This assignment provides students an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of traditionally oppressive structures in the child welfare system, their understanding of culturally-competent policy and service delivery that purports to address such inequalities and their critique on the effectiveness of these services. Drawing on their field placement experiences, students will identify at least one population, one policy and one program model for their analysis. The assignment will be APA-formatted with peer-reviewed references.
Part 1: Population
- Identify a population that has been historically oppressed
(e.g., unaccompanied minors, older youth, LGBT youth, African-American youth,) by any component of the child welfare system and document this oppression.
Part 2: Policy
- Evaluate the policies (e.g., Indian Child Welfare Act, Children’s Bureau’s/ DCF’s administrative regulations, CWLA Best Practice Guidelines) that attempt to reverse this oppression
Part 3: Program Model
- Analyze the program models (e.g., family preservation models, transitional Independent Living Services) that purport to bring much-needed services to this population in a culturally-competent manner.
Part 4: Critique
- Recommend any policies and/ or conceptual program models that might promote equity by improving child welfare services for this population