In Kentucky, young people who have spent time in foster care are using art, spoken word and music to highlight racial inequities in the state’s child welfare system. The program, called Truth Telling Circles, advocates for systemic changes to improve the experiences of Black youth, who represent 8.6% of the state’s population yet make up 10% of children in the state’s foster care system. On average, 15% of Black children age out of care and spend a longer time in care than white children.
Through TTC, youth who’ve been in foster care share their experiences with those who can influence change — child welfare leaders, caseworkers and direct care staff. Each circle includes a Q&A session where participants can engage directly with the young people on the issues they’ve faced. This helps Black, Latino and Native families avoid unnecessary system involvement, leading to improved well-being and community engagement as well as increased opportunities for youth.
TTC, part of the Thriving Families, Safer Children initiative, started as a two-year pilot led by the Kempe Center, the University of Louisville and Kentucky Youth Advocates (KYA), which guided implementation of the project. With renewed funding from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, TTC will continue into 2025.
“Sharing my testimony through art elicited a response I had never experienced [while] presenting,” said Tia Humphrey, a young adult co-leading truth telling work with KYA. “I could feel a stronger connection, understanding and purpose, not just with myself, but with all the art created through the project.”
Read the full blog on The Annie E. Casey Foundation website (aecf.org) here.
