Cherie Carter, CEO and founder of Georgia’s House of Hope, a transitional living program serving both women and men, will discuss the challenges African Americans face in achieving stability in our community. Cherie also serves as Probation Provider for the State of Nebraska Juvenile Justice System.

Brea Worthington is the founder and CEO of Lyfe Change Resource Center, Inc. She has worked in many positions, including PromiseShip and the Child Welfare Ombudsman’s office, serving many youth and African Americans in our community. She has contracts with agencies to provide a range of services. She has an MSW and focuses on youth-focused work in the child welfare system.

Over the past months, we have read news reports of the increase in youth facing trauma and a lack of timely or quality intervention despite the federal and state funds allocated to traditional institutions without credible messengers or professionals with the willingness to address those problems. This program will discuss issues that can help transform ineffective institutional practices and steps to demonstrate evidence-based practices. There are voices in our communities that are not at those tables. Still, institutions and organizations without any boots on the ground continue to reap inordinate public funds without tangible results.

Challenging Systems and Institutions in The Black Community