DPSS Annual Report 24_25 FLIP v16_compressed

Children’s Services Division

Equity-Driven Reforms Target Early Family Support for All Children and Families Children’s Services strengthened its commitment to a fair and equitable child welfare system throughout Fiscal Year 2024/25, expanding efforts to identify and support at risk families long before they face system involvement. Leaders of the Children’s Services Racial Dispar ity & Disproportionality Committee say the work reflects a countywide priority to intervene earlier, reduce disparities and ensure every family has access to the support they need to thrive. “We are building a system that responds to families with dignity, consistency and care,” Deputy Director Renita Lewis said. “Our focus is on meeting needs early, not waiting for a crisis.” The committee leads efforts to eliminate systemic inequities and ensure all chil dren and families receive the same level of support, regardless of race, zip code or circumstance. During FY 2024/25, the RDD commit tee focused on four priorities: practice improvement, workforce development, community partnerships and initiatives that strengthen culturally responsive services. These areas guide how the di vision trains its workforce, partners with families and collaborates with communi ty organizations. A major portion of the year’s work cen tered on practice improvement. The committee expanded training, coaching and trauma informed response strate gies to help staff better recognize and address racial inequities in child welfare. Continuous quality improvement efforts ensured policies and practices consis tently support fair outcomes. One of the year’s most significant ac complishments was a two-day Rapid

Improvement Event aimed at strength ening Imminent Risk Meetings, a type of Child and Family Team Meeting that brings families, social workers and com munity partners together to stabilize sit uations and prevent removal whenever safely possible. The event produced several strategies, including clear criteria for when an Immi nent Risk Meeting is needed, increased use of these meetings earlier in case planning and standardized documenta tion across the county. These improve ments laid the foundation for a pilot program focused on supporting Black children and families, a group dispropor

tionately represented in foster care.

Lewis said the work reflects a broader shift toward prevention and partnership. “We cannot wait until a family is in crisis to act,” she said. “Families know what they need. Our job is to listen, collabo rate and connect them to resources that strengthen their stability and well-be ing.” Leaders say the work will continue into FY 2025/26 with an even stronger focus on prevention, family voice and equita ble access to resources across Riverside County.

Racial Disparity & Disproportionality Committee members

Riverside County Department of Public Social Services | Annual Report 2024 - 2025

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