Staff

Esi Hutchful

She/Her/Hers

Esi Hutchful is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP). In this role, she works to advance a policy agenda to prevent children and families from becoming involved with the child welfare system, specifically through providing technical assistance to states and counties implementing legislation, and state/local efforts related to building and enhancing a prevention continuum. She also supports CSSP’s economic and health justice policy work.

She does this work because she believes that all children and families deserve safety, stability, and dignity.

#CARES4Power

Follow us on Instagram to learn more about our work, the CARES Ambassadors, and the policies we are building to advance change for all transition age youth.

Dimple Desai, Senior Policy Analyst at Voices for Georgia’s Children, will be featured as a speaker at Policy in Action: Building a Community That CARES for Young Adults on 10/29!

This virtual discussion will focus on a youth-centered mental health and well-being policy agenda for Atlanta, co-designed with young people who have transitioned out of foster care. With her extensive background in mental health and policy research, Dimple will offer invaluable insights into how these policies can better support young people as they pursue their goals and well-being.

🗓️ Event Date: October 29th
🕐 Time: 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET / 10:00 - 11:30 AM PT

Hear from Dimple and other leaders in this critical conversation about youth mental health.

Register by clicking the link in our bio!

#Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut

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Dimple Desai, Senior Policy Analyst at Voices for Georgia’s Children, will be featured as a speaker at Policy in Action: Building a Community That CARES for Young Adults on 10/29! This virtual discussion will focus on a youth-centered mental health and well-being policy agenda for Atlanta, co-designed with young people who have transitioned out of foster care. With her extensive background in mental health and policy research, Dimple will offer invaluable insights into how these policies can better support young people as they pursue their goals and well-being. 🗓️ Event Date: October 29th 🕐 Time: 1:00 - 2:30 PM ET / 10:00 - 11:30 AM PT Hear from Dimple and other leaders in this critical conversation about youth mental health. Register by clicking the link in our bio! #Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut

🧠 Mental health is deeply connected to every element of our lives. When young people access responsive and affirming mental health support, they gain resilience, a positive sense of identity, and the tools to succeed. In Georgia, access to mental health services and supports has been a longstanding challenge. The state is ranked 48th in the nation for access to mental health care.

The CARES Initiative calls for access to high-quality, accessible, affordable, and affirming mental health services and supports that meet young people`s needs. It`s time to ensure that every young person can thrive, regardless of the barriers they face.

Join us for a discussion of youth-centered mental health and well-being policies. Register now by clicking the link in the bio.

#Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut

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🧠 Mental health is deeply connected to every element of our lives. When young people access responsive and affirming mental health support, they gain resilience, a positive sense of identity, and the tools to succeed. In Georgia, access to mental health services and supports has been a longstanding challenge. The state is ranked 48th in the nation for access to mental health care. The CARES Initiative calls for access to high-quality, accessible, affordable, and affirming mental health services and supports that meet young people's needs. It's time to ensure that every young person can thrive, regardless of the barriers they face. Join us for a discussion of youth-centered mental health and well-being policies. Register now by clicking the link in the bio. #Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut

Join us on October 29 & 30! Tune into the "Policy in Action: Building a Community that CARES for Young Adults" discussion series, where we’ll explore innovative mental health and housing policies designed for and with young adults. Connect with national and local leaders and CARES Ambassadors to help build a brighter future. Register today! Link in bio. #Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut

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Join us on October 29 & 30! Tune into the "Policy in Action: Building a Community that CARES for Young Adults" discussion series, where we’ll explore innovative mental health and housing policies designed for and with young adults. Connect with national and local leaders and CARES Ambassadors to help build a brighter future. Register today! Link in bio. #Equity #YoungAdults #TAY #TransitionAgeYouth #CARES4Power #HousingSupport #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #ChildWelfare #AgingOut

Join us for a transformative discussion on youth-centered mental health and well-being policies. Discover innovative strategies co-created with young people, for young people. Engage with youth, national, and local leaders as we reimagine a future that truly supports, affirms, and uplifts young adults. Link in bio! #CARES4Power #MentalHealth #HousingSupport

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Join us for a transformative discussion on youth-centered mental health and well-being policies. Discover innovative strategies co-created with young people, for young people. Engage with youth, national, and local leaders as we reimagine a future that truly supports, affirms, and uplifts young adults. Link in bio! #CARES4Power #MentalHealth #HousingSupport

Learn why empowering brown and Black youth through community building and mentorship is crucial. Los Angeles CARES Ambassador Santos shares how these spaces help young people thrive, heal, and grow, shaping a stronger, more resilient future.
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#CARES #CARES4Power #NationalPolicyAgenda #JuvenileJustice #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #FosterYouth #Policy #Youth #TAY #Community #Mentorship

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Learn why empowering brown and Black youth through community building and mentorship is crucial. Los Angeles CARES Ambassador Santos shares how these spaces help young people thrive, heal, and grow, shaping a stronger, more resilient future. . . . . #CARES #CARES4Power #NationalPolicyAgenda #JuvenileJustice #MentalHealth #Wellbeing #FosterYouth #Policy #Youth #TAY #Community #Mentorship

Damage Imagery in the U.S. child welfare system often highlights the visible wounds, but it’s the invisible scars of systemic neglect that demand our urgent attention and reform.
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#classisinsession #KeyEquityTerms #CARES #CARESAmbassadors #Equity #DamageImagery #ChildWelfare

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Damage Imagery in the U.S. child welfare system often highlights the visible wounds, but it’s the invisible scars of systemic neglect that demand our urgent attention and reform. . . . . #classisinsession #KeyEquityTerms #CARES #CARESAmbassadors #Equity #DamageImagery #ChildWelfare

Though we strive not to practice "color-blind" ideology, evidence shows that child welfare decision-makers often judge parents of color more harshly--one result being more children being removed from their families. Calls for systemic change to amend these barriers are growing at a rapid pace. In 2021, the "blind removals" program in Nassau County (New York) was created to address racial bias in decisions regarding the removal of a child from their caretakers. California – which has the most disproportionate share of Black children in foster care of any state in the nation, according to the National Center on Juvenile Justice – is considering a bill that would create blind removal pilot projects in several counties. @childcarenassau
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#Classisinsession #KeyEquityTerms #CARES #CARESAmbassadors #CARES4Power #Equity #Colorblind #ColorBlindRacialIdeology #ChildWelfare

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Though we strive not to practice "color-blind" ideology, evidence shows that child welfare decision-makers often judge parents of color more harshly--one result being more children being removed from their families. Calls for systemic change to amend these barriers are growing at a rapid pace. In 2021, the "blind removals" program in Nassau County (New York) was created to address racial bias in decisions regarding the removal of a child from their caretakers. California – which has the most disproportionate share of Black children in foster care of any state in the nation, according to the National Center on Juvenile Justice – is considering a bill that would create blind removal pilot projects in several counties. @childcarenassau . . . . #Classisinsession #KeyEquityTerms #CARES #CARESAmbassadors #CARES4Power #Equity #Colorblind #ColorBlindRacialIdeology #ChildWelfare