Shows
Navigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 17: Faith + Foster CareFaith + Foster Care
Child welfare can feel complicated and confusing—but families should never be asked to navigate it alone.
In this episode of Navigating Child Welfare, I share how faith, prevention, and community supports surround families before, during, and after system involvement. We talk about opening our eyes (2 Kings 6) to the help already around us, reducing shame, and building natural supports that last when paid services end.
We cover:
Why “do it by yourself” is unsafe for families and for anyone.
Prevention + support: the often-missed pillars that keep families stable...
2025-11-2609 min
Navigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 16: Barriers to Connection...and How We Remove ThemHost Shanelle Dupree makes the case that no one can (or should) do this work alone. Drawing on courtroom moments and frontline advocacy, she surfaces the barriers to connecting well, like not understanding the multiple systems families must navigate and offers practical ways to help parents, youth, staff, and volunteers participate fully. Shanelle also introduces Syncing Child Welfare (SYNC), a 360-degree perspective designed to align partners across the ten connected systems and provide practical tools, questions, and worksheets.
You’ll hear about
Why expecting families to “figure it out alone” is unrealistic and harmful...
2025-11-1908 min
Navigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 15: Child Welfare's a New LanguageEpisode summary
In this episode of Navigating Child Welfare, host Shanelle Dupree makes the case for a third “C” that changes outcomes: connected. Through a story about attending a presentation in Spanish, Shanelle shares how knowing the language can help make you feel connected. Shanelle shows how child welfare jargon and acronyms quietly exclude parents, youth, volunteers, and even new staff. Her fix is simple and powerful: translate the work. Provide glossaries, slow down for definitions, and create shared language so people can participate fully in decisions that shape their families and futures.
You’ll hear about
2025-11-1207 min
Navigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 14: From Confusion to Connection: Three C's of Child WelfareEpisode 14 Description: Child welfare is often confusing and complicated…so how do we get to connected?
In this episode, Shanelle Dupree names the Three C’s, unpacks a heavy multi-system case, names a issue that can keeps us stuck, and shares a first look at Syncing Child Welfare (SYNC), a new way to simplify systems and connect communities.
🎧 Listen now: From Confusion to Connection: The Three C’s of Child Welfare
🔁 Try it: Start your next staffing by asking, “Which C are we in?”
📌 Get SYNC updates here: https://form.jotform.com/253
2025-11-0305 min
Navigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 13: Persistence in the System with Kenisha Coon🎙️ “We can’t change outcomes until we change how we think.” -Kenisha Coon
This is one of the gems dropped by our guest, Kenisha Coon.
In this episode of The Skin Deep Podcast, host Shanelle Dupree sits down with Kenisha Coon, a child welfare consultant, equity leader, and soon to be Ph.D., who brings both personal and professional insight to transforming the child welfare system.
Kenisha shares her powerful story of growing up in an abusive household under CPS supervision but never being removed. This lived experience has shaped her passion for system refor...
2025-10-1535 min
Navigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 12: DEEP Observations...Get it OUT!Episode 12 Description: This week’s episode discusses the power of getting our experiences regarding equity out of head. A tool I am so excited to introduce to the Skin DEEP community is the DEEP Observations Journal. It is a place to write the equity moments you encounter AND ask the next question- now what? Feelings do not equal facts, so it’s important to get “it” out of our head to determine - what do I do with this? Our end goal is emotional intelligence as we navigate equity moments. Want to stay connected to Skin DEEP? Step 1: Join our news...
2025-09-2411 min
Navigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 11: POWER in Child WelfareEpisode 11 Description: This week’s episode discusses power within the child welfare system. People within the system have power- but with power needs to come an acknowledgement of the power and the proper use of it. We are discussing case workers, CASA’s, and Foster Parent’s power in the child welfare system. From your perspective, who has the power AND how? How can people in power understand the influence they have so they are hyper aware of this dynamic?
Fill out the form below to share your thoughts on who has power within the child welfare system...
2025-09-1714 min
Navigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 10: Kinship ConnectionEpisode 10 Description: Kinship families or keeping kids is an age old practice for many communities- and it’s making a comeback. This is the thing- it was a way of life for many families when situations didn’t go as planned. Now we recognize the benefits for everyone involved, keeping children with people who know, love, and whom they trust- it truly is a win win situation. However, there needs to be more support for these families, because they are providing an invaluable service.
Check out the Grandfamilies & Kinship Support Network resource and tip page on improving suppo...
2025-09-1010 min
Navigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 9: Ties to Culture: A Heritage Journey Part IIEpisode 9: Loving, discovering, and embracing your culture is a beautiful thing. Join us as we wrap u an interview with Autumn a Chinese adoptee and program manger for The Ties Program, where she leads the China heritage journey program. Check out The Ties Program below.
Website: www.thetiesprogram.com
Facebook: Adoptive Family Travel - The Ties Program
Instagram: @the.ties.program
Registration is now open for Summer 2026 trips to China, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Korea, and Paraguay!
Learn more at www.thetiesprogram.com
Ties Together: Mon...
2025-09-0221 minNavigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 8: TIES to Culture: A Heritage Journey (part 1)Episode 8:
Autumn is honest, reflective, and provides thought provoking dialogue on her journey of returning to her birth country of China as an adoptee. She is now leading the heritage journeys in China and provides a safe space and experience for other families. Join me as we take a journey on cultural discovery.
Check out The Ties Program
Website: www.thetiesprogram.com
Facebook: Adoptive Family Travel - The Ties Program
Instagram: @the.ties.program
Registration is now open for Summer 2026 trips to China, Guat...
2025-08-2824 min
Navigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 7: A Community of Excellence: Montgall Avenue and Gwen Calderon (part 2)Enjoy the conclusion of my interview with Ms. Gwen, a 92 year old resident of Montgall Ave. Community connection can start with a simple hello. Want to stay connected to Skin DEEP? Step 1: Join our newsletter, HERE. Step 2: Sign up for Going DEEP Coaching with Shanelle Dupree HERE. Step 3: Sign up for the Skin DEEP online course HERE. The promo code for the Skin DEEP online course is PODCAST. Step 4: Sign your organization up for the Going DEEP Together Skin DEEP Workshop HERE. Check out the book! Kansas City’s Montgall Avenue, by Margie Carr.
2025-08-2620 minNavigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 6: A Community of Excellence: Montgall Avenue and Gwen Calderon (part 1)Episode 6:
A close knit community can get things done. Montgall Ave is an example of what can happen when neighbors come together to help support one another. Join me in chatting with Ms. Gwen, a 92 year old resident of Montgall Ave. Remember whatever community you are working with has strengths. Want to stay connected to Skin DEEP? Step 1: Join our newsletter, HERE. Step 2: Sign up for Going DEEP Coaching with Shanelle Dupree HERE. Step 3: Sign up for the Skin DEEP online course HERE. The promo code for the Skin DEEP online course is PODCAST. Step 4: Sign your o...
2025-08-2126 min
Navigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 5: Why Skin DEEP matters in child welfareEpisode 5: Skin DEEP was created because of a deafening silence around the impact of poverty as well as Black, Native, Latino, and Asian families historical experiences in the child welfare system. When the conversation isn’t presented…it feels off limits. Equipping our family serving workforce is the goal for Skin DEEP and it begins with understanding history and then launching into real time solutions.
Want to stay connected to Skin DEEP? Step 1: Join our newsletter, HERE. Step 2: Sign up for Going DEEP Coaching with Shanelle Dupree HERE. Step 3: Sign up for the Skin DEEP online...
2025-08-1909 minNavigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 4: Navigating the Child Welfare SystemEpisode 4:
The child welfare system can be overwhelming—policies, agencies, courts, and constant change. In this episode, we will discuss a potential solution to our complex systems. How do you manage navigating the child welfare system personally or on behalf of the families you work with? Share your thoughts HERE.
Want to stay connected to Skin DEEP? Step 1: Join our newsletter, HERE. Step 2: Sign up for Going DEEP Coaching with Shanelle Dupree HERE. Step 3: Sign up for the Skin DEEP online course HERE. The promo code for the Skin DEEP online course is PODCAST. Step 4: Sig...
2025-08-1409 minNavigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 3: Remembering your why in helping familiesEpisode 3:
In child welfare, it’s easy to get lost in paperwork, policies, and constant demands. But behind every task is a family, and a purpose. In this episode, we’ll reconnect with the reason so many of us entered this field: to help, to heal, and to advocate for families. We’ll explore strategies to stay grounded in your “why” amidst the pressures of the system. Don’t forget to fill out the form to share your “why.” Later, I’ll be sharing some of your responses on the show HERE.
Want to stay connected to Skin DEEP? Step 1: Join our new...
2025-08-1205 minNavigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 2: Toxic Courtrooms: Building a Better Child Welfare SystemEpisode 2:
The Judge sets the culture for the courtroom. They are suppose to be guided by their ethics- not bias. Yet we know toxicity can exist in the courtroom. We are naming 3 toxic courtroom experiences. to identify and pursue another way. If you have experienced a toxic courtroom environment, feel free to share your story HERE. Want to stay connected to Skin DEEP? Step 1: Join our newsletter, HERE. Step 2: Sign up for Going DEEP Coaching with Shanelle Dupree HERE. Step 3: Sign up for the Skin DEEP online course HERE. Step 4: Sign your organization up for the Going D...
2025-08-0711 min
Navigating Child Welfare | CPS, Foster Care, Family Court, Adoption, Mandated ReporterEpisode 1: Skin DEEP: Child Welfare TrailerEpisode 1:
What is Skin DEEP? It’s not a skin care line! It is the decision to go beneath the surface level and talk about race, poverty, and bias that impact families in child welfare. We make race easy to talk about and bias impossible to ignore within organizations. If you are sick of the surface level conversations and ready to move into action- download the Skin DEEP podcast. Let’s go deep. Want to stay connected to Skin DEEP? Step 1: Join our newsletter, HERE. Step 2: Sign up for Going DEEP Coaching with Shanelle Dupree HERE. Step 3: Sign u...
2025-08-0504 min
The Forgotten PodcastEpisode 272: Striving for Racial Equity in the Child Welfare System (w/ Shanelle Dupree)The child welfare system can be confusing and complex. Families are often expected to navigate administrative systems, the criminal justice system, the legal system, and the social system—all at the same time and with no prior instruction. Our guest today knows the child welfare system inside and out—and she’s passionate about helping families navigate it with hope and clarity. She also understands that its challenges don’t impact everyone equally. Her work focuses on uncovering why families of color often face worse outcomes and unpacking the systemic issues behind those disparities. Shanelle Dupree is a...
2025-06-2343 min
Foster Care: An Unparalleled JourneyWhat is a Guardian Ad Litem in Foster Care with Shanelle DupreeShanelle Dupree has deep Midwestern roots. She was born in Nebraska, raised in Oklahoma, and moved to Kansas to attend Washburn University School of Law. Shanelle is a lawyer, author, speaker, administrator, strategic connector, wife of a Pastor and Elected Official, and mama of 4. Shanelle’s faith is the thread that connects her life. Attorney Dupree practiced law for nearly a decade representing children as a Guardian ad Litem, Parent's Attorney, and handled numerous high conflict family law and juvenile law cases. Mrs. Dupree is a connector and creator. She successfully created and taught a series of legal and social...
2021-07-061h 21