In the book Shattered Bonds, the author Dorothy Roberts
argues that the foster care system is primarily aimed at providing services to
black families that many times looks to an outsider, unfamiliar with the system,
as a service that regulates and punishes poor Black families. These claims are
well documented throughout the first pages of her book, where she proceeds with
eye opening statistics of the child welfare system and foster care systems.
Roberts claims that Blacks in the United States make up about 17 percent of the
population, but nearly half of all children in foster care nationally are Black,
making up 42 percent of the foster care population (8). This statistic proves that
the foster care system is overwhelmingly being filled with poor Black children,
who are being taken from their families and placed into the hands of the state.
These statistics are alarming in cities that have large Black populations like
in New York City, where Roberts states that one out of every 22 Black children
living in New York City is in foster care (9). This statistic is sad and very disconcerting.
This number of Black children being placed in foster care makes it clear that
there is a problem with the child welfare system and that there are clearly
biases that are taking place in the choices to place these children in the
hands of the state, and perhaps some stereotyping of the Black population.
These problems, however, do not have an easy solution. All must look past these
tendencies to stereotype the impoverished Black families as “unfit parents” and
“incapable to provide stable homes for their children” and understand that sometimes
the best place for a child is in the care of their family and loved ones.
Roberts has clearly opened my eyes to the problem that is occurring today in
the foster care system in regards to Black children.
Roberts, Dorothy E. Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare. New York: Basic, 2002. Print.
Blog Response #10
ReplyDeleteAllie I really liked your points and I thought you had a great understanding of the reading. I was also very surprised on the statistics of Blacks making up the foster system, especially in New York City. In NYC about 5% of Black children are in the foster care system compared to the national percentage .55% children being in foster homes. That is almost 10x more than the national problem so I do agree with it is the system that is in trouble. In my opinion there is something that needs to be done over these implicit biases and stereotypes in society. Many times it is the people who do not have the resources to fight the foster system who have their children taken away. I think an important example is about the mother named Jornell who lasted her child to the foster system and then during her visitation rights the social worker thought she had a mental disorder simply because she was happy to see her son. This is a prime example to how you stated there were biases in the system. Really good post and I enjoyed reading your opinion on Robert’s first section.
Sarah B.
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteGraded blog reply #10
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog post. I also was very amazed by the staggering statistics Roberts stated. Before reading these assigned readings I was unaware that this was a problem. Roberts clearly states that Black families are discriminated. I was also shocked to read about the invisibility hypothesis (?). But after reading it, it makes sense. It’s interesting that the smaller the minority in a city, the more people are discriminated. It seems that this hypothesis does not have to be related to foster care.
I do agree with you that sometimes the best place for a child is with their loving and caring family. Roberts gave very good examples for families who clearly seemed able to care for their children but they were taken away for things such as giving their child an enema or having too small of an apartment. This is sad to think about! But, part of me is glad caseworkers and medical professionals are strict.
Altogether, you made very good points in your post!
Katie L.
Graded Reply #10
ReplyDeleteSimilar to the other comments, I too was alarmed at the statistics regarding the number of Black children in foster care. I honestly would never have thought that Blacks were affected so much by this. The media typically foster homes as being greatly populated by white children varying in age, with the occasional Black child being thrown in the mix. Sadly, that was the extent of my knowledge on the situation. After reading Roberts' statistic my eyes were opened, especially to how poorly formed the processes seem to be.
Aside from the statistics, the thing that bothered me most was the mention of how caseworkers clearly displayed racial bias in the way they handled the cases. As far as the welfare system, one would assume that it is meant to assist the struggling family or parent, instead of immediately deciding to dismantle them. Roberts clearly illustrated that this was done for white families, but Blacks were not being given the same graces. For me, this was the biggest issue. Although, Roberts seems to be highly one-sided in her arguments, the facts speak for themselves. Clearly, this is an issue that needs to be resolved.
Nice post.
JHALL