The Racial Justice Family Network (RJFN) is a collaborative group of social workers, legal professionals, judges, academics, and individuals with lived experience. The network aims to promote anti-racist initiatives and practices throughout the family justice system, to address systemic discrimination and inequality.
Originally hosted by the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory, the RJFN is now hosted by CoramBAAF. Their quarterly meetings explore ways to improve outcomes for Black and Global Majority children, families and professionals.
Any organisation or individual directly involved in the family justice system in England and Wales can join the network. To enquire about membership or learn more, get in touch via email or visit the RJFN website.
The launch of the Racial Justice Family Network marks a crucial step toward embedding anti-racist practices within the family justice system. By bringing together voices from social work, law, academia, and those with lived experience, RJFN is creating a space to not only discuss but actively address the structural inequities that impact Black, Global Majority, and other ethnically minoritised children and families.
Augusta Itua, Legal Consultant at CoramBAAF and Chair of the RJFN
Working groups are formed to carry out specific tasks or activities. Drawing on the latest research and evidence-informed practice, the RJFN work includes:
- Promoting advocacy and systemic change.
- Research and awareness.
- Training and capacity building.
- Support for stakeholders.
The RJFN aims to equip the family justice system and professionals with the knowledge, values, and skills needed to build on opportunities for transformative change.
Research in Practice resources to support family justice and anti-racist practice
Explore Research in Practice resources to support this important area of practice.
Our briefing on ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion in the Family Court was written by network member, Millie Kerr, Strategic Anti-Racist Lead at Brighton and Hove. It is part of the Pre-proceedings and family justice hub with open access resources to support decision-making and support for families in pre-proceedings and the family court, including hearing from care experienced young people and parents.
This publication aims to support the development of anti-racism in children and family services. It explains why taking action to acknowledge and address the impact of racism within the context of children and family services is both important and timely.
The content is relevant for anyone working within children and family services regardless of role or level or seniority.
A series of short films hear directly from social care professionals from Black, Asian and minoritised ethnic groups and allies who share their views about what it means to be anti-racist, alongside giving examples of effective anti-racist work within their organisations. These can be used flexibly to support continuous professional development (CPD) and training as well as prompting wider reflection and discussion within your organisation.
Members of the RJFN involved in this work include Rashida Baig, Director of Children’s Safeguarding and Social Work at Camden and Millie Kerr.
Ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion in the Family Court: Frontline Briefing (2022)
This resource is intended to provide guidance for social workers and their managers to support equality, diversity and inclusion to be considered alongside court and pre-proceedings.
Promoting anti-racism in children and family services
This briefing explains why taking action to acknowledge and address the impact of racism within the context of children and family services is both important and timely. The content is relevant for anyone working within children and family services regardless of role or level or seniority.
Promoting anti-racism in children's social care: Video learning resources
This learning programme has been developed to promote anti-racism in children’s social care and includes a briefing which explains why taking action to address the impact of racism is important and timely, together with a series of 14 short films exploring anti-racist work in children and family services.