Advocates Work To Eliminate Racial Disproportionality In The Child Welfare System,

Urge African Americans To HelpBy Jior CameronSeattle Medium In recent years the need for African American foster parents has grown, and is becoming increasingly prevalent. In a time where reports illuminate the widespread existence of racial disproportionality in the child welfare system, and detail African American children and other children of color being left behind, child welfare advocates say something needs to be done. In the past 20 years, the foster care population in the United States has nearly doubled. In 2001, it was estimated that there were 542,000 children in foster care. Perhaps more alarming, is the trend of racial disproportionality in the foster care system which is also on the rise. Children of color make up 59% of the foster care population and only 39% of the total U.S. population. African American children are disproportionately represented in the foster care population in all states except Hawaii and Indiana. In recent years, reports and studies have pointed out this disproportionality and presented facts that indicated children of color, especially African Americans, have a more difficult time in the child welfare system. Mary Howell, a 20-year-old former foster child can attest to these trials. Howell entered foster care at 14, shortly after the birth of her daughter. Bouncing around from home to home, Howell’s experience was not uncommon. “I was in about 11 different foster, group, and teen mom homes,” said Howell. “There were some positive [experiences] in the foster care system, but it was mostly negative-mainly because I had a young child with me.” Like many children of color, when Howell had a placement in an actual foster home it was usually with a White family. Howell recalled the lack of cultural understanding she felt during these periods. “Most of the time I felt like my foster family wasn’t real understanding. There was a time when I was with my foster mother during a shopping outing. I told her that I needed some Pink Oil Moisturizer for my hair and she said, ‘Oh you don’t need that,'” recalled Howell of the disparaging remark. “I feel these families need diversity training to learn how to deal with children of color. I felt like [the families I was placed with] didn’t know what they were doing (regarding an African American child) and were inexperienced.” Unfortunately, various versions of Howell’s experience are more the norm than the exception today. According to calculations from data reported in the 2000 Census and 2000 AFCARS, African Americans and children of two or more races are four times more likely to be placed in out-of-home care (as opposed to receiving in-home services) than Whites. Children of color also experience a higher number of placements, and are less likely to be reunited with their birth families than are their White counterparts. Information obtained from Casey Family Programs seconds this finding. “Research indicates that children of color receive inferior treatment once they come to the attention of child protective services. They are less likely to receive services in their home, more likely to be removed from their parents and placed in foster care and once in care, remain for longer periods of time, have less contact with case workers, experience more placements and are less likely to be either returned home or adopted when compared to white children,” the information said. Because of this noted disproportionality, and due to other social and developmental factors, advocates say there is a growing need for more African American foster parents and foster parents of color. Dede Johnson, LICSW, Family Group Conference Specialist for Casey Family Programs, a Seattle-based child welfare agency, sees firsthand the need for more African American foster families. “African American children are over-represented in the foster care system. On any given day, 1800-2000 children are in foster care in King County. [Of that number] there are 400 African American children. That alone speaks to the need for African American families to step up,” said Johnson. Much of the need for African American foster families comes from the need? for African American children to share common ground with their foster family. “There are a lot of kids that are in need of African American [foster] families because they need someone to identify with,” remarked Howell. Johnson concurs. “The advantage of having African American families as foster families is that you have parents who are able to help a young person navigate through [the experiences] of life that other people aren’t able to do. Black people are able to help Black children with their ethnic identity. They are able to plug them into resources in their own community that connects them with that ethnic identity-which is very important,” said Johnson. With all of the setbacks children of color experience in the foster care system, those who are adopted have made it past one major hurdle-getting adopted in the first place. A 2004 report by the Child Welfare League of America, noted that African Americans make up 43% of all children waiting to be adopted nationally. The difficulty in placement comes partly because there are many factors that go into adoptions. The fit between the family and the child or children needs to be optimal. Many potential parents have something specific they are looking for in children they would like to adopt. Howell remembers going through the adoption process. “A lot of [potential foster parents] want babies and younger children. I had one lady tell me that she didn’t want to adopt someone my age because she was newly married and didn’t want girls my age around her husband,” said Howell. These experiences, coupled with the instability foster care sometimes lends itself to, eventually takes a toll on many children. Being picked over, moved, and shuffled around is hard on a young person searching for love, acceptance and a family. “Sometimes I feel a lot of people have the wrong impression of what a foster kid is. Their image of foster children is wrong. They (foster kids) might have some problems, but be patient. Every kid wants to be loved,” said Howell. Despite her setbacks, common to many children of color in foster care, Howell has made it through the system. She has come a long way since her first days in foster care. At 17 1/2 she started the processes of transitioning out of foster care. With the help of the YMCA and Casey, who both provided assistance for Howell to live independently, Howell has transitioned successfully. Currently, Howell works, takes care of her 4-year-old daughter, and maintains her home. On her success out of the system Howell remarked, “My life now is better [than it was when I was in foster care]. I am independent, and I am able to raise my daughter. In general, I’m happier.” Perhaps the nudge African Americans need to begin to look into the possibility of becoming foster parents can be found in the experiences and words of this former foster child who has made it through the system: Every kid wants to be loved. *PUNCTUATION?* And maybe that’s it-the bottom line. Maybe love is simply the bottom line.