Sangamon County Action Team Sara Sanders Christy Cunningham Chrissy Gosteli

Overview of Demographic Data Population Gender –Males: 47.7% –Females: 52.3% Age –Under 18: 25% –18 and over: 75% Race –Caucasian: 87.4% –African American: 9.7% –Latino or Hispanic: 1.1% Native American: 0.2% –Asian: 1.1% –Two or More Races: 1.2% (U. S. Census Bureau, 2008).

Overview of Demographic Data Income/Poverty Status Median Income by Household –African Americans$24,628 –Caucasians$45,272 –Total Population $42,957 Per Capita Income –African Americans$12,440 –Caucasians$24,547 –Total Population$23,173 Families below the poverty level: 3,250 –With related children under age 18: 2,696 Female headed households below the poverty level: 1,993 –With related children under age 18: 1,900 African American Families below Poverty Level: 1,215 Caucasian Families below Poverty Level: 1,904 (U. S. Census Bureau, 2008).

Overview of Demographic Data Employment and Housing EMPLOYMENT Population age 16+ :147,423 –Employed (civilian) 101,661 – Unemployed 4,135 –Not in labor force45,429 Caucasians in labor force: 92,079 African Americans in labor force: 7,503 HOUSING Single family owner occupied homes – African Americans: 2,119 –Caucasians: 44,411 –Total: 47,303 Renter-occupied housing units –African Americans: 4,007 –Caucasians: 18,886 –Total: 23,640 (U. S. Census Bureau, 2008).

Overview of Demographic Data Education Race –High School Grads or Higher African Americans: 7,108 Caucasians: 101,837 –Bachelor Degrees or Higher African Americans: 1,468 Caucasians: 33,473 Gender –High School Grads or Higher Men: 19,214 Women: 25,111 –Bachelor Degrees Men: 11,811 Women: 12,763 –Grad School or Professional Degrees Men: 7,303 Women: 5,796 (U. S. Census Bureau, 2008).

Permanency Data We analyzed statistics for child welfare in Sangamon County, particularly focusing on the disproportionality between African- American and Caucasian children in the system We also compared the finding in Sangamon County to national statistics.

Permanency Data From the percentage of Caucasian children that did not have an indicated report was slightly higher than that of African American children. This is consistent with Hill (2006), that more reports of child abuse are submitted to child protect services for African Americans than Caucasians.

Permanency Data The amount of African American children entering substitute care increased. The amount of Caucasian children increased also, though not as significantly

Permanency Data African American children consistently were in more placements than Caucasians Hill (2006) reports that African Americans in the system receive fewer services and lower quality service than Caucasians.

Permanency Data Kinship care increased for both groups, but traditional foster care remained predominant Specialized care and institutional care was higher for African-Americans. Hill (2006) found that African American children in foster care are more likely to have medical conditions, mental disabilities, & psychological problems.

Permanency Data There was 4 years in which African American children were in substitute care longer than Caucasian children Brown (2008) found African American Children stay in foster care longer due to difficulty recruiting adoptive parents, lack of services for birth parents, and a greater reliance on relatives to provide foster care.

Permanency Data

From 2000 to 2006, there were not significant differences between the rates of reunification at 12 mo. There was a difference of 1% to 12% more Caucasian children that were adopted than African American children at 24 mo. At 36 mo. African American children were less likely to be adopted, but more likely to be reunified (with the exception of 2004).

Action Team Project Faith Based Service Assessment –Located Local Churches and Faith Based Agencies –Contacted aforementioned churches and agencies for assessment –Inquired about services offered to the community

Faith Based Services Assessment Completed Project contained a list of 26 churches and faith based agencies in Sangamon county Provides information regarding –Contact persons –Childcare –Counseling Services –Parenting Classes –Substance Abuse Services –Tutoring –Domestic Violence Assistance –Monetary Assistance –Transportation

Works Cited Brown, K. (2008). African American children in foster care. HHS and congressional Actions could help reduce proportion in care. United States Government Accountability Office. Testimony before the Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives. Hill, R. (2006). Synthesis of research on disproportionality in child welfare: An update. Casey-CSSP Alliance for Racial Equality in the Child Welfare System. U. S. Census Bureau. (2008). Illinois—County GCT-P6. Race and Hispanic or Latino: Retrieved October 5, 2008 from mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_GCTP6_ST2&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_Uhttp://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?-geo_id=04000US17&- mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_GCTP6_ST2&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U