If you’ve ever looked at the numbers, you’ll know that Black children are overrepresented in the U.S. foster care system. But what does that really mean for the families affected? And what’s being done about it?
At Kidsave, we wanted to dig deeper into this issue, so we conducted a study to better understand the experiences of Black adults when it comes to foster care and adoption. The result? A qualitative analysis called, What are Black Adults’ Perspectives on the U.S. Foster Care System? We interviewed 50 Black adults in Los Angeles and Houston, collecting their insights from a larger national survey. That survey’s results are published in our report Americans’ Views of U.S. Foster Care: Elevating Black Americans’ Perspectives & Experiences.
What We Found
The stories we heard painted a complex picture of both the challenges to and hopes for the foster care system. Here are some of the key findings:
- For those with direct ties to foster care—whether they grew up in the system themselves or had friends or family members who did—the need for mental health support, counseling, and peer-to-peer support stood out the most.
- For those less directly connected to foster care, the focus was on raising awareness of adoption programs, increasing access to resources, and making parenting classes more widely available.
- Across the board, Black adults shared concerns about financial barriers, the complicated foster/adoption process, and fear of the unknown.
Addressing Bias in the System
One recurring theme in the interview responses study was bias within foster care system. Sixty-six percent (66%) of respondents with lived experience were asked about race, and of those asked, all of them said they believe that racism plays some role within the foster care system.
- Ethan P, Los Angeles said, “I believe that the foster care system, when you consider racism, is harder on Black boys because of the negative thoughts in America about African-American males.”
- One 54 year old from Los Angeles said, “I just think some of that is perhaps anybody adopting a child of another race there’s probably going to be some trepidation about that, ‘do I know how to take care of some kid’s hair that is not like mine? Do I know how to raise them and teach them things about their culture and history?”
- One 59 year old from Houston said, “Most statistics or things I’ve heard about foster care are that the Black kids or kids of color are the most unwanted kids. Coupled with our own systemic racism, that takes a toll…especially for the foster care children feeling unloved and unwanted already, it can be stressful.”
What’s Being Done?
At Kidsave, we’re committed to changing this narrative. Through our EMBRACE Project, with anchor funding by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, we’re working to bridge the gap between Black youth in foster care and the Black families who can mentor, foster, and adopt them. By increasing awareness, improving access to resources, and breaking down systemic barriers, we hope to create a future where every child has a loving, supportive home.
If you’re interested in learning more about our findings and how you can help, read the full research study here.
Let’s work together to make foster care a system that truly supports every child and family, especially those who need it most.
