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, ?WHAT KIND OF ADVOCATES 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 in the child welfare system 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 that 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.” According to reports published in 1999 by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Children’s Bureau and ?Safety, Permanency and Well-being Child Welfare Outcomes in 1999, versions of ?Howell’s experience were more the norm than the exception. The reports found that 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. Additionally, children of color experience a higher number of placements, and are less likely to be reunited with their birth families than are their White counterparts. A report? On disproportionality seconded 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 report stated. 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 Seattle’s Casey Family Programs, a Seattle-based child welfare agency, sees the need firsthand 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 *CHANGE WORD of African American children to have and 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 (non-African Americans?) 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. Even when African Americans experience ? once in the system, they’ve at least made it to the point of being adopted?? In this day in age ?CLICHE the experience of Howell is common. REPEATED?NEED ANOTHER LEAD IN SENTENCE For a myriad of reasons, African American children are less likely to have steady placements. According to a report published by the Child Welfare League of America in 2004, African Americans make up 43% of all children waiting to be adopted nationally. There are many factors that go? into adoptions and placements. The fit between the family and the child needs to be optimal. But, many potential parents have something specific they are looking for. “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 children that 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. After all, being picked over or not picked, being 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. [Foster kids] might have some problems, but be patient. Every kid just wants to be loved,” said Howell. Despite her setbacks, 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 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 am happier.” Perhaps the nudge African Americans need to begin to look into the possibility of becoming foster parents can be found in Howell’s own words: Every kid just wants to be loved.? *PUNCTUATION* And maybe that’s it, the bottom line. Maybe love is simply the bottom line. NOTES: Due to the lack of foster families of color, foster children of color are less likely to share common ground with their adoptive families. Because of this, when children of color do get placed, many have similar experiences to Howell.MAYBE GET A QUOTE FROM DEDE THE CASEY LADY ON NEED OF AFRICAN AMERICAN FOSTER PARENTS that children of color have in the foster care system. were consistent with the previous idea OR NOTION? that OR SHOWED THAT Perhaps more alarming than this rising number, is the trend of racial disproportionality. Although Howell is out of the foster care system, she still speaks to the importance of African American foster parents. “To grow healthy and resilient, children and youth in foster care need what all young people need: a permanent home, a family and community to help them prepare for adulthood, and a strong connection to their cultural roots and values.” That statement describes the mission of Casey Family Programs. Casey, a Seattle-based child welfare agency, aims to provide and improve foster care — in hopes of ultimately eliminating the need for it in the future. In recent years, Casey’s mission has become increasingly more difficult to bring to fruition, especially since it has become*CHANGE WORD known that specific racial groups have a disproportionately harder time in the child welfare system. And that’s the bottom line. Love is the bottom line. When I would ask my case worker about another placement, they would say that there were no placements at that time. [Many of the families] [When I was in a foster home] it was with a White family ” . In recent years the need for African American foster parents has become increasingly prevalent. Casey, along with other child welfare agencies seeks to address the growing need for foster care in this time by education and awareness.