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Dr. Venessa Brown, associate chancellor for the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, joined others last week at a conference dealing with removing obstacles for African American Youth Child Welfare. 

Brown presented at the 23^rd Annual African American Advisory Council Institute symposium Saturday, June 6 in Chicago. The conference’s theme was “Breaking Barriers: Addressing Challenges to Permanency for African American Youth in Substitute Care.” 

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, and the African American Advisory Council hosted the meeting with Governors State University, Northern Illinois University and SIUE.

“The Annual Conference is designed to address issues facing children who are wards of the state, specifically African American children,” said Brown. “This year was dedicated to youth and strategies for assisting them as they age out of the system.”

Brown was one of four workshop presenters who spoke on the topic: “Engaging in Partnerships that Breakdown Barriers to Stability and Permanency.” Panel members discussed programs and activities that could heighten young people’s interest in education and looked at relationships that could cultivate positive development and personal success.

Solutions need to be discussed and put into place, Brown continued, because the problems are exacerbated when factoring in Illinois budget cuts, the low numbers of African Americans entering college and the problems with retaining those same students.

“I am working more closely with SIUE Director of Retention and Student Success Kevin Thomas to identify the unique needs of children in foster care and ways we can support them in order to retain them until graduation,” said Brown. 

SIUE is one of three schools which serve as a university partner for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) through the Permanency Enhancement Project, according to Brown. The University has also been a DCFS partner since 2007.   

“I have been a consultant, trainer and support to DCFS since 1994 and have spent my career working on behalf of children and families,” Brown said. “SIUE is also the only University this far south which has a permanency enhancement grant. We are known around the state for our advocacy for children and families in the southern region.”

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Dr. Venessa Brown, associate chancellor for the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion at SIUE.