Public child welfare systems are designed to support children and families during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. However,  for many families, especially those who sit at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities, the system can replicate harm rather than create healing. Creating equitable public child welfare systems requires us to name and address the layered realities families experience. Intersectionality offers a framework that strengthens decision-making, improves engagement, and ensures culturally responsive services for communities that have historically been underserved.