Cross-Systems Initiatives to Address Disproportionality

1. Cross-Systems Initiatives to Address Disproportionality Des Moines, Iowa

2. Des Moines Register Wednesday, July 18, 2007 IOWA'S BLACK-WHITE PRISONER RATIO HIGHEST NATION A national study released today ranks Iowa No. 1 in the nation in the ratio of blacks to whites in prison

3. Incarceration per 100,000 Population) STATE BLACK –TO-WHITE RATIO Highest Iowa 13.6 Vermont 12.5 New Jersey 12.4 Connecticut 12.0 Wisconsin 10.6

5. Disciplinary Action by Race (2004-2005 School Year)

7. “INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE”- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

8. Extreme Disproportion (Robert Hill; Overrepresentation of Children of Color in Foster Care in 2000. Working Paper – 03/05) 14) New Mexico 3.74 13) Iowa 3.76 6) Oregon 4 .38 5) Wyoming 4.53 4) Minnesota 4.77 3) Idaho 4.84 2) New Hampshire 4.93 1) Wisconsin 5.48

10. Disproportionality Rate (DRI) comparison of a groups representation in the system compared to the same groups representation in the general population. Over-Representation Rate

11. Phase 1. Identification Answer the questions: Does DMC exist? If so, where on the juvenile justice continuum? And with what minority population? To what extent? 2-1

12. Relative Rate Index (RRI) (Most Frequently Used Formula) Relative Rate Index = minority rate / white rate 2-4

13. Relative Rate Index Formula When Compared With Another Minority Rate Relative Rate Index = minority rate / another minority rate 2-5

14. Juvenile Justice System (JJS) Contact Points 1-25

15. Four Steps of Interpreting and Analyzing RRI Values to Drive Decision-Making Step 1. Statistical significance Step 2. Magnitude of RRI Step 3. Volume of activity Step 4. Comparison with other jurisdictions 2-26

16. Anywhere CountyRRI by Race and Contact Point* Key Statistically significant results: Bold font Results that are not statistically significant Regular font Group is less than 1 percent of the youth population No Insufficient number of cases for analysis ** Missing data or data not available NA *Data submitted in 2006 2-28

18. Institutional Racism Any practice that has disproportionate results -Bojko

20. Racial Equity Scorecard Polk County - 2002

21. Racial Equity Scorecard Polk County - 2004

22. Woodbury County Basic Scorecard FY 06

23. State Efforts to Address Disproportionality In CW & JJ • DMC Committee developed - 2000 • JJAC allocates funds through decat • DMC Resource Center at University of Iowa –SSW, National Center for Family Centered Practice, 2002 • Child Welfare Better Results for Kids Redesign includes focus on disproportionality - 2003 • Minority Youth and Families Initiative (MYFI) - 2003

24. Joint CW/JJ Efforts to Address Disproportionality • Expansion of DMC Resource Center to include child welfare as well as juvenile justice (2004) • Technical assistance to and evaluation of local sites • Analysis of key decision points • Annual state DMC Conference focused on juvenile justice, child welfare, education and public health (2004 – 2007) • Child Welfare & Juvenile Justice data provided to local groups (2004) • Joint CW/JJ discussions around risk assessment, wraparound alternatives and disproportionality, evidence based practice • Sioux City MYFI project & DMC efforts

25. Renewed Leadership around CW, JJ and Disproportionality • Governor’s Office • Executive Order establishing Youth Race & Detention Task Force • Remarks at 6th Annual conference, “Linking CW, JJ, Education & Health to Reduce Racial Disparities” • Supreme Court • Chief Justice “Children’s Justice Initiative” focusing on both CW & JJ • Legislature • Considering legislation that would require grants to include minority impact statement

26. Lessons Learned • Programs and training alone will not “fix” disproportionality & disparity; progress requires strategies at multiple levels – including leadership at all levels, policy & practice changes, changes in organizational culture, & on-going monitoring, as well as implementing programs & training • Education and mental health critical partners in CW/JJ collaborations to address disproportionality & disparity • Partnering with the community is also critical to address disproportionality & disparity

27. MYFI Long Term Goal: Reduce the number of out of home placements for children Key services include: Facilitating family team meetings, Providing community outreach promoting Family Team Decision Making within the African American community to engage informal and community-based resources & supports

28. …Key Services • Community-based services that are individualized • Built on strengths • Meet the needs of children and families across life domains to promote success, safety and permanence in the home, school and community

30. A View From The Bench One judge’s thoughts on Disparate treatment and Disproportionate outcomes for Children of color in court

32. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. Martin Luther King August 1963

33. Undoing Racism The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond Participation opened this judge’s eyes to a view of history and culture previously unknown

34. Segregation looks like this

35. Segregation does exist • By income patterns • By housing patterns • By education patterns • By cultural patterns

36. Racism looks like this

37. Racism does exist • It’s not about individual racism • It’s about the institutions we encounter • It’s about the structures we are a part of

38. The Civil and Voting Rights Acts fixed it

39. But it didn’t • Forty five years later we are still having these discussions • The paper we’re here about today shows modest improvement in some areas • Continued work heightens awareness

40. A variety of effortsare under way inDes Moines, Iowa.These efforts are intended toadvance the work needed toaddress the dual problems ofdisparate treatment and disproportionate outcomes.

41. Community Partnership forProtecting Children • Monthly meetings • Cross sectional participation • Motivated by non-governmental agencies • Undoing Racism training

42. Parent Partners • Parents helping parents • Under auspices of the Visiting Nurse Assn. • Parents who successfully closed their child welfare cases helping parents newly in the system

43. Family Team Meetings • Implemented by DHS • Conceived to create community support • Particularly helpful for families of color who are suspicious of the system

44. Iowa Children’s Justice Initiative • One family – one judge • Review of quality of representation • Attorney surveys • Attorney training

45. Governor's Youth Race and Detention Task Force • Study disparate treatment and its relationship to disproportionate detention rates • Involve gatekeepers • Educate those involved with the juvenile justice system • Explore relationship between juvenile justice and child welfare

46. Model Court • One of three Model Court goals seeks to address disparate treatment and disproportionate outcomes • Polk County Model Court Site • Broad base involvement • Includes members of the education, health, legal and provider agencies

47. Concerns • There are no cookie cutters • It’s uncomfortable work • Educate agencies • Educate the judiciary • Partner with the community • Don’t give up – this cannot be the “flavor of the week” • They are all our children too

48. Progress & Promise • Recognition of the problem for what it is – not making excuses • Commitment of the professionals involved • Community involvement • Willingness to change • Downward trends