Much like other governmental agencies, child welfare systems are long overdue for a digital upgrade. But how can we ensure the technological tools implemented truly equip caseworkers and supervisors to meet the needs of children and families?

This week, Naomi and Ian are joined by Sixto Cancel, the founder and CEO of Think of Us, a tech nonprofit working to reform the child welfare system in the US. Inspired by his own story in foster care, where one, outdated sentence in his case file determined the trajectory of his time in the system, Sixto founded Think of Us to improve the tech landscape of the foster care system. From the need to incorporate assistive AI into case management to improving federal incentives to encourage innovation, Sixto discusses the key areas in need of reform.

Resources

• Taking Child Welfare into the 21st Century | Naomi Schaefer Riley, Ian Rowe, and Greg McKay

• Big Data Can Save Kids | Naomi Schaefer Riley

• Think of Us | Sixto Cancel

Show Notes

• 00:52 | What is the technology landscape of child welfare, and are the systems being used up to date?

• 03:07 | What is the origin of your name, Sixto Cancel?

• 04:06 | What about your story led you down this path to work toward better experiences for youth in foster care?

• 06:38 | What could systems be doing differently to take into account all of the options for foster youth?

• 09:28 | How are you now using virtual support services for youth getting ready to age out of the system?

• 12:15 | Many child welfare agencies contract with different providers to meet their needs. How is this currently working, and could it be more efficient?

• 15:32 | Why was the federal funding you secured ineffective to upgrade the technology systems within child welfare agencies?

• 17:08 | What would be the better approach? Should the federal government still be involved, or would that run the same risk of having just one large entity dominating the space and discouraging innovation?

• 20:05 | Are you planning to expand the direct service component of your organization?

• 21:22 | Thinking about the data you’ve collected so far, what would say is the biggest mismatch between what people need and what is being offered to them?