The Office of Family Voice (OFV) advances shared leadership and co-design with people who have lived experience to create and sustain systemic change for New Jersey's child welfare system. Established in 2018 as the first office of its kind among public child welfare agencies nationwide, OFV was created to ensure that Family Voice is a core approach and a practice embedded in every aspect of the department’s work. We use innovative approaches to elevate the perspectives of constituents and promote authentic engagement and partnership that improves and transforms DCF services.
Shared leadership goes beyond inviting stakeholders to participate in an occassional meeting or program evaluation. It requires authentic engagement and a commitment to co-design, through which individuals and families are recognized as the experts drawing from their firsthand experience with the system. It is more than bringing people to the table; at OFV, we endeavor to build a whole new table, side-by-side with people who have experienced firsthand the services offered by the Department of Children and Families.
Through Shared Leadership, DCF works to intentionally share power and responsibility with parents, youth, and other stakeholders by partnering with them in all aspects of planning, decision-making, implementation, and evaluation of services.
As defined by Chi by Design and Casey Family Programs, Co-Design is an approach that:
- Designs with, not for, people and communities.
- Amplifies the voices and experiences of the people closest to the needs addressed through an engagement or initiative.
- Prioritizes relationships, increases trust across all stakeholders, and uses participatory approaches to ensure the work is guided by the people most affected.
OFV leads several key initiatives to ensure people who have lived experience with DCF are guiding and meaningfully involved in the Department’s transformation.
Three statewide constituent councils serve to amplify the voices and priorities of young people, fathers, and all parents and support their collaboration with the Department’s staff and leadership to drive the changes they want to see.
Through the Lived Experience Expert Partnership (LEEP), consultants who have lived experience partner with DCF divisions and offices, working collaboratively to improve practice, policy, and programs.
