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Social Injustice

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Social Injustice
Social Injustice
Racial disparity in the Child Welfare system

Londone Williams
Justice 497
03/29/2012

As citizens of the United States, we are all entitled the same rights. These rights include for us to be treated fairly and to be allowed to make a life for ourselves, however how can a child make a life for themselves if they are not given the opportunity within the child welfare system? The Child Welfare Reform System was first created as a temporary placement for children in need of assistance however has since become a place where children are stuck indefinitely until the age of eighteen. “The issue of disparity and disproportionality hold particular significance for the field of public child welfare because of its historical and enduring pervasiveness throughout society and evidence of disparate child outcomes.” (Light & Kanaya, 2012) Although these children are being taken from home, which may seem to be in their best interest, there are sociological and psychological factors that need to be taken into consideration. Some children will have to deal with the long term effects of being removed from home, such as attachment issues, amongst many other issues that they may face. The social injustice of the child welfare system is extremely unfair and some of the children who have known foster care as a place they call home when foster care should be no more than a temporary placement. This injustice not only affects the children, but it affects society as a whole. These children are our future adults, our future president, or police officer. As a society, we have to take into consideration, how this will not only affect their future but ours as well. Lastly, we as a whole, have to come together and figure out a solution. Children have a right to be with their parents, and they have a right to have a chance to a better a brighter future.
The child welfare system was created by Charles Loring Brace in the mid 1880’s. The child welfare program he



Bibliography: Chibnall, P. S., Dutch, N. M., Jones-Harden, P. B., Brown, D. A., Gourdine, D. R., Smith, P. J., et al. (2003, December). Children of Color in the Child Welfare System: Perspectives From the child Welfare Community. Department of Health and Human Services children 's Bureau Administration for Children and Families . Light, A., & Kanaya, M. (2012). PPCWG - Positioning Public Child Welfare Guidance. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from http://www.ppcwg.org/disparity-disproportionality-overview.html Lorthridge, J., McCroskey, J., Pecora, P. J., Chambers, R., & Fatemi, M. (2012). Stragies for improving child welfare services for families of color: First Findings of a community-based initiative in Los Angeles. www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth , 34 (1), 281-288. Segal, E. A. (2010). Social Welfare Policy and Social Programs 2nd Edition. Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Cengage Learning . Shaw, T. V., Putnam-Hornstein, E., Magruder, J., & Needell, B. (Mar/Apr 2008). Measuring Racial disparity in Child Welfare. Child Welfare , 87 (2), 23-36, 14p. Troutman, P. D., Ryan, M. A., & Cardi, M. M. (n.d.). 6. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from The Effects of Foster Care Placement on Young Children 's Mental Health: http://www.healthcare.uiowa.edu/icmh/archives/reports/Foster_care.pdf

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