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Undoing Racism Speaker Series Part 2

Posted on September 26th, 2016

jj-photoPart 2 of Child Advocates Undoing Racism Speakers Series will feature Joyce James, LMSW-AP

Where: St. Luke’s United Methodist Church

When: Thursday, October 20th 5:30pm-7:30pm

Please RSVP to Nikita Garner

 

Nationally recognized as a leading expert on issues impacting the most vulnerable of populations, Ms. James began her professional career as a Child Protective Services (CPS) caseworker and has established an impressive 36-year history of advocacy and commitment to improving outcomes for children, youth, and families through her willingness to speak out on unpopular issues such as institutional and structural racism.

Ms. James has a powerful story of her journey from CPS caseworker to Assistant Commissioner of Texas CPS, to Associate Deputy Executive Commissioner of the Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities (the Center) and the Texas State Office of Minority Health at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC).

Ms. James is credited with being a catalyst for significant and nationally recognized improvements in the Texas CPS system, including a reduction in disproportionality for African American and Native American children and overall improved outcomes for all children, youth, and families. Under her leadership Texas became the first State in the Country to pass Legislation requiring CPS to address disproportionality. Since the passage of this legislation and the widely recognized impact of the Texas Model for Addressing Disproportionality and Disparities (The Texas Model), thirteen other States have passed similar legislation. The Texas Model is widely recognized for creating a cultural and philosophical shift towards systems transformation in the Texas CPS Program.

Ms. James is currently President and CEO of Joyce James Consulting, LLC (JJC) where she is the lead racial equity consultant, providing services that include, but are not limited to, technical assistance, racial equity training, data analysis, leadership development, coaching, strategic planning, seminars, focus groups, policy and program reviews, and community engagement strategies, and using the original Texas Model that serves as the foundation for her “Groundwater” Analysis” of racial inequities, in child welfare, juvenile justice, health, education, and other health and human services systems. It provides systems leaders with a set of core principles and strategies with which to begin bold, courageous, and innovative work. The Texas Model has proven effective in moving systems towards a racial equity lens, and in reducing disproportionality and disparities for vulnerable populations, while improving overall outcomes for all populations.

Ms. James has coauthored several articles in peer-reviewed journals addressing topics of disproportionality and disparities in systems. She is co-editor of Addressing Racial Disproportionality and Disparities in Human Services: Multi Systemic Approaches, published by Columbia University Press in 2014.

Ms. James serves on local, state, and national boards and committees, bringing her expert knowledge and personal experiences in leading anti-racist work. She has been recognized at the State and National level for her leadership and courage, and her role in creating an anti-racist movement across Texas and in many parts the Country.

Ms. James is the 2016 recipient of Texans Care for Children Founders Award, in recognition of her ‘fearless leadership and fierce commitment’ to children in Texas.