The Academy was present at the County Welfare Directors Association (CWDA) Conference in Santa Clara, joining county leaders for inspiring presentations and valuable networking opportunities. The three-day event reinforced the collective commitment to centering families and transforming systems through prevention and support.

Jason Sharpe, Workforce Development Specialist at the Academy delivered a powerful session titled “Transforming Child Welfare: From Mandated Reporting to Prevention and Support – Collaborating to Shift from Reporting to Supporting Families.” Drawing on his experience as a lived expert in child welfare, Jason shared his story with authenticity and passion, making a compelling case for approaching child welfare in new ways. He highlighted that 45% of all child maltreatment allegations relate to general neglect, often a “catch-all” driven by racism, bias, and lack of economic opportunity that could be mitigated through community support. California’s AB 2085 legislation marked significant progress in 2022 by revising the standard for substantiating general neglect to exclude economic disadvantage and require substantial risk of harm.