This report highlights policy strategies that have shown promise in improving outcomes for children and families of color in child welfare systems. The strategic areas for policy development outlined in this report include: analyzing and using data, including collecting data by race, ethnicity, Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) eligibility, gender identity and age and the supporting data analysis on the interplay of these categories; supporting families with appropriate services and resources, including investing in the development of the evidence needed to create effective solutions for…
In light of the momentum building to improve the fortunes of young men of color, this review takes a look at what is known about this population and highlights programs that are shown by rigorous research to be making a difference. It first examines the special challenges and struggles of these young men in the labor market, including problems related to their disproportionate involvement in the criminal justice system and their experiences in the educational system. A growing number of young men of color have become disconnected from the positive systems, institutions, and pathways designed…
This report uses the 2011-2012 National Survey of Children’s Health to examine both the prevalence of parental incarceration and child outcomes associated with it. Based on the analyses, more than five million children, representing 7% of all U.S. children, have had a parent who lived with them go to jail or prison. The proportion was found to be higher among black, poor, and rural children. After accounting for effects associated with demographic variables such as race and income, the study found parental incarceration was associated with: a higher number of other major, potentially…
This brief highlights themes and action steps drawn from a roundtable on Two-Generational Strategies to Improve Immigrant Family and Child Outcomes, hosted by the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, on April 23-24, 2015 in Washington, D.C. The roundtable and this brief come at a critical time, when immigrants and their children are such a significant part of changing American demographics that they are crucial to the nation’s future success: one-quarter of the nation’s young children are children of immigrants. At the same time, important…
This paper provides background information on the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), explains the basic requirements of ICWA, provides an overview of tribal child welfare and court systems, discusses disproportionality and its relationship to trends in ICWA compliance, highlights promising practices in State policy and practice that support ICWA, and underscores the necessity of working with tribal advocates on State child welfare policy change. Key ICWA requirements are summarized, as well as recommended practices that address State law, intergovernmental agreements, tribal-state forums,…
Over the last year, the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), which manages the Alliance for Racial Equity in Child Welfare, has reviewed data and research literature, talked to young African American men who are in - or had been in - foster care and identified initiatives and strategies that are showing promise. This paper is a product of that work and is intended to: Summarize what we know about the situation of African American males involved with the child welfare system; Outline an approach to more effective action to improve outcomes for these boys and young men; and…
The situation of high unemployment for black men is not new. It has persisted for decades, and scholars, sociologists, economists, policy makers, and advocates have brought attention to various aspects of this challenge and put forth solutions. Yet, it is seemingly an intractable situation. In 2012, three years after the end of the recession, the black male unemployment rate was in the double digits for every age category up to age 65. This was not the case for any other racial group. In 2010, half of working black men were employed in the two occupational clusters with the lowest average…
This manual produced by the Survival Skills Institute of Minneapolis describes the cultural values that should be considered when working with African American adolescent parents, including beliefs about sexuality, birth control, abortion, adoption, and family structure. Social workers and other service providers are advised to respect the community values as positive influences on the lives of young people. Stereotypes and judgmental attitudes create an adversarial, distrusting atmosphere that is not conducive to skill development. The Survival Skills Institute established the Black…
This final report presents information on the outcomes and accomplishments of the African American Male Adoption Project, which used an innovative approach to find adoptive homes for African American boys in Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN. The report describes the accomplishments of the project, including the development of specialized and ongoing family recruitment strategies, such as announcing the project in church bulletins, airing radio public service announcements, providing materials at African American community events, and compiling photo albums of targeted children. Other activies…
