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Archive for the ‘Disproportionality Initiative’ Category

Longtime readers of the blog may remember that we have been working to bring real reform to the Child Welfare system since 2004, and have posted numerous articles detailing our efforts since the blogs inception back in 2007:

08/2007: The Wichita NAACP joins with Youthville in an effort to encourage more African American families to become foster parents 
05/2008: Wichita Branch NAACP Legal Redress Chair to meet with Kansas SRS Secretary Don Jordon 
09/2008: Progress report on Sedgwick County Child Welfare issues 
11/2008: Governor Sebelius agrees to examine disproportionalities in Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice systems 
12/2008: The Wichita Eagle reports on the Wichita NAACP’s Child Welfare efforts 
02/2009: Current Branch Legislative and Policy Projects 
02/2009: Legislative Action Alert – CINC notification (HB2303) and Insurance Premiums and Credit Scores (SB203) need your attention 
03/2009: The Kansas Disproportionality Study Gets Underway 

As reported back in September of 2008 (see the “Progress Report” link above), a team from the Wichita Branch NAACP consisting of Mary Dean, Carolyn Wallace, and President Kevin Myles, traveled to the State Capitol to meet with the Governor’s office and present the results of our internal study of Child Welfare issues. We asked at the conclusion of our presentation that the Governor would commission a more detailed and larger scaled study of disproportionalities in the Child Welfare system throughout the State. Then Governor Sebelius formed the Kansas Disproportionality Task Force in the beginning of 2009 and in March of this year, teams throughout the State began looking at the issue of disproportionality throughout the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice systems. Dozens of people were brought together from Law Enforcement, Child Welfare, Foster Care and placement, Community Organizations, Corrections Staff, Legislators, Parents, Educators and concerned citizens, all looking for ways to reform the system and eliminate the disparities…

The Task force has now completed it’s work – the study is finished and the recommendations will now go to the Governor’s office for consideration and approval. For us, this is the culmination of almost 6 years worth of study, travel, and work. Now, we will gear up to lobby the legislature for the full adoption and funding of our specific and detailed recommendations.

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In July of 2009, delegates to the NAACP National Convention approved a resolution to condemn the practice of sentencing Juveniles to Life without Parole sentences. The Resolution also called upon branches to work within their respective states to bring an end to this practice. While Kansas is one the the 7 states in the county that prohibits the sentencing of Juveniles to Life sentences without the possibility of parole, the Wichita Branch and the Kansas State Conference of the NAACP would like to add our voice to the those calling for an end to this practice. Currently, the United States and Somalia are the only two nations in the world that have not ratified Article 37 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which bans participants from sentencing children to life in prison.

Click here to sign a petition to support Sara Kruzan

Click here to read the Human Rights Watch report on Juvenile Life Sentences

Click here for the Public Interest Law Center’s report on Florida’s disproportionality in Juvenile Life sentencing

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