The Treatment of Children in Foster Care Within the United States

WHEREAS, The NAACP seeks to reaffirm its commitment to the existing policy "Over Representation of African American Children in the Child Welfare and Foster Care Systems," which was adopted in 2003; and

WHEREAS, According to Inequalities in America's Foster Care System, there exists a complex dynamic within the foster care system where children of color, particularly Black children, are disproportionately placed into foster care, and implicit biases held by social workers may influence how social workers handle cases, leading to disproportionate numbers of Black families being investigated and, as a result, becoming involved in the foster care system. For example, in 2021, Black children represented 20% of those entering care but only 14% of the total child population, while American Indian and Alaska Native kids made up 2% of those entering foster care yet only 1% of the child population; and

WHEREAS, According to Sexual Abuse of Children in the United States Foster Care System, a report to Congress on maltreatment found that race was a significant risk factor in sexual abuse and can also affect maltreatment in foster care. Black children experienced more maltreatment than White children in multiple categories and were also noted to have higher rates of predictors of maltreatment; and

WHEREAS, According to What Are the Effects of Child Abuse?, the impact of child abuse on a child's mental health can persist well into adulthood. Child abuse can result in mental health conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, and other mood disorders; and

WHEREAS, According to How Emotional Abuse in Childhood Changes the Brain, child abuse also disrupts critical brain development, leading to a negative impact on cognitive function and emotional regulation; and

WHEREAS, It is unjust to allow innocent children to endure the traumas of both foster care and child abuse.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP reaffirms its commitment to advocate for strengthened oversight of state foster care systems, initiatives to reduce caseworker turnover rates, increased funding for child welfare programs, and enhanced training and resources for prospective foster parents to ensure they are adequately prepared to care for children in their custody.

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the NAACP reaffirms its commitment to partner with local child advocacy organizations to recruit board members, staff, and volunteers of color to work with families who have been accused of child maltreatment and advocate for and represent children of color in the child welfare and foster care systems.