News and Events Page last updated on: November 30, 2011 12:35 PM

2010 FALL DIVERSITY SERIES October 26 Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems

You are cordially invited to attend the next meeting of Nassau County's Disproportionate Minority Representation (DMR) Executive Advisory Group (EAG): Read more...

Score Sheet Tool Disproportionality: Developing a Public Agency Strategy. Click here to learn more... Sage College President at OCFS; Discusses Cultural Competence Dr. Susan Scrimshaw, president of the Sage Colleges, presented an overview of her work in Cultural Competence to members of the OCFS Racial Equity and Cultural Competence Committee and members of the Cross-Agency Work Group on Cultural Competence. She shared her experiences growing up in Latin America and then returning to the U.S., from her perspective as an anthropologist and now president of Sage Colleges. Nassau County Meeting on Disproportionate Minority Representation (DMR) Over 45 stakeholders from agencies and organizations in Nassau County attended a DMR Stakeholders session on March 2. Standing (l-r): Howard Knoll of Casey Family Programs; Maureen McLoughlin, and LaQueta Robbins od the Nassau County DSS lead the meeting.

March 30, 2011

Race & Justice News

“We should not tolerate disparate treatment of people of color within the criminal justice system. It denigrates the American ideal of equality of fairness to all. In addition it threatens our public safety, the integrity of our justice system and the quality of our society. It is time that all of us – legislators, law enforcement, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges – collaborate collectively and courageously to eradicate this stigma.”

--James Williams, public defender, District 15B, North Carolina

WELCOME

The NYS Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS) recognizes the negative impact that racial and ethnic disproportionality and disparity have on children and families of color who come into contact with our child welfare, juvenile justice and other systems. It is a problem for those who are most overrepresented and who receive differential treatment and access to services, and for those children and families who are unable to access services and assistance and are therefore under represented. In essence, the entire system is effected by disproportionate minority representation and racial and ethnic disparities.

OCFS commits to identifying, addressing and reducing disproportionality and to eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in our systems of care and custody. We will do so, in part, by becoming more culturally responsive in providing services to a diverse customer base and by providing services that include our respect for and consideration of cultural differences.

In order to clarify the work that we intend to do on this important issue, and to remain aligned with other efforts throughout the nation, we have changed the name of the committee from Disproportionate Minority Representation and Cultural Competence to the Committee on Racial Equity and Cultural Competence.