Marion Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, once stated that “the future we hold in trust for our children will be shaped by our fairness to other people’s children.” Today Edelman continues to speak about the values of fairness and justice that while should apply to every child, throughout the United States these values remain elusive for too many. While progress has been made over the last five decades in gaining greater racial equality, in 2014 children of color throughout our country, including here in Minnesota, continue to struggle in significant ways.
Disparities Across Systems
According to the Organizing Apprenticeship Project (OAP) while 81% of White children in the state graduate from high school, the rates for African-American, American Indian, and Latino students are 44%, 41%, and 45% respectively. OAP’s research further shows that this achievement gap results not from individual failures of students of color or from the high performance of White students, but from racial bias within the academic system itself. Additionally, while youth of color comprise only 17% of 10- to 17-year-olds in Minnesota, they make up 35% of juvenile arrests and 45% of cases that result in confinement. Stark disparities exist within our child welfare system as well. Although research shows that all races are equally as likely to experience child maltreatment, children of color are disproportionately represented in foster care, child protection, and adoption services: In 2008 American Indian children spent time in out-of-home placement at more than 12 times the rate of their Caucasian counterparts, while African-American children experienced 5.3 times the rate of placement.
Using a Racial Equity Lens
There are several complex causes of these inequalities that involve poverty, institutional racism, and decades of unjust policies that have put opportunities out of reach for many immigrants and people of color. As we examine the deleterious ripple effects that these historical legacies continue to have, in the child welfare field it is important to incorporate a racial equity agenda when developing strategies meant to support and empower families being served. This is the focus of a new Minn-LInK study from CASCW, which examined the impact of differential response (Family Assessment in Minnesota) on racial equity and child safety outcomes. Overall findings of the effect of race on pathway assignment were mixed; for example, African American, Native American, and Multiracial children were less likely than Caucasian children to be assigned to Family Assessment for some years of the study time frame. While the study showed that there have been some improvements since the Family Assessment approach began, the disparities have not completely disappeared.
Each strategy of Family Assessment including linking families with supportive services, involving community members, and minimizing negative labeling has been proven to have positive outcomes for families of all racial and ethnic backgrounds who are involved. Therefore, when combined with culturally appropriate implementation methods, increasing the number of families of color directed to the Family Assessment track is likely to have a further impact on reducing racial disparities in child welfare overall.
As shown in the Minn-LInK study, despite the existence of such beneficial programs it is clear that more is still needed. New methods of addressing inequalities at the institutional level have yet to be designed, while some past and current methods may have to be re-examined. According to the Children’s Defense Fund children of color are currently the majority of children under the age of two, and in five years children of color will make up the majority of children in the United States. As we reach this turning point in our nation, how can we move forward to ensure that racial and ethnic disparities do not continue to impact children? Post your comments below.