Child Welfare Service Equity Council

The Child Welfare Service Equity Council focuses on advancing high-level system and culture changes within the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) Child Welfare system. These priorities include direct collaboration with other advisory groups, commissions and committees when identified issues include the area in which those groups direct guidance.

Our purpose

To advise, consult with and make recommendations to ODHS Child Welfare Division executive leadership on policy, programs, practice and data.
To center equity advancement around a belief that children do best growing up in a family.
To be a decolonized and equitable space that is not held back by past norms, policies and harm.
To be a space where power dynamics are shifted, and power is shared with Tribal and community members who have lived experience.

Our work

The council will identify and explore annual priorities in order to provide formal recommendations to the Child Welfare Director and executive leadership.
Child Welfare leadership will provide technical expertise and assistance to the council. When appropriate, they will assign ODHS staff to implement the recommendations.
If implementation is not possible, barriers exist, or the recommendation is rejected, Child Welfare leadership is expected to provide feedback on feasibility and work with the council to identify pathways to meet the intent of the council.

Meetings

Meetings are held on Zoom on the second Wednesday of every other month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meetings are open to the public. Contact Ashley or Tristan for details.

2024 meeting dates: September 11, November 13

How to join

There are no open recruitments at this time, but we'd love to connect when we are recruiting in the future. Please email us to let us know you're interested in joining.

Email us

Contacts

Tristan Fernandez, Child Welfare Senior Legislative Policy Analyst
tristan.fernandez@odhs.oregon.gov

Ashley Wortman, OEMS Child Welfare Service Equity Manager
ashley.m.wortman@odhs.oregon.gov

Molly Miller, Child Welfare Deputy Director
molly.miller@odhs.oregon.gov

About ODHS Service Equity Councils

Services Equity Councils are part of the ODHS Unified Equity Framework. The ODHS Office of Equity and Multicultural Services (OEMS) partners with ODHS programs to implement this framework. The Child Welfare Service Equity Council was implemented in partnership with the OEMS Child Welfare Service Equity Manager. Once fully implemented across the organization, all ODHS Service Equity Councils will regularly collaborate as appropriate.