Advisory Committee

The purpose of the Advisory Committee to the Colorado Disparities Resource Center (CDRC) is to provide statewide leadership. Specifically, the committee will advise project staff on the development of strategies, policies and procedures for use in counties across the state that can best help the CDRC carry out its function of providing and promoting resources to eliminate or reduce service disparities for children of color in the child welfare system.

The Advisory Committee is considered the link between American Humane, the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), county staff, state staff, constituents, allied professional organizations and community-/faith-based organizations.

Responsibilities

• Become familiar with the purpose, objectives and goals of the CDRC.
• Assist CDRC staff in evaluating the current level of service disparities in Colorado.
• Help set priorities for future planning, including developing and expanding services at both the state and county levels to reduce disproportionality and disparities in both child welfare and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) communities.
• Assist the CDRC in identifying barriers to engaging allied professionals, workforce development services and locating services that are equitable for families of color and recommending solutions.
• Help project staff identify other effective methods of incorporating family involvement and participation in program and policy development.
• Help strengthen community awareness of the level of disparities in Colorado and recognition of CDRC goals and objectives.
• Network and share information between the CDRC Advisory Committee and other social/human service agencies.
• Make presentations and provide training as needed to CDRC project staff.
• Participate and present at community partnership meetings.
• Assist with identifying the effective programs that address disparities.
• Assist in the development and review of materials.

Expectations

• Provide connections to county departments.
• Represent the concerns and needs of children and families of color within both the child welfare and TANF systems.
• Establish and maintain lines of communication between counties, project staff of the CDRC, the state and CDHS staff.
• Share experiences with accessing equitable services and supports for Colorado children of color so that problem areas can be identified and addressed through state and county systems development activities.
• Possess the communication and interpersonal skills necessary to contribute to the committee.
• Respect the privacy and confidentiality of other committee members and the families served.
• Attend scheduled meetings of the committee and serve the complete term.

Membership Shall Include

• A constituent or constituents from an overrepresented population in Colorado’s child welfare system with past involvement in child protective services. (A constituent is defined as a parent, grandparent, youth or foster care alumni.)
• A community member who has knowledge of and is interested in improving service equity for children and families of color within the child welfare system.
• An allied professional with knowledge of and interest in improving service equity for children and families of color within the child welfare system.
• A judge presiding over dependency and neglect child welfare cases.
• A director or administrator from a large and balanced area of the state or representatives from a metro and rural county human/social service agency.

Term of Service

• Participants will be asked to serve on the Advisory Committee from August 2009 through June 2010.

Meetings

• The Advisory Committee will meet in person one time during the project. This meeting will be scheduled during October 2009 at a time and place agreed upon by the group.
• Monthly phone calls will be scheduled between the CDRC Advisory Committee and project staff in order to assess progress and direction of project activities.
• All Advisory Committee members will be provided with a call schedule for the life of the project.
• Advisory Committee members will attend, facilitate or participate in up to three statewide planning meetings that will be held in various locations throughout Colorado. These meetings are designed to bring together professionals within the child welfare system to develop strategies and resources to combat disproportionality.
• Advisory Committee members will attend, facilitate or participate in up to three community partnership meetings. These meetings will bring together professionals outside of the child welfare system who are impacted by issues of disproportionality.

Officers

• The Advisory Committee should select a member to serve as the chairperson for the committee. Two people may share this role if that is the desire of the committee.
• The duties of the chairperson will be determined by the CDRC Advisory Committee, and may include the following:
  • Help create an agenda for meetings.
  • Preside over meetings.
  • Help provide direction for CDRC activities.
  • Ensure that minutes are taken and that they are made available to both the membership and the public by posting them on the CDRC website.