US: Torn Apart: How the Abolition Movement Destroys Foster Youth – And How Listening To Us Can Build A Safer World (Opinion)
Child Welfare Monitor – November 12, 2024
The movement to abolish the current child welfare system -spearheaded by the organization upEND and its co-founder, Alan Detlaff-has sparked useless controversy and divided the community of people who are concerned with child safety, permanency, and wellbeing. Former foster youth like me, who are pursuing college and graduate education, are silenced in our classrooms. Also silenced are our allies, who are shamed for wanting to pursue a career in child welfare. The child welfare abolition movement originated from academics like Detlaff who have no lived experience of foster care. Who are these ivory tower elites to tell anyone that foster care is unnecessary and should be eliminated when they’ve not lived through it themselves?
Also: Defying Labels: From Negative Credentials to Positive Credentials? (Includes audio) (Commentary): https://www.defyinglabels.com/post/defying-labels-from-negative-credentials-to-positive-credentials