In this special issue article, the voices of mothers affected by the child welfare system are at the forefront. A group of five women, including our own, Jeanette Vega and other Rise staff and parents, discuss their experiences with the child welfare system, highlighting and illustrating the many systemic injustices. It is their hope that sharing personal stories inspires and helps others across the country. The article also focuses on the development of Rise as an organization that is both parent-led and prioritizes families impacted by the system.

Key Points:

• Overt acts of racism within the system are rare. Yet, the disproportionality for families of color is undeniable as the majority of those affected are Black & Brown.
• There is a lack of cultural competency as there is a constant comparison to white, heteronormative standards of family and childrearing.
• A sense of community and belonging amongst mothers is essential and proves to be a reparative force in their lives.
• Race, education, mental health, instances of intimate partner violence, and education overlap to form multi-layered biases, especially regarding Black mothers.

You can read the article in full here.