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The Color of Foster Care (revised March 14, 2007)
Casey Family Programs
- 33 % (166,482) of the children in foster care were African American although African American children make up only 15% of the U.S. child population. African Americans were disproportionately represented in the child welfare system at a rate of 2.21:1( 33.21/15).
- The relative proportion of African American children in the child welfare system compared to non-Hispanic white children in the child welfare system was 3.09:1 ( 2.21/0.72)
- Throughout the United States today, African American children are overrepresented in the child welfare system in every state.
- There are no statistical differences in overall maltreatment rates between black and white families, according to three national incidence studies. After considering controlling factors such as income level, unemployment, and location (urban or rural), African American communities actually have lower rates of child maltreatment than Caucasian communities.
- In 2005, 50% (158,196) of the 311,000 children who entered foster care placements in the United States were children of color. Of these, 26% (80,430) were African American and 18% (56,603) were Hispanic.
- African American foster parents reported fewer hours of contact between social workers and their children, than was reported by any other racial and ethnic group.
- Caucasian foster parents received more services than any other racial and ethnic group.
- A 2005 re-analysis of five major studies in four states between 1990 and 1999 revealed that Caucasian children are four times more likely than African American children to be reunited with their families, and are reunited more quickly.
- In 2006, more than 2.4 million grandparents were the primary adults responsible for their grandchildren.
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