About Joyce James
Joyce James began her professional career as a Child Protective Services (CPS) caseworker and has established an impressive 40-year history in working to improve outcomes for children,youth, and families. For the past 24 years she has led the charge in Texas and across the County to raise issues of institutional and structural racism in all helping systems. Her journey — from CPS caseworker to Assistant Commissioner of Texas CPS, to leader of the Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities (the Center) and the Texas State Office of Minority Health at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) — is a powerful one.
JOYCE JAMES: The Trailblazer
For decades, Joyce James has led the fight to end systemic racism in Texas. In the February 2023 Issue of AUSTIN WOMAN magazine, Joyce James graces the cover and gives readers insight on her WHY and how she became A Trailblazer.
A lifetime of achievement.
Congratulations to Joyce James who was honored with the NASWTX Lifetime Achievement Award for her life's work at the 2019 National Association of Social Workers-Texas Chapter Conference held in October 2019 in Galveston.
Ms. James is currently the CEO and owner of Joyce James Consulting, based in Central Texas. The company provides technical assistance, seminars, workshops, policy and program reviews, and other specially designed services. It focuses on supporting and developing leaders toward a race equity analysis using data and racial equity principles which lead to systems transformation and the achievement of equity.
Ms. James was the Associate Deputy Executive Commissioner for the Center from September 2010 to September 2013. The Center was created by HHSC Executive Commissioner Tom Suehs out of recognition of Ms. James’ strong and effective leadership, and a desire to expand the Texas Model for Addressing Disproportionality and Disparities, created under her leadership, to all HHS agencies and programs.
“At the heart of all our programs and services, we’re about people,” Suehs said. “And we want to make sure that every person is treated with respect and dignity. Joyce has been a pioneer in helping improve equity in our protective services programs and we want to put that same focus on all our HHS agencies.”
Ms. James’ impact on a state level
Senate Bill 501, which was enacted during the 82nd legislative session, established the Center in statute and created an interagency council of which Ms. James served as the Presiding Officer. The legislative intent of Senate Bill 501 was to make recommendations to the Legislature to address racial disparities in health, mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice, and education, as well as to expand the Texas Model to other agencies external to HHSC. Ms. James led the Interagency Council in the development of the findings and recommendations, and the delivery of the statutorily required report to the Texas legislature in December 2012.
Ms. James served as the Deputy Commissioner for Texas Department of Family & Protective Services (DFPS.) The department worked on the day-to-day operations of the agency’s Child and Adult Protective Services Programs and the Residential and Child Care Licensing Programs. Ms. James provided leadership of the Center for Learning & Organizational Effectiveness serving approximately 11,000 DFPS employees. It was Ms. James’ bold and creative leadership which led the way for the introduction and implementation of training that moved the organization from its sole focus on cultural competency to a multifaceted focus on anti-racist principles and practice for achieving racial equity.
Ms. James served as the Assistant Commissioner of Texas Child Protective Services Program from 2004-2009 providing leadership and direction for the state-administered system’s 254 counties and approximately 9,000 staff. Ms. James’ leadership and testimony during the 79th legislative session was instrumental in the creation and implementation of Senate Bill 6, resulting in unprecedented and historic legislation requiring CPS to address racial disproportionality and disparities — an effort Ms. James started at the regional level and introduced at the state level when she took this position in 2004.
The Texas Model for addressing Disproportionality and Disparities which had its roots at the regional level was expanded when Ms. James became the Assistant Commissioner for Texas CPS. Ms. James is credited with being a catalyst for significant and nationally recognized improvements in the Texas CPS Program (including a reduction in disproportionality for African-American and Native American children) and overall improved outcomes for all populations served.
Ms. James’ knowledge and expertise — as told through her story about her personal struggle and journey to find the courage to raise an issue she knew could be unpopular — is widely recognized in Texas and across the Country.
Ms. James has served on local, state, and national boards and committee, bringing her expert knowledge and personal experiences in leading anti-racist work. She has been recognized nationally for her leadership, her courage to speak out on racial inequities, and her role in creating a movement across Texas to increase the knowledge and understanding, among systems leaders, of institutionalized racism as the underlying cause of racial inequities across all systems.
Ms. James is best known as a pioneer of the first real efforts to address racial inequities in Texas CPS, and above all, for her ability to effect positive change in systems by capitalizing on the strengths of leaders.
“There is no quick fix; it requires a level of risk-taking, but there is hope in that we know that with the right framework, we have the tools to reduce disparities for all people.”
— JOYCE JAME, FFEBRUARY 2023 AUSTIN WOMAN MAGAZINE
“White privilege is not something you ask for nor can you give it away.
It is inherent in the design of our systems and institutions. You only have to be White to get it. But, you can use it for good.”
— Joyce James