lived experience with the child welfare system and other systems must have seats at the table so they can help improve how future families are supported. They have told us this, and we are eager to help more communities launch a model where this is a reality. This is why Casey Family Programs is supporting the innovative cross-sector partnership, Thriving Families, Safer Children, that encompasses more than 22 sites across the nation, including one sovereign tribal nation. We all must approach this work with a spirit of humility and equal partnership, sharing what we have learned and learning from those with whom we work. This approach runs throughout Casey Family Programs, from the conversation with a child and parent to whom we provide services all the way through the work of investing our resources to sustainably support the work of the foundation. I am honored that Casey Family Programs was recognized by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation as among the top four foundations for diverse investment, with more than 34% of Casey’s assets placed with diverse-owned investment firms. Every child deserves a Community of Hope, where they experience this commitment in tangible ways that help them and their families thrive. We cannot rest until every child knows the safety and the nurturing of a community that reminds them every day, “We see you; we hear you; and we will always stand up for you.” Together, we can build Communities of Hope for every child, in every family and in every community in this nation. Sincerely, William C. Bell, Ph.D.