Episode 82: Creating the Space for People With Lived Experience to Thrive

Lived experience is a representation and understanding of an individual's human experiences, choices, and options and how those factors influence one's perception of knowledge from one's own life. Those with lived experience in child welfare have a unique, firsthand perspective on issues that can inform partnerships, policies, and solutions that best meet the needs of children and families.

This episode provides strategies and examples of how child welfare agencies should respectfully engage individuals with lived experience for assistance. Agencies should prepare their staff to ask appropriate questions of those with lived experience and to create a safe space for them to share their stories. When collaborating with individuals who have lived experience, agencies should be flexible when scheduling times to talk, consider how the person would like to share their story, and provide appropriate compensation.

This episode presents a session from the Capacity Building Center for State's 2022 Child Welfare Virtual Expo. The speakers discuss why integrating lived expertise into the workforce is so beneficial to child welfare agencies as well as considerations for integrating people with lived expertise into the workplace.

The following individuals participated in the episode:

• Katie Biron, Capacity Building Center for States
• Eshawn Peterson, Capacity Building Center for States
• Shawn Powell, Parents for Parents, King County, Washington

They discussed the following topics: 

• How to secure buy in from leadership and other staff 
• The interview process 
• Compensation 
• Technical knowledge 
• Organizational culture