| Minority
disproportionality in the child welfare system is a nationwide problem
that affects Native Americans, Asian Americans, African Americans, and
Latino Americans in
Ohio
as well.
Most
current research focuses on the overrepresentation of African Americans.
In Ohio, African Americans make up 11.5% of the
general population, but represent 42% of children in temporary custody and
52% in permanent custody. The national average for African American
children in foster care is 35%. African American children stay in custody
longer and are adopted at a lower rate than Caucasian children. The
statistics are staggering. Researchers, as well as many in the field, are
concerned.
Author
and
Northwestern
University
professor Dorothy Roberts visited Cuyahoga County July 21 and 22 to
discuss minority disproportionality in the child welfare system, which is
the topic of her book, Shattered Bonds: The Color of Child Welfare. Child
welfare leaders and staff from the Cuyahoga County Department of
Children and Family Services and agencies across the state joined
child advocates, judges and community collaborative leaders to listen to
Roberts' presentation on the effects of disproportionality and discuss
how to impact the problem in
Cuyahoga
County
and across the state. Department of Children and Family Services
leadership and staff are working with community collaboratives and
partners to develop next steps to comprehensively address this problem.
Contact Jerry Blake at gblake@cuyahogacounty.us
for more information Roberts visit or disproportionality activities in
Cuyahoga
County
.
|
