20th Annual TCOM Conference—Climbing the Hill of System Change

The first day of the conference, held at Hotel Nikko in San Francisco this year, had powerful sessions that challenged our systems to reflect deeply on change. 

One of those sessions was an inspiring presentation by Dr. Jennifer Roland, Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs at the Illinois Collaboration on Youth, discussed Critical Race Theory and the long history of racism in our child welfare and legal systems.  Recently adopted Resolution 606 brings needed change by urging governments, courts and practitioners to recognize implicit and explicit bias; acknowledge collective responsibility for challenging laws, policies, and practices that devalue Black families; ensure all legal decisions, policies, and practices respect and value the racial, cultural, and ethnic identities of Black children; and consult, listen to, and be led by Black parents, children, and kin with lived experience in child welfare to learn how to constructively end the legacy of Black family separation.  The presentation ended by reminding us that many of these principles align with the TCOM philosophy that invites us to adopt a child- & family-centered approach to collaboration.

---

Other highlights from the conference included a gathering of Spanish-speaking providers.

Those using the CANS in Spanish were able to build community, share un cafecito, discuss barriers, and share resources for using the TCOM tools with Spanish-language communities.  Cristal Alvarado, from East Bay Agency for Children and the newest member to the Alameda County CANS Collaborative, shared about using Lotería (a Mexican game similar to BINGO), as a tool to guide conversations about the CANS. 

Alameda County was also represented at the CANS Conference. Cinthya Chin Herrera & Crystal Moore provided a thought-provoking presentation that invited participants to consider cultural biases and the clinical value of several items in the CANS Violence Module. Participants were challenged to take a holistic view, challenge assumptions, and ensure that we use the CANS as a tool to partner with youth and families and to interrupt systemic oppression.

---