Foster Care Training

Oppression is not broken; it is functioning exactly as designed. While many believe oppression’ purpose is to harm, keep people down, or restrict access to resources, its true job is to divide us”to prevent connection, trust, and the collective action necessary for meaningful change. Division by design operates in our systems and interactions, fostering mistrust, misunderstanding, and separation. In 2025, societal polarization is at a peak, with contentious debates dominating media and public discourse. Immigration policies, economic disparities, cultural conflicts, and class tensions are fracturing communities and creating significant challenges in the workplace and beyond. For instance, recent appointments in the political arena have exposed fractures within traditional coalitions, highlighting deep-seated divisions over core issues. These tensions have a direct impact on child welfare systems, affecting the youth, families, and professionals navigating these polarized spaces. This workshop will focus on building the skills necessary to navigate and overcome these divisions. Participants will examine how systemic oppression and biases influence relationships and shape difficult conversations in both professional and personal contexts. Emphasis will be placed on fostering understanding, creating trust, and building meaningful connections to support collaboration and equity. Attendees will gain practical tools to strengthen their relationships with youth in care, colleagues, and their broader communities.