October 19, 2007
DSHS to Convene Disproportionality Advisory Committee
OLYMPIA -- The first step in the process of implementing a law to look into the number of children of color in the state's child welfare system will take place Thursday, November 1, 2007. Robin Arnold-Williams, secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) will convene the first meeting of the Disproportionality Advisory Committee. The meeting will be held November 1 and 2 at the Cedarbrook Washington Mutual Leadership Center, SeaTac.
In the 2006 legislative session, lawmakers passed Substitute House Bill 1472. Sponsors of the bill recognized the problem of Disproportionality in the child welfare system, which is the overrepresentation of children of color relative to the population. The Disproportionality Advisory Committee will analyze and make recommendations on how to address this issue in Washington state’s child welfare system.
Representative Eric Pettigrew, of the 37th legislative district in Seattle, the prime sponsor of the bill, notes, "there is three times the number of African-American children and more than four times the number of Native American children in Washington’s child welfare system and I would like to know why and what can be done to make changes."
Robin Arnold-Williams and Representative Pettigrew would like to encourage public input to the committee. At the November 2 meeting, the Disproportionality Advisory Committee will provide an opportunity for the public to offer their insight relating to the overrepresentation of children of color in foster care and child welfare cases. This meeting will be open to community agencies and stakeholders.
"Addressing the issue of the disproportionate entry of children and youth of color is a national issue that all child welfare systems need to address," said Arnold-Williams. "Representative Pettigrew and Senator Claudia Kauffman have provided excellent leadership in creating this opportunity for Washington state to be among the first states to examine the issue of disproportionality from a statewide perspective."
Secretary Arnold-Williams will provide a report to the Legislature on the work conducted by the Advisory Committee by December 1, 2008. The public may contact Deborah Purce at (360) 902-7788 for more information on the meeting.
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