Partner with Lived Experts to Build Equity in Child Welfare Courts
Real change happens when people with lived experience have a seat, and a voice, at the table.
Join us in shaping a system that values every person with lived expertise.
Welcome to the Equity & Engagement Framework, a roadmap co-designed by and for those most impacted by the child welfare court system. Whether you’re a parent, former youth, caregiver, or child welfare court professional, this space is a call to commitment, a call to action.
We invite you to explore, join, and lead alongside our growing network of changemakers. With lived experience as a driving force, this framework guides agencies and courts to shift from transactional practices to transformational partnerships rooted in equity, justice, and community.
About the Framework
The Equity & Engagement Framework was co-developed by the Family and Youth Justice Program (FYJP) and a diverse team of Lived Experts. It emerged in 2021 amid a national reckoning on racial injustice to center those most affected by the system in reimagining how it works.
With lived experience as a driving force, this framework guides agencies and courts to shift from transactional practices to transformational partnerships rooted in equity, justice, and community.
Importance of Belonging
Belonging isn’t just a feeling—it’s the foundation of real lasting change. When people with lived experience feel safe, respected, and truly valued, their insights lead to more effective, human-centered decisions. Belonging means being seen, being authentically heard, and being trusted as a professional.
Want to see how belonging drives change? Explore how our Equity Engagement Framework puts people at the heart of the work.
How We Partner – Levels of Engagement
Everyone’s voice matters. Here’s how Lived Experts can engage:
Our Values
Openness/Radical Vulnerability
We welcome radical vulnerability, recognizing that courage and bravery come from being our whole selves. We accept people as they are, acknowledge their feelings, and sit with discomfort.
Authenticity
We aim to be our genuine selves and encourage others to do the same.
Equity
We recognize the harm and inequities in the child welfare court system and commit to repairing, healing, and renewing families and communities.
Compassion
We suspend judgment to better understand and support others, holding genuine concern for their needs.
Respect
We honor the dignity, worth, and autonomy of every person, acknowledging that their experiences shape them but do not define them.
Empowerment
We support and encourage each person in building their confidence, skills, and expertise.
Accountability
We take responsibility for our words, actions, and results while extending grace to others.
Shared Power
We recognize the power imbalances in the system and intentionally shift power to and with Lived Experts to drive systems change and improve outcomes.
Co-Design: A Shared Partnership to Equity
Co-design is about sharing power and co-creating with those who have direct experiences in the child welfare court systems, Lived Experts. When people with lived experience help shape policies and systems, they’re not just heard, they drive change.
Ongoing Work of the Co-Design Team
The Co-Design Team meets regularly to:
- Develop new engagement tools and equity practices
- Co-create trainings, practices, policies, and materials for Lived Expert partnership
- Reflect on what’s working and refine the Framework over time.
Lived Expert Network
Welcome to the Lived Expert Network!
If you’ve been part of the child welfare court system, as a parent, child, youth, young adult, or caregiver, you know how important it is for lived experience to be seen and heard.
By joining the Lived Expert Network, you can:
- Stay informed about updates, news, and events related to child welfare and lived expertise.
- Stay connected with other Lived Experts across the country who share similar experiences.
- Access opportunities to get involved, such as workgroup meetings, story sharing, co-design projects, and/or collaboration efforts, as they become available.
Joining the network doesn’t require a big commitment. It’s a way to stay in the loop, connect with others, and learn about potential ways to contribute when ready. Participation is flexible. Start where you are, contribute when you can.
Ready to join us? Sign up through the interest form and become part of a community where your voice truly matters. Together, we can be change makers.
For more information on the Equity and Engagement work done at FYJP, please contact Sarah Burns at sarah.burns@courts.wa.gov
