Foster Care Training

What makes talking about race and racism challenging or uncomfortable? How can we better support families to engage in conversations around race? For some families, talking about race is a regular part of daily life and family discussions growing up. As a matter of survival, it’s never been an option not to. For others, it can be challenging to talk about it, or to know how to, and thus is often avoided or considered taboo. Many individuals experienced a period in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, where race was not talked about explicitly, and in fact, the notion of “colorblindness” was touted as a way to not discriminate against others. It is no surprise then that without this practice and knowledge for how to talk about and acknowledge racism, many individuals are now in positions as parents or caring for youth and not knowing how to engage in that conversation.

This workshop provides participants with an opportunity to share challenging conversations or social dynamics in a family. Particularly, in the foster care system, there is often cross-racial relationships between caregivers, foster parents and youth, which have a specific context for engaging in the conversation around race. Providers will gain practical approaches about how to engage families or teach families how to engage more openly about the topic of race and racism. There will be opportunities to start from a culturally humble place of self-reflection and understanding of one’s own social location and how to talk about it, instead of avoiding it. Participants will explore how early childhood socialization regarding race can set people up for a tendency towards avoidance, resulting in frustration, powerlessness and resentment. Providers and caregivers in the child welfare or probation systems can practice and apply these skills and tools in their work with youth and families.

How can participants utilize their new skills and knowledge after the training to reinforce their learning?

• Participants can bring back their learnings from this training and share it with their colleagues, as a way to open up and develop a culture of talking about race openly and effectively
• Participants can utilize the various approaches to either apply them directly with the youth or to help guide parents with this conversation.
• Participants can use their new foundational skills and the included worksheets and handouts to introduce the concept to clients and families in the child welfare and probation systems.