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Doris M. Houston, Ph.D. Illinois State University

Explore overcoming obstacles to permanency for African American children in Champaign, IL, addressing disparities in foster care outcomes and promoting solutions.

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Doris M. Houston, Ph.D. Illinois State University

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  1. REMOVING OBSTACLES: Strategies, Skills, and Mindsets that Promote Permanency For African American Children Doris M. Houston, Ph.D. Illinois State University School of Social Work/Center for Adoption Studies

  2. Permanency for African American Children in Champaign County • How do we look in Champaign, Illinois: Permanency Outcome data • Barriers to Permanency for African American Children and families • Implications for children who age out of foster care

  3. Race/ethnicity of Illinois Children % State1 % in care2 White/Non-Hispanic 59% 52% African American 19% 43% Hispanic (of any race) 17% 2% 1U.S. Census, 2000 2Race/Ethnicity of Children in Central region – 8/31/06

  4. Race and Permanency

  5. Median Length of Stay – Central

  6. Champaign County Children in Foster Care (African American vs. Caucasian) *June, 2007 • Total # of ALL Children in Champaign County Foster Care: • N = 115 • Total # Caucasian Children in Champaign County Foster Care: • N= 49 (43%) • Total # AA Children in Champaign County Foster Care: • N = 61 (53%) • Total # of AA residents in Champaign County = 20,990 (11%) 1U.S. Census, 2000 2Race/Ethnicity of Children in Central region – 8/31/06

  7. Why Issues of Permanency and Overrepresentation Matter… • AA children are more likely to age out of foster care without reunification or other permanency options (Courtney and Wong, 1996; Wulczyn, 2004). • Caucasian children are 4 times more likely to be reunited with family (Hill, 2006)

  8. How Far Have We Come? “…there is a growing crisis for homeless Negro youngsters that rapidly is approaching calamitous proportions… “[There is an]estimated 10,000 deserted, neglected, motherless Negro children who are in desperate need of homes. Victims of the breakup of some 581,000 colored homes… “…these children grow up unwanted and friendless in unfit homes or are kept in penal institutions… for lack of a better place – their only crime, that of being brown” Ebony Magazine, 1948 cited in “The Adoption History Project [http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~adoption/archive/EbonyTTBO.htm

  9. Disparities Occur at all Levels of the Critical Decision Making Process Permanency Foster Care Service Provision Indicating a Report Accepting a Hotline Report Placing a Hotline Call

  10. Evidence of Racial Disparity and Disproportionality • African Americanmothers more likely to be tested/reported for pre-natal drug exposure than Caucasian mothers(Chasnoff, 1990) • Doctorsmore likely to diagnose “abuse” for low income families and “accident” for affluent families(Lane, Rubin, Monteith, & Christian, 2002). • Low income African American families receiving public assistance are more likely to have allegations substantiated(Barth, 2005)

  11. Evidence of Racial Disparity and Disproportionality • Once a report is made…African American Families are more likely to be screened for an abuse/neglect investigation (Gryzlak, Wells, and Johnson (2005) • Investigations of African American families are more likely when reports come from social service providers. • A report is more likely to be indicated when initiated by a professional AND the family is African American • AA youth 36 % more likely to be removed from the home following a substantiated report(U.S. DHHS, 2005).

  12. Once a Case is Substantiated for Abuse/Neglect… • Black children(families) are less likely to receive in-home preservation services(Hill, 2006). • Less likely to receive mental health services • Less likely to be returned home • Remain in care longer before achieving permanency through adoption/guardianship • More likely to age out of care without permanency

  13. Indicators of Bias in Decision Making: National Incidence Study (1992) : • When controlling for income, African American families/communities had LOWER rates of maltreatment compared to Caucasian Families. • African American Children are twice as likely to enter foster care when they live in communities where they are 5-10% of the population (Hill, 2006).

  14. Permanency Achievement and Disproportionality in Illinois… • According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Illinois Child and Family Services Review (2003), Illinois did not achieve “substantial conformity” to federal guidelines for permanency…

  15. Child and Family Services Review Finding (Permanency Outcome # 1): Illinois was not in “substantial conformity” with respect to: • Placement stability for children in foster care. • Establishment of permanency goals in a timely manner. • Permanency achievement through adoption, reunification, or permanent placement with relatives in a timely manner. • Services to older children transitioning to independent living. (executive summary page 2).

  16. The Risks of “Aging Out” • Low educational achievement • Unemployment and underemployment • Poverty • Legal involvement/ incarceration • Early parenthood - Homelessness • Victimization • Physical and Mental Health Challenges

  17. Low Educational Achievement • While the majority of children do graduate/ obtain GED, many do not. Percent Not Completing HS/GED • 37% (Courtney et al, 1998) • 38% (Barth, 1990) • 39% (McMillen & Tucker, 1999) • 44% (Casey, 2005) • 46% (Westat, 1991) • 50% (Alonzo, 2001) In the general population from 80 to 87% of teens graduate/ obtain GED

  18. Poor Employment Outcomes • Unemployment rates ranged from 20% (Casey, 2005) to 51% (Westat, 1991). • Most held low skill jobs at or below minimum wage. Average income of less than $6,000 annually (Goerge et al, 2002) • Most had not maintained a job for at least 1 year (Westat, 1991) • In one study, 33% had done something illegal to get money (Barth & Courtney, 1990) [In 2005, 95% of non college youth were employed]

  19. Poverty • Most had incomes at or below federal poverty level (Casey, 2005; Goerge et al, 2002) • 3 state study found average income of $6,000 when poverty line $7,890 • 30% of Illinois youth had no earnings at all • Heavy reliance on public assistance

  20. Legal Involvement/ Incarceration • 27% of males, 10% of females incarcerated at least once 12 – 18 months after discharge (Courtney, et al, 1998) • 35% had been arrested (Alonzo, 2001)

  21. Early Parenthood • Foster care alumni at risk for young parenthood, early pregnancy • 40% had been pregnant to 60% (Barth, 1990) • 60% of females had given birth, some multiple times (Alonzo, 2001) • (However Courtney et al found 19% of females, 8% of males were parents 18 months after discharge)

  22. Homelessness • From 12% (Courtney et al, 1998) to 35% (Barth, 1990) experienced at least one episode of homelessness • Additional studies averaged 25% • 22% to 35% had lived in multiple places in the 12 – 18 months following discharge (Courtney, et al,1998; Barth, 1990)

  23. Victimization • Casey study (2005) found 25% of males and 15% of females reported “serious physical and/or sexual victimization (Courtney et al, 1995) • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) rates almost twice that of U.S. war veterans - 25% vs. 4% in general population and 14% among war vets (Casey, 2005)

  24. Mental Health Challenges Foster Care Youth General Major depression 20% 10% Social phobia 17% 9% Panic disorder 15% 3% Drug dependence 8% 1% (Casey, 2005) 13% hospitalized for an emotional problem (Barth, 1990)

  25. Health Challenges • Youth at risk for greater health problems (Courtney, et al, 1998) but significant numbers of foster care alumni lack health coverage • As high as 35% (Barth, 1990) do not have health benefits after they leave care

  26. Barriers to permanency • Agency • Policies • Practices • Staffing • Communication/collaboration • Court related • Policies • Practices • Staffing • Communication/collaboration • Resources/training

  27. Barriers to permanency • Community • No shared ownership/responsibility • Lack of knowledge about the needs of children/families • Communication/collaboration • Lack of trained professionals • Need for more foster parents • Social/economic conditions • Cross system • No uniformity in decision making • Lack of knowledge about the roles of others • Lack of communication/partnership/trust

  28. Overrepresentation of African American Youth in Care: Focus group participants were asked to share their opinions about the factors that result in an overrepresentation of African American children who enter and remain in foster care…in Central region and across the state…

  29. Overrepresentation of African American Youth in Care: Cultural barriers between families and caseworkers can impact service delivery: “I think from the beginning of the case, if you don't have the right caseworker in place who's going to advocate for that family... We have investigators who will not go by themselves to certain parts of town and so that kind of colors your thinking right there if you're afraid to go to a certain side of town. So from the very beginning, that case is starting out bad…”

  30. Overrepresentation of African American Youth in Care: Caucasian families who parent African American children need support and training to advocate for the child and support the child’s cultural identity: “Some of the foster children who are black don't even realize they are black because they have been around whites their whole life… when a child has been in foster care as a new born baby, they don't realize they are different, but when you take a child who is 13 years old, and suddenly move them into foster care, it's a whole new perspective.”

  31. Overrepresentation of African American Youth in Care: Perception that drug offenses by African American parents, coupled with a lack of legal representation may lead to more child welfare involvement… “…so at least in my county … cocaine is a big problem we're seeing a lot of cases coming in under drug related issues. I don't know why that is… what we see a large number of African-Americans brought in under abuse and neglect proceedings … I don't have the answer but I know its inadequacy and representation...

  32. Overrepresentation of African American Youth in Care: Race should not be considered when a parent comes before the juvenile court. “I don't pay attention to color [and how it relates to the] length of time in my courtroom based on that…”

  33. Overrepresentation of African American Youth in Care: Courts should examine the systemic factors that lead to over representation… “... if it is true that a minority is in the system longer compared to Caucasians are you more worried about that statistic or more worried about that they will be terminated sooner- that's the one I'm worried about because that tells me that the court system is doing something [unfair] to a minority group…” “…and kids who have been terminated and not adopted are essentially lost in the system and in if you look at the DCFS foster bulletin you always see kids that are in need of a home and the majority are African-American kids…

  34. Strategies for Addressing Permanency and Overrepresentation • Know the Facts about Permanency and Overrepresentation • Mobilize the community and key stakeholders • Develop and implement a strategic, community-based Action Plan with- • Realistic goals and objectives, • Timelines • Measures of accountability • Monitor Progress • Include community stakeholders at every stage of the process

  35. Action Plan Strategies • See Handouts

  36. ISU Contact Information Jeanne Howard, Ph.D. Illinois State University School Of Social Work/ Center for Adoption Studies 201 Rachel Cooper Normal Illinois 61780 309-438-8503 Jhoward@ilstu.edu Doris M. Houston, Ph.D. Illinois State University School Of Social Work/ Center for Adoption Studies 203 Rachel Cooper Normal Illinois 61780 309-438-8075 dmhous2@ilstu.edu

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