Blacks Stay Longer in Texas Foster Care

[G_j]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5527930,00.html

Blacks Stay Longer in Texas Foster Care

Friday January 6, 2006 3:17 PM


By LIZ AUSTIN

Associated Press Writer

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Black children stay in foster care significantly longer, are less likely to be reunited with their families and wait longer for adoption than white or Hispanic children, a study showed.

Black families were no more likely than white families to have a child removed from the home, when researchers accounted for factors such as household income, the age of the victim and the source of the allegation, according to the study conducted by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, which oversees the Department of Family and Protective Services.

But because black children exit the system more slowly, they make up a disproportionately large percentage of the foster care population, even when those other factors are considered, according to the study, which was released Monday.

Joyce James, the top administrator for child protective services, which falls under HHS and runs the foster care system, said she'd like to see more research on the reasons for the differences.

..more..

[pop goes the weasel]

1. meaningful bit

"The researchers found poverty was significant, with more than 60 percent of all child removals in Texas involving families making about $10,000 or less a year.

"Scott McCown, a former judge, said the state could solve the problems identified in the study by tackling poverty before it leads to neglect."

We have to take care of the parents so that they can take of the kids. Trying to address neglect and abuse of children without addressing the neglect and abuse of their parents is a plan for failure.

[G_j]

3. absolutely

that is the core issue!

[katusha]

6. interesting stats

http://www.window.state.tx.us/forgottenchildren/ch01/s0101.html

(snip)

The annual number of Texas children in foster care has risen steadily in recent years (Exhibit 1). In November 2003, there were about 16,000 children in foster care and an additional 5,000 in other care, such as kinship care.

In fiscal 2003, DPRS spent $315.4 million on the daily care of foster children. These costs included daily room and board; medical expenses; and specialized therapeutic treatment for children needing extra attention.

(snip)

So if they spent 315 million on 16,000 children, then they spent 189 million on 9600 from families who earn less than $10,000.
if they gave those 9600 families a check for $10,000, doubling their income, it would only cost 96 million.

[geomon666]

2. Well there's a shocker.

I mean really...it's Texas. Jesus wouldn't approve of a black child in a white family.

[AspenRose]

4. Unfortunately, that's a factor too.

:-(

(But Quick! Put the "sarcasm" thingy in there before some well-meaning liberal Texans who don't fit that mold trounce you!) :-)

[pop goes the weasel]

7. go on, display your ignorance

Actually, Texas does place children regardless of race, to the extent that willing foster parents can be found. The problem in Texas is about the same as in any other state. Check out the stats in your own state before you climb up on your high horse. Everywhere in the country, black children remain in foster care longer than children from other ethnic groups.

Now, the problem of kids falling into foster care because of the poverty of the parents might be more usual in Texas; I've never seen statistics on that but wouldn't be surprised.

[SoCalDem]

5. The underlying problem is always poverty.

A state will pay a lot of money to a foster family to care for a child, but will treat the kids' real family like dirt if they ask for financial help to raise their own family..Of course, in most places, once a kid reaches 18, it's "nice knowing you, now be on your way"..Lots of unscrupulous foster parents are only in it for as long as they get a check for each child. It's a cottage industry to some.

[pop goes the weasel]

8. aging out of the system

I had a (college freshman) student who had aged out of the system and was having a hard time adjusting because the group apartment the state had helped him into was shared with other aged out foster kids who had even greater problems than he had, and none of them had older adult mentors. It's a hard life.