Communications Manager, Tanya Andersen Buckingham buckingham.tanya@danecounty.gov
Over the last 2 years, Dane County Human Services has provided over 100 Boxes of Black Excellence to foster families of Black children. The program was launched by Rachel Warren, an intern with the Department in 2020, who recognized the need.
“Black youth in foster care are often living in predominately White spaces, being supported by predominately White adults: White foster parents, White therapists, White social workers, and White teachers,” Warren explained. “These adults are highly skilled, very loving and well-intentioned. They do not always have the resources or life experiences to provide self-love for Black youth.”
Warren started the Box of Black Excellence initiative as a way to equip White caretakers and empower Black youth navigating out of home placement. Each box is decorated with inspiring images of Black Excellence, and contains Black books, Black movies, Black music, Black dolls, hair and skin care guides for Black children, and much more.
Warren’s goal was to “promote Black boy joy and Black girl magic, and to provide a way for Black youth in [foster] care to engage in continuous learning and celebration of Black history and culture, alongside their caretakers.”
February, celebrating Black History Month, marks the beginning of the third year of the Box of Black Excellence program. Dawn Douglas, Out of Home Care Program Specialist, now oversees the program, sharing, “We were so lucky to have Rachel [Warren] as an intern, to have her help us grow and learn. I now purchase the items, pack the boxes, and customize every box for each child by gender and age from 0 to 18 years old. I always keep Rachel’s vision in mind, be intentional, stay away from old stereotypes of Black History, and keep it current and relevant.”
Each child receives a box within a few days of placement, and the feedback from the kids is evident on their faces as they’re excited to receive their box full of Joy and Magic. Foster parents are just as enthusiastic for their kids to receive the box and use it as inspiration for what they can be providing to their child. Douglas said, “It’s an honor to do this work. In addition to supporting the children, it demonstrates the importance of culturally appropriate media and personal care to foster families.”
A quote from the hair guide for girls states:
You're lucky to be a part of a legacy of blackness that will support you in that journey, so never get discouraged or give up. Continue to learn and practice maintaining healthy hair. Be comfortable and confident because of it. Wear your hair proudly. Know how important it is and how important you are. You are an Afro Beauty.
Douglas notes that the biggest challenge in creating the boxes are that some items are difficult to find, especially when things have been discontinued. This happens most frequently with dolls, puzzles, and popular books. She says she is constantly on the lookout for new ideas.
Interim Director, Astra Iheukumere -- the first African American to lead Dane County Human Services, the largest Department in the county -- said of the program, “Caring for Black hair and Black skin is culturally important to Black children. Providing Black media and Black dolls, and other items that create an opportunity for a child to see themselves in the world around them, can make a profound difference for that child. This is the type of service that grows out of a multi-cultural staff. It is reflective of a workplace culture where people feel empowered to search out new ways to improve service to our clients, and feel comfortable to raise awareness that help each staff person learn and grow alongside one another, in service of our community.”
Sarah Lawton, Supervisor of the Out of Home Care Unit, shared that they are looking to expand the program to Celebration Boxes that will include children and youth of other races who are placed in foster care.
There are currently 207 children in Out of Home Care in Dane County. The number of children in foster care fluctuates. If you are thinking about fostering a child, please visit Dane County Human Services website to learn more: https://www.dcdhs.com/Children-Youth-and-Family/Out-of-Home-Care/Get-Started
