We are deeply concerned about the ongoing racial disproportionality in child welfare. Simply put, racial disproportionality means that, by percentage, children of color are overrepresented in our foster care system. This is particularly true for African-American children, who make up about 30 percent of children in foster care, but only 15 percent of the general child population.
With this concerning over-representation in mind, Amara has been working to create awareness and seek solutions through our African-American outreach effort and recent Facebook Live discussing the Black community’s experience with foster care. Our African-American Outreach Council provides leadership for these efforts as well.
We were privileged to have the chance to sit down with Pierce County Superior Court Judge Frank Cuthbertson recently to talk about his views on disproportionality in general and specific to Pierce County. Our Communications Intern, Mayowa Aina, asked Judge Cuthbertson some interesting questions and he has some great answers! Listen and let us know what you think!