Why are so many black kids in foster care?

Black Child Foster Care Black kids are disproportionately represented in the foster care system.

Why?

Perhaps a recent study by the Government Accountability Office sheds light on this issue.

Poverty, bias and difficulty in finding adoptive parents are key among a number of factors that contribute to the higher proportion of black children who end up in foster care, according to a report from the Government Accountability Office.

The report, completed last month, said its survey of 48 states and the District of Columbia showed that most jurisdictions have taken steps to address the disproportionate representation, including involving families in decisions regarding children’s care, building community support to help children remain within their families and to widen the search for relatives to care for the children. The states, however, also reported that they had limited ability to analyze data and come up with strategies and often relied on assistance from universities and non-governmental organizations for help.

“Families living in poverty have greater difficulty accessing housing, mental health, and other services needed to keep families stable and children safely at home,” the GAO found. “Bias or cultural misunderstandings and distrust between child welfare decision makers and the families they serve are also viewed as contributing to children’s removal from their homes into foster care. African American children also stay in foster care longer because of the difficulties in recruiting adoptive parents and a greater reliance on relatives to provide foster care who may be unwilling to terminate the parental rights of the child’s parent — as required in adoption — or who need the financial subsidy they receive while the child is in care.”

As a person who may one day adopt a child in the child welfare system, I hear from those on the front lines of this issue. I know that black children in this system have lower foster placement and adoption rates. If we are truly a country concerned about family values, what better way to show that than to help families in need stay together?

Popularity: 28% [?]

Sphere: Related Content

comments

2 comments for “Why are so many black kids in foster care?”

Culturevital , on the 18 of August, 2007 at 1:07 pm said:
Why are so many black kids in foster care? One of the main reasons is the fact that black adults are making what they are not prepared to raise … babies. Unemployment and unwed motherhood makes raising a child a real challenge. Also, African americans are displaying inadequate interest in creating support groups that step in when members of the community fall. The extended family and the “Love thy brother & sister” concept can go along way. Only black adults can save black kids. And that calls for social unity and community leadership. African american adults need more community organizations that are oriented towards improving this crisis. Sincerely, Culturevital http://www.freewebs.com/culturevital
MReed , on the 26 of August, 2007 at 1:49 pm said:
Too many African American kids remain in foster care because we don’t instill the meaning of Value within our families. Children are our most valuable assets, but African Americans are too busy getting caught up in 1) unprotected sexual behavior, 2) buying all the “new sh*t,” 3) overworked schedules, 4) drugs, 5) drama, and 6) stupidness.

It also has to do with the African American male’s ignorance of building a family Legacy. Many African American men don’t want commitments. They resent African American women whenever they’re faced with responsibility. So instead of working together to build a family, the men run around like boys and leave the women to do everything on their own.

NOTE: Comments on this blog are not always moderated so, they may appear as soon as you post them, unless filtered as spam. Despite this, we reserve the right to delete any comments considered offensive. Please take this into consideration as you post comments.

Culturevital , on the 18 of August, 2007 at 1:07 pm said:

Why are so many black kids in foster care? One of the main reasons is the fact that black adults are making what they are not prepared to raise … babies. Unemployment and unwed motherhood makes raising a child a real challenge. Also, African americans are displaying inadequate interest in creating support groups that step in when members of the community fall. The extended family and the “Love thy brother & sister” concept can go along way. Only black adults can save black kids. And that calls for social unity and community leadership. African american adults need more community organizations that are oriented towards improving this crisis. Sincerely, Culturevital http://www.freewebs.com/culturevital

MReed , on the 26 of August, 2007 at 1:49 pm said:

Too many African American kids remain in foster care because we don’t instill the meaning of Value within our families. Children are our most valuable assets, but African Americans are too busy getting caught up in 1) unprotected sexual behavior, 2) buying all the “new sh*t,” 3) overworked schedules, 4) drugs, 5) drama, and 6) stupidness.

It also has to do with the African American male’s ignorance of building a family Legacy. Many African American men don’t want commitments. They resent African American women whenever they’re faced with responsibility. So instead of working together to build a family, the men run around like boys and leave the women to do everything on their own.