EMBRACE (Expanding Meaningful Black Relationships and Creating Equity) collaborated with Gallup to conduct a study titled: Americans' Views of U.S. Foster Care, Elevating Black Americans' Perspectives and Experiences. This project amplifies the disproportionate representation of Black children in the foster care system and provides solutions for how to reduce the barriers for families willing to foster, adopt and mentor Black foster kids. EMBRACE aims to improve outcomes for Black foster kids.
Black children are overrepresented in foster care. In 2020, Black children made up 22% of all kids in foster care in the U.S., even though they only represent 14% of the total child population, according to the 2021 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS). Research suggests that the disproportionate rate at which Black youth enter foster care is due to systemic racism in the U.S. (Weiss, The Appeal)
EMBRACE proposes education, a new program model and policy change. Education will change the narrative and reduce negative stereotypes of Black families. The program model will recruit more families willing to provide care for Black foster youth and create pathways for success for new families with a buddy system, mental health support and training. Policy change will support families with additional resources, cultural competency and mental health during the fostering process.
Cultivating long-term and lasting connections between Black children and adults can lead to a stronger identity, increased self-esteem, and increased success for Black youth which aids our society with healthy members of the workforce and potential leaders. Other benefits of placing Black children with culturally competent parents or parents of the same race include: reducing the foster care to prison pipeline and a reduction in homelessness.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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