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Brief: How did the blind removal process in Nassau County, N.Y., address disparity among children entering care?

Casey Family Programs, 2021

This brief describes Nassau County’s experience implementing a blind child removal process in which the race and ethnicity of the family are unknown (blinded) to the decision makers. The goals of the project included: 1) having unbiased decision-making in the removal process while maintaining child safety and reducing risk of harm, (2) decreasing the overall number of children removed, and (3) reducing disparities in removals.

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Topic(s): Advancing Equity in Access to Care

Section: State and Local Examples

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To locate general treatment services, visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Treatment Locator online or call 1-800-662-4357 (HELP). This service provides referrals to local treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. It is a free, confidential, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a year information service, in English and Spanish, for individuals and family members needing treatment for a mental and/or substance use disorder.

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National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare