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I'm quoted in a story on congregate care in child welfare by @strawburriez. It's a powerful story. I recommend you read it. The voices in it of those who experienced foster care are the most potent call for change. They should be heard. Here is a thread https://www.texasobserver.org/the-forgotten-children-of-texas/
But I am getting pushback that I just don't understand RTC's or see the value in them at all, or that I painted the whole system as abusive when there are some good ones. To be clear, there are good RTC's. They do good work and are staffed and led by good people.
But I still believe that almost every kid in care should not be in an RTC. That we should invest in the resources that would support that. Funding doesn't solve every problem, but underfunding does add to the negatives outcomes for kids in care.
My main disagreement with RTC's: least restrictive placement, normalcy and situational permanency are near impossible. It's HARD to build connections when staff are on 8 hour shifts. It's HARD to have friends come over to an RTC. It's HARD to be independent in a group setting.
I see solutions and am not talking about just getting rid of all of them tomorrow. This is a long-term plan.
1.) Pay Foster families and relatives more. A lot more.
2.) We have to pay kids in care. Give them half now and have to an account they get when they leave.
1.) Pay Foster families and relatives more. A lot more.
2.) We have to pay kids in care. Give them half now and have to an account they get when they leave.
3.) We need more social workers and people with advanced degrees on staff. That involves paying everyone more. Someone without a degree isn't bad, but the knowledge, training, and background that an advanced degree brings is key.
4.) We need to fund more independent living settings, there can be group support, but it needs to be fostered around Independence and not in a facility like setting.
5.) Keep kids out of care. And this involves funding systems that directly contribute to child welfare, like health care, workforce, housing and treatment.
So a lot is funding. But it's also making sure that we copy what those good RTC's are doing and shrink the pool of total RTC's. Kids should be in a home. I won't apologize for that. I also think parents make the best caregivers, so let's invest there.
If my positions don't align with your thinking, then I welcome your perspective, feedback and thoughts. But my overall goal is always to make sure the kids are at the center of the work we do, and I'm not sure congregate care as we have it now does that.
