The document discusses the author's concept paper idea to address the overrepresentation of African American families and children in the child welfare system. Specifically, the author proposes creating a legal aid service and policy advocacy program housed within the existing Black Family Development organization. The legal aid program would provide free legal representation for low-income clients in child welfare cases, while the advocacy program would include policy analysts and lobbyists focused on child welfare issues. The author argues this idea aligns with Black Family Development's mission and would fill a need, as few similar programs currently exist in Wayne County.

1. RUNNING HEAD: Concept Paper
Concept Paper
Latagia Copeland-Tyronce [latagia.copeland@wayne.edu]
Wayne State University School of Social Work
Intervention & Program Planning: SW 8015
February 21, 2018

2. CONCEPT PAPER
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DEFINING AN IDEA
The idea that I have decided upon, and one in which I am extremely passionate about, for
this paper and indeed the entire project, involves a social problem that social/human services
professional have been trying to effectively address for the good part of the past three decades.
The problem being, the gross over-representation and negative outcomes of African American
families and/or children involved within the child welfare system, more specifically, child
protection agencies. Such is the problem that numerous reports, academic journals, and
publications have been published over the years in an effort to both understand the issue and
develop viable remedies and/or interventions to combat it.
That said, there has been limited number of social services organizations and/or agencies
that have decided to act by developing services to help African American families stay intact
when faced with possibility of State involvement. One of the oldest and most respected of these
organizations is Black Family Development, Inc (BFDI). Established by the Detroit Chapter of
the National Association of Black Social Workers (NABSW) and founded in 1978, Black Family
Development, Inc. is a private, non-profit comprehensive family counseling agency. Per the
organizations’ official website, by establishing BFDI as a family counseling agency, NABSW
sought to promote and provide quality social work services in Detroit that were culturally
relevant and culturally sensitive (blackfamilydevelopment.org).
Moreover, the original community project, which gave birth to BFDI, was based on the
agreed upon needs of the community and resulted in programmatic focus by BFDI on child
abuse and neglect. Since that time, BFDI has grown to accommodate the increasing demand for a
variety of specialized, family focused counseling and advocacy services in the community.

3. CONCEPT PAPER
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Having evaluated and articulated the organization’s background, my idea is to create and/or
develop a legal aid service and full-time policy advocacy program which would be housed within
the already well established Black Family Development organization. This legal aid program
would specialize in providing no-cost high quality (parental) representation for eligible low-
income clients involved in child welfare dependency cases. The advocacy prong of the program
would consist of two to four full-time (child welfare) policy analysts and/or lobbyists.
IDEA IN RELATIONSHIP TO AGENCY VALUE’S, MISSION & PURPOSE
According to the organization’s official website, BFDI’s vision is “To be the self-
sufficient premier provider of comprehensive family counseling services to children, youth, and
families - the pacesetter for quality, innovative services and training with national
recognition.” Moreover, BFDI’s purpose is to provide culturally-sensitive quality services to
families, individuals, community groups, and organizations residing and/or operating in the
Detroit/ Wayne County and Oakland communities (blackfamilydevelopment.org). Considering
BFDI’s stated values and purpose, I believe that my idea is not only especially relevant, but also
well suited and compatible with the existing organization.
IDEA IN RELATIONSHIP TO AGENCY STRATEGY & PLANS
BFDI already has a long funning and well-regarded family preservation and support
services program which provides eligible African American families living in Wayne county
with therapeutic and life skills groups; outreach; transportation; home based services;
assessments; evaluations; crisis intervention; life skills training; parent education; skill building;
family stabilization; child management; advocacy; home strengthening and family group
decision making. Although, the program doesn’t include legal aid services or full-time policy

4. CONCEPT PAPER
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advocacy, I believe that my idea would fit well within the organization’s current strategy and
plan.
SOCIAL WORKER’S ROLE IN PLANNING THE INTERVENTION(S)
There are several actions in accordance with the social worker’s role in intervention
planning. One of the many key actions that the social worker would be fully engaged in would be
the defining and analysis of the social problem(s) that the intervention(s) is trying to address as
well as identifying the target population(s). Another major action that the social worker would be
involved with would be both needs assessment and advocating on behave of clients and/or target
population. And finally, the social worker would most likely be responsible for providing direct
and/or indirect client services (intervention implementation) as well as intervention evaluation
(Kettner, Moroney & Martin, 2016).
IDEA IN RELATIONSHIP TO ENVIRONMENTAL AND COMPETITIVE SITUATION
OF THE AGENCY
My idea and/or proposed program is a unique combination in most of the county but
especially so in Wayne county. There are very few social service organizations and/or programs
that provide free legal services to eligible low-income individuals and even fewer that provide
free legal services for child welfare cases which are notoriously complex and time consuming.
Organizations that provide no cost legal services to low-income individuals include University of
Michigan’s Child Advocacy Law Clinic (which is unavailable in Wayne county), Detroit Free
Legal Aid Clinic, and Lakeshore Legal Aid. That said, of the three programs listed none of
which currently provide free legal aid services for child welfare and/or juvenile cases in Wayne
county.

5. CONCEPT PAPER
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And, while there are a couple of child welfare reform advocacy groups such as the
American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan (ACLU) and Families First, there aren’t any in
Michigan that specially aim to address the negative outcomes associated with African American
families. My preliminary research strongly suggests that there is a real needs gap due to the
dearth and/or lack of free (competent) legal and policy advocacy services, which are directed
towards child welfare proceedings and policies, that emphasizes the preservation and increased
positive outcomes of African American families. Therefore, I believe that my idea is not only
necessary to meet the extreme need but would also be the first of its kind in Wayne county.

6. CONCEPT PAPER
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References
Netting, F. E., O’Connor, M. K., & Fauri, D. P. (2007). Planning transformative programs.
Administration in Social Work, 31(4), 59-81
Black Family Development, Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved February 10, 2018, from
http://www.blackfamilydevelopment.org/index.php/home/about
Kettner, P.M., Moroney, R.M., & Martin, L.L. (2016). Designing and managing programs: An
effectiveness-based approach (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Michigan Law: University of Michigan: Child Advocacy Law Clinic. (n.d.). Retrieved February
21, 2018, from http://www.law.umich.edu/clinical/calc/Pages/default.aspx#1
Detroit Legal Aid Clinic, Inc. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2018, from
http://www.detroitflac.com/
Lakeshore Legal Aid. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2018, from https://lakeshorelegalaid.org/
ACLU: American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan. (n.d.). Retrieved February 21, 2018, from
http://www.aclumich.org/about-us