Q&A
Reporting and addressing bias and discrimination claims in foster care
0:48:20
·
107 sec
Council Member Farah Louis inquires about the process for foster youth to report bias and discrimination, and the number of claims recorded in 2023. ACS officials provide information on reporting methods and claim statistics.
- Youth can report issues through case planners, coaches, therapists, or attorneys
- In 2023, 5 claims of bias and discrimination were recorded at the ACS central office
- No young people in 2023 asked to be removed from placement due to bias or discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity
Farah Louis
0:48:20
And how are they able to report issues of harassment and bias to these point persons?
Jess Dannhauser
0:48:26
So through their any any way they want to report it through their their case planner, through their coach, if they have a therapist, through their attorney, and we are educating all of those parties to reach out to to us as well, to both to the point person, and the point piece people can reach out to to Steven and his team.
Farah Louis
0:48:46
In 2023, how many claims of bias and discrimination related to forced to youth placement were recorded by the LGBT point person at ACF?
Jess Dannhauser
0:48:55
So for our central office, it was 5.
0:48:58
Let's even talk a little bit about the that.
0:49:02
We know there's other issues that have been resolved that a lower level did not need to come there, so I don't wanna inaccurately say that we think that's the full universe, but 5 where we got deeply involved.
0:49:15
Thanks commissioner.
Steven Gordon
0:49:16
Yeah.
0:49:17
The file that were reported, we worked with the foster care agency and the young person to resolve the issue.
0:49:23
We interviewed the young person to ensure that they still felt safe in their placement and with the agency, and we made it essentially a corrective action plan with the agency.
0:49:32
We are seeing more and more of professionals and policymakers agencies be proactive to reach out to us if they're struggling with the case plan, trying to figure out a young person's housing plan, or a young person's mental health medical plan, that our office also provides technical assistance cents around.
Farah Louis
0:49:48
It would just say that's the same amount that's that was stated.
0:49:52
Was it the same amount that requested to be removed from placement due to those claims?
Pedro Gonzalez
0:49:57
We
Steven Gordon
0:49:57
had no young people in 2023 that asked to be removed from their placement because of bias or discrimination based on their SOG.
Farah Louis
0:50:06
Thanks.
Jess Dannhauser
0:50:06
Sure.
