African American Adults Raised in Foster Care Cultural Competency

African American children make up 15% of the general population and 37% of the foster care population in the United States (Childwelfare.gov, 2013). The Harsh Reality

For this Cultural Competency assignment, I am examining African American adults raised in foster care. Prior to completing this assignment, my assumption was that African American adults raised in foster care benefited from the social services available to them. I also assumed that the social services available to foster youth under the new state of Georgia legislation, that assists foster care youth through the age of 25, were beneficial. The reality is, the outcome for African American adults raised in foster care are grim. See chart below.

Assumptions About African American Adults Raised in Foster Care They are broken They are damaged They are uneducated They have mental health issues They survived so they are okay They are strong They are unwanted

My assumption prior to this assignment was that survivors of foster care were strong. Both of the women I interviewed “made it” out of the system. They beat the odds and overcame their situations. One of the ladies is very guarded while the other is very friendly. I did not understand that since they had both experienced similar circumstances. As African American women, I assumed that we had a lot in common but this assignment allowed me to understand that, even people from the same ethnic background, can have very different cultures. Cultural competency relates to the shared values, beliefs, behaviors and attitudes. African American children raised in foster care experience the world much differently than African American children raised by their parents. Being African American in the United States comes with a unique set of challenges. African American children raised in foster care have an additional cross to bear.

I interviewed 2 African American adults that are former foster children. Brittany is a 29 year old former foster child. She currently works in Child Advocacy in the state of Georgia. She is a college graduate who studied Public Health. She is married to a Physician and resides in Georgia. Monique is a 30 year old former foster child. She currently works as a Home Study Administrator at a private child placing agency. Monique is divorced. She has two children ages 15 and 11. She was in the Army and completed her college degree.

What is it like to be a member of this group? Brittany- Brittany was raised in an abusive home. She came into care in her early teens due to abuse and neglect. She said being an adult that was in foster care feels isolating at times. When she sees other people with families, sometimes she feels the way she did as a child. Working in child advocacy has been both challenging and rewarding. She feels connected to the community when she works with others to address the needs of foster children but sometimes she gets tired of being the “poster child” for the cause. The stigma is a lot to carry with her. Monique- Monique was raised in foster care. She came into care as a child. She was also separated from her siblings. She said that as an adult, she still longs for a family. Holidays can be lonely. She enjoys being a mother and puts a lot of energy into her relationship with her children. Being a member of this group is lonely at times.

What forms of discrimination or oppression are faced by members of this group? FACTS: Only 3% of foster children graduate college Only 1 in 4 will become homeless ½ will be incarcerated before their 19th birthday ½ will be expectant mothers by their 19th birthday Only 19% will be self supporting adults in their lifetime (www.gacasa.org) Although the statistics above are a reality, both interviewees stated that the treatment that foster children and youth experience from others is unfair. Brittany- The discrimination starts in foster care. Families do not always Want to accept placement of African American children which negatively Impacts the child’s self esteem. In foster homes, families treat you Differently, especially if you don’t look like them. The discrimination and oppression continues in school and into adulthood. When people find out that individuals were in care they are either dismissive and rude or they ask too many personal questions as if they are owed an answer. People also assume something is wrong with you. When she started her work in advocacy, Brittany shared that she was very excited but she got tired of being talked down to and underestimated due to her past.

Monique- People feel that they can ask you anything about your situation. when she started a new school, Monique recalls teachers assuming that she was not smart or assuming that she was a behavior problem. Children were also cruel so she learned not to trust people at a very young age based on how she was treated. She shared that as an adult she is reluctant to tell people that she was a foster child because of how they respond. She said that people treat you like a “charity case”. She chose to work in child welfare because she had big hopes of making a difference but the comments she hears from co-workers disturb her. She said that generalizations and stereotypes about foster children and former foster children are another barrier that she must overcome.

What is the dominant discourses about this group? How do they affect Group members? The dominant discourses about this group are two fold. First African American adults raised in foster care face the discourses that most African Americans face. Second, they face the social constructs and dominant discourses of foster children. African Americans are viewed as uneducated, unworthy, unwanted, damaged, criminals and broken. Foster children are viewed in the similar light. Disparity rates among African American children in foster care prove that the images in society are powerful. The child welfare system is more likely to view African American families poorly which contributes to the number of children in care. Even successful African American adults raised in foster care, face negative stereotypes and dominant discourses in society. Both of the women I Interviewed work in child welfare and still experienced discourse in the workplace.

How might you as a social worker best address the discrimination and/or oppression, as well as the dominant discourse? As a social worker, I think that the best way to address the discrimination and oppression that African American adults raised in foster care experience is to provide individual and group therapy to children in foster care. It is clear, based on the interviews that I conducted, that both women believe that therapy is beneficial. Finding children homes cannot be the Primary goal of the child welfare system. Addressing emotional and social needs can help foster children grow into confident adults in spite of their difficult experiences. Brittany is still seeing a counselor. She finds the therapy very helpful. Monique said that she participated in counseling as a child but she moved around a lot so her foster parents did not continue her therapy. As an adult, therapy is expensive. I also think that building support networks for foster children in the community can be helpful. Hearing Monique say that she “longs” for a family was tough to hear. People cannot just get over difficult childhoods, they need support systems in their lives. Addressing the dominant discourse is a tough task. The dominant discourse in Society impacts how potential foster parents view African American children in Foster care. Unfortunately, older African American children are less likely to be Adopted due to the discourse. While it has become trendy to some degree to adopt African American infants, that infant will become an African American teen and Adult. Social workers must ensure that foster families understand the

responsibilities that come with raising an African American man or women. Below are some ideas that I think could be helpful. Diversity training for social workers Diversity training for foster parents Recruit and retain African American parents to foster and adopt African American children. They are less likely to have negative stereotypes about African American youth. Put public policies in place to address disparity rates in foster and adoption of African American youth Create support groups and social networks for African American foster Children in care Provide family restoration services and increase kinship care in Georgia. This increases the likelihood of the foster child staying connected to their family and Community.

How can I help?? Become part of the solution! Volunteer to mentor or support a foster child www.faithbridge.org Become a foster parent http://www.adoptuskids.org Support foster youth aging out of care https://www.fosterclub.com/ Donate money, toys, or goods http://www.fostercares.org/

References: www.childwelfare.org www.jimcaseyyouth.org