I return from New Zealand with new perspective and insights. I would not have considered being away for multiple months as an Axford Fellow without the support of the Exchange Family Center (EFC) board. When I thought ahead to what might happen during my absence, I never anticipated a global pandemic. I am super impressed by the EFC staff, interns, volunteers, community partners, and funders who supported EFC during my time away so that EFC could continue to make children’s lives better by strengthening their families, teachers, and communities through proven counselling, coaching and training.
The skills and willingness of the EFC management team meant that I was able to immerse myself in New Zealand society and learn additional ways to enhance children’s wellbeing. Unlike in the United States where there were hundreds of treaties between the government and the First Nations and other indigenous peoples, in New Zealand there was one treaty. The treaty commits to protect all the native people of New Zealand (the Māori) and to give them unqualified autonomy over their lands, people, and treasures. The treaty was violated repeatedly and now iwi (tribes) can apply for a hearing from the Waitangi Tribunal regarding their grievances. Māori children, like African American children in North Carolina, are overrepresented at each phase of the child welfare process. Māori children are 2.5 times more likely to be reported, more likely to have a report assessed (investigated), more likely to be placed into foster care, and more likely to stay in care for more than a year. But in New Zealand, this inequity is being explicitly addressed.
The Oranga Tamariki outcomes framework explicitly spells out how their new end goals will impact Maori children and the ways they will work differently to achieve better outcomes than in the past. In addition, legislation specifically holds the government accountable for improving outcomes and reducing the disparities; building up the cultural competency of the workforce; increasing the cultural fit of policies, practices, as well as services; and developing strategic partnerships with iwi and Māori organizations.
The recent violent incidents that have occurred over the last couple of weeks in the US have caused many to feel angry and worried. The most recent racialized tragedies with George Floyd and Christian Cooper and the violent response to peaceful protest have once again shed light on the ugly truth of what is happening across our nation. How will we ensure that Durham families who are fatigued and traumatized by racist violence know that they are not in this fight alone? How do we get to a place where we are developing consensus about what we need to do to make our system fundamentally less biased?
I hope you will join EFC in making time to reflect on how we can move forward as allies and also examine our potential to be co-conspirators. EFC will continually look at our service delivery, agency procedures and policies to disrupt inequitable systems in our work, in our communities, and our country
I return re-energized to ensure all children and families are physically and emotionally safe, with the resources to guide them through life’s difficult moments, including the one we find ourselves in now. I know for many families, home right now is overwhelming due to the economic and emotional toll of COVID-19. This burden is also felt especially heavily by communities of color who have seen a deeper financial impact and more friends and family infected and killed by the virus. If you know anyone in Durham struggling with pandemic parenting, please let them know EFC is ready to provide support by phone or other virtual platforms.
I’d love to share with you more about my experience beyond the bits I put in EFC’s blog and to hear from you about your lessons learned in this time of constant changes. I look forward to connecting soon.
Wishing you well during these challenging and changing times,
Rachel Galanter, Executive Director