By Rachel Cvitanovich | Development Coordinator
On November 15, 2023, Kidsave in partnership with Gallup and the Gallup Center for Black Voices, completed stage three of The EMBRACE (Expanding Meaningful Black Relationships And Creating Equity) Project. The findings from our study are detailed in the report, Americans’ Views of Foster Care: Elevating Black Americans’ Views and Perspectives, which delves into public perceptions about barriers to foster care, mentoring, and adoption in the US. This study surveyed 5,469 Americans with an oversample of 1,563 Black Americans to ensure that Black perspectives are represented with depth and precision.
Key findings of the report indicate:
Significant barriers to involvement in foster care:
Other barriers to fostering and adoption identified include financial constraints, lack of awareness of eligibility, and racial, ethnic, gender, and sexual identity discrimination. One in four (25%) of Black Americans say racial and ethnic discrimination is a major barrier to becoming a foster parent. One-third (35%) of LGBT adults say discrimination due to gender and sexual identity is also a major barrier.
A study participant, Erikson A., age 47, in Los Angeles states “What I have seen is that populations of color are far more scrutinized by child protective services ... There is a higher rate of intervention and removal from their homes,” emphasizing the racial discrimination and over-representation of Black Americans in the child welfare system.
Mentoring, training, and education serve as key drivers to encouraging fostering and adoption. Adults who connect with children through a mentoring program, such as Kidsave’s Weekend Miracles program, have seven times greater odds of adoption, even if they never provided foster care. One in ten Americans say they have participated in a program to work with children in foster care. However, 51% of those who have not participated weren't even aware a mentoring program existed.
Another study participant, Monique R., age 45 from Los Angeles, says “I think [mentoring programs] are awesome. If that was more advertised... I think that would ease some possible foster parents’ minds. Like, just putting your feet in the water if you’re not sure, to spend some time around a child that’s been through some stuff.”
Kidsave's EMBRACE Project reveals crucial insights into the barriers to fostering, mentoring adoption, and public perception, with specific challenges to Black Americans. The findings aim to guide efforts in overcoming obstacles, increasing awareness, and creating an environment conducive to nurturing and adopting all children in need. Stage 4, amplification, is now underway.
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