Can a love, which sees beyond the color of a person’s skin endure the harsh scrutiny of a society still struggling with equality? While political and social leaders debate civil rights, record numbers of children are entering the foster care system. More than 1 in 4 of children in the system is black, yet the number of potential black adoptive parents is vastly inadequate to meet the needs.
White parents seeking to provide a home to a child in need have stepped forward, willing to help these children. This offer of help is not without its critics or obstacles. Thousands of black children are awaiting loving homes, but many in society are uncertain of the long-term effects of the bi-racial family.
Bi-Racial Adoption – Colorblind Society or Divisive Issue
Is bi-racial adoption a step toward a colorblind society, or a divisive issue holding us back from true progress? These children, these innocent victims, do not have years for society and scholars to formulate plans and develop theories. The longer they remain in the foster care system, the less opportunity they have for a normal life. Long stays in foster care result in children aging out of the system simple to become homeless, destitute and wards of the state.
Without a home or family environment these kids turn to drugs, gangs, violence and crime as a way of life. Can white adoptive parents provide a loving home in which black children can flourish and excel? Can parents of a different race endure the stress and hardship they will encounter for their decision to help? Is a bi-racial family capable of functioning and providing the loving foundation needed by these children? Answers to these questions will not be known for many years, and in the mean time black children are left without homes, with little hope for a future, and a foster care system, which is failing to meet their most basic needs. The problem still exists children are suffering, and a solution must be found.
The foster care system in the United State is failing to meet competently the needs of the black children within the system. The number of black children currently within the foster care system is vastly disproportionate to the general population of this country. Black children make up 12.4% of the general population. Black children make up 26% of the total population in the foster care system. With this large disparity it is impossible for the system to locate an adequate number of potential black adoptive parents. Without enough adoptive parents these children remain in the system for longer periods making them harder to place in adoptive homes and increasing the disparity between children and potential adoptive homes.
Are State Adoption Laws Holding Children Back?
In many state foster care workers compelled by laws to first seek adoptive homes with parents of the same race as the child. The state cannot restrict or prohibit adoption based on the race of the potential adoptive parents, these laws often cause delays. These delays are a major factor in disrupted adoptions. The older the child, turnovers with the foster care workers and longer stays in the system are all seen as contributing factors in failed adoptions. With each failed adoption the children return to the system, further complicating their chances of living in a stable home environment.
While children await homes experts debate the effects of bi-racial adoption on the children. A Penn State professor wants black children adopted by black parents. He believes the children will not have a true appreciation of his/her own heritage if they are brought up by white parents. The basic premise of his argument is that children will not flourish and will be held back by the pressures of a bi-racial family. Opposing this viewpoint, a study by the American University shows no ill effects of a bi-racial adoption. The study found children achieve normal levels of development and flourish and develop normally with parents of different race.
Adoption Problem Continues to Grow Larger
The debate continues as the problem grows larger. In 2004 a record number of children entered the foster care system. In 2006 10,000 more children entered the system than in the year 2000. A total of 510,000 children are in the foster care system with 126,000 children awaiting adoption. At any given time nearly 100,000 children in the foster care system will spend time in some sort of an institution or listed under run-away status. Of the children in foster care 51% have a long-term goal other than reunification with their families. New families are stepping up to the challenge; still adopting a child of a different race is not without obstacles.
The stress on adoptive families can significantly alter their lives as well as their lifestyles. Family members and friends can be negative and withdraw. The adoptive parents can find themselves secluded from social circles they were once active participants in. Feeling betrayed by family members and isolated by society in general the family unit is not comfortable or fully accepted by either race.
Certain parts of the county are more racially biased than others. These outside influences raise the stress level further. Eventually the family may avoid seeking or using the services available to them as a result of the negative attention and feedback they receive.
Additional Service and Support Needed for Foster Children
The lack of service or the lack of their use is a leading cause of adoption disruption. Other factors include multiple placements, multiple case workers and long stays in the foster care system. Each a result of the lack of potential adoptive parents and the delays caused by this shortage.
Additional adoptive parent still needed to fill this gap and provide these innocent victims the opportunity at a normal and productive life. Nearly 13% of children who age out of the foster care system end up incarcerated within 12 months. Society has a responsibility to these children to provide them with every possible opportunity to prosper and become productive members of society, not wards of the state.
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