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Position Paper

Women, Poverty, and Child Welfare

Low income families are more likely to come into contact with and enter the child welfare systems. Nationwide 13.2 million children are considered officially poor, and 34% of black children are poor. In New York State 11% of white children live in poverty while the poverty rate for black children is 32%. For Asian children the poverty rate is 19% and Latinos 33%.1 Apparently race, culture, and education are also indicators for entry into the system because Asian children are the least likely to enter the child welfare system and Black children are the most likely to enter foster care or preventive services. According to a report from the Annie Casey Foundation there are no definitive reasons as to why black children are over-represented in the child welfare system.2

The facts that we do have is that families headed by women are more likely to be poor as women still categorically earn less than men. Most African-American families are headed by women, and over 70% of black babies are born to unmarried mothers. Unmarried mothers are most likely to be poor, and the children of poor families are most likely to enter income support, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems. In New York State the mean income for white women is $39, 700, African-American women $33, 800, Asian American women $39, 200, Latina Women $29,000, and Native American Women 31,800.3 The income disparities among black and white working women are not remarkable however statistics on health and social stressors are disproportionate according to race. In spite of the educational and earning gains of middle class African-American women, their lower income sisters remain marginalized and their children are the most likely to enter the child welfare system.

The issue of Reproductive Justice has a profound impact on poor women. Poor and African-American women are less likely to be afforded updated information on their reproductive choices, for example, birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancies.4 Although African-American women are more likely to utilize abortion services they are less likely to have a trusting relationship with a gynecologist or nurse-midwife who will offer advice on pregnancy prevention. Poor African-American women are more likely to be the recipients of birth control methods rejected by middle class women. Depo Provera, Implanon, and Norplant are methods of birth control that are most likely to be prescribed for poor women. These are methods that are injected or implanted in the body and require no personal maintenance. The assumption is that poor women are irresponsible and unable to maintain disciplined regiments and schedules.5 In most clinics serving poor women in New York City Depro Provera is the most popular method. This method causes bloating and excessive weight gain causing many women to reject the drug and become vulnerable to unwanted pregnancy. Additional pregnancies and births make women and their families more susceptible to poverty, depression, post-partum depression, as well as other environmental stressors. It is ironic that poor women are blamed for unplanned pregnancies and births which supposedly burden society.

Clearly, women in the United States have the right but often not access to necessary resources. The fundamentals of self-determination are education, financial security, health care, child care, and freedom from unnecessary government surveillance and intrusion. Therefore, child welfare is an issue of reproductive justice and one that the women’s movement must include in their platform.

What we have learned is that poverty limits a family’s choices in terms of resources and social supports that prevent child welfare involvement. A family’s standing in their community and their ability to develop relationships with pediatricians, teachers, and civic/social organizations as well as having the financial resources to retain a private attorney are important factors as to whether a family will be investigated for abuse and neglect.

Our recommendations are for:

Increased government support for low-income families. Poor families need a guaranteed living wage which takes into account the New York State and City Self-Sufficiency Standards. Guidelines for income support programs and benefits need to be realistically increased based on the same standards, and more families need access to these programs without the punitive policies which often accompany participation.
The community plays a part in its own sustainability. Established civil rights organizations in African-American communities must play a greater role in eradicating poverty and extending support to the underclass.
We must also create new networks and values based initiatives which address these disparities head-on with honesty and tenacity. Included in these networks should be programs which promote responsible fatherhood and address the issues of unemployment, disparities in the justice system, and high rates of incarceration among black men. Ultimately, mothers and fathers in unity are the partnerships which create strong and sustainable families. However, there are many families where women will remain head of household and these families must be supported in becoming self-sufficient.. The negative outcomes identified in single parent households disappear when incomes are increased. Poverty and family income are the most important factors in determining outcomes for children.6

Sources

1. Who Are America’s Poor Children? The Official Story, 2008 , National Center for Children in Poverty
2. Casey-CSSP Alliance for Racial Equity in the child Welfare System- Synthesis of Research on Disproportionality in Child Welfare: An Update
3. Williams, Erica, The Economic Status of Women in New York State, Institute for Women’s Policy in partnership with The New York York Women’s Foundation, June 2008
4. Reproductive Justice Briefing Book: A Primer on Reproductive Justice and Social Change, 2007 SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective
5. Roberts, Dorothy, Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction and the Meaning of Liberty, December 1998
6. .Lindblad-Goldberg, M. (1989). "Successful minority single-parent families." In L. Combrink-Graham (Ed.) Children in family contexts. New York: Guildford

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	Position Paper Women, Poverty, and Child Welfare Low income families are more likely to come into contact with and enter the child welfare systems. Nationwide 13.2 million children are considered officially poor, and 34% of black children are poor. In New York State 11% of white children live in poverty while the poverty rate for black children is 32%. For Asian children the poverty rate is 19% and Latinos 33%.1 Apparently race, culture, and education are also indicators for entry into the system because Asian children are the least likely to enter the child welfare system and Black children are the most likely to enter foster care or preventive services. According to a report from the Annie Casey Foundation there are no definitive reasons as to why black children are over-represented in the child welfare system.2 The facts that we do have is that families headed by women are more likely to be poor as women still categorically earn less than men. Most African-American families are headed by women, and over 70% of black babies are born to unmarried mothers. Unmarried mothers are most likely to be poor, and the children of poor families are most likely to enter income support, child welfare, and juvenile justice systems. In New York State the mean income for white women is $39, 700, African-American women $33, 800, Asian American women $39, 200, Latina Women $29,000, and Native American Women 31,800.3 The income disparities among black and white working women are not remarkable however statistics on health and social stressors are disproportionate according to race. In spite of the educational and earning gains of middle class African-American women, their lower income sisters remain marginalized and their children are the most likely to enter the child welfare system. The issue of Reproductive Justice has a profound impact on poor women. Poor and African-American women are less likely to be afforded updated information on their reproductive choices, for example, birth control to prevent unwanted pregnancies.4 Although African-American women are more likely to utilize abortion services they are less likely to have a trusting relationship with a gynecologist or nurse-midwife who will offer advice on pregnancy prevention. Poor African-American women are more likely to be the recipients of birth control methods rejected by middle class women. Depo Provera, Implanon, and Norplant are methods of birth control that are most likely to be prescribed for poor women. These are methods that are injected or implanted in the body and require no personal maintenance. The assumption is that poor women are irresponsible and unable to maintain disciplined regiments and schedules.5 In most clinics serving poor women in New York City Depro Provera is the most popular method. This method causes bloating and excessive weight gain causing many women to reject the drug and become vulnerable to unwanted pregnancy. Additional pregnancies and births make women and their families more susceptible to poverty, depression, post-partum depression, as well as other environmental stressors. It is ironic that poor women are blamed for unplanned pregnancies and births which supposedly burden society. Clearly, women in the United States have the right but often not access to necessary resources. The fundamentals of self-determination are education, financial security, health care, child care, and freedom from unnecessary government surveillance and intrusion. Therefore, child welfare is an issue of reproductive justice and one that the women’s movement must include in their platform. What we have learned is that poverty limits a family’s choices in terms of resources and social supports that prevent child welfare involvement. A family’s standing in their community and their ability to develop relationships with pediatricians, teachers, and civic/social organizations as well as having the financial resources to retain a private attorney are important factors as to whether a family will be investigated for abuse and neglect. Our recommendations are for: Increased government support for low-income families. Poor families need a guaranteed living wage which takes into account the New York State and City Self-Sufficiency Standards. Guidelines for income support programs and benefits need to be realistically increased based on the same standards, and more families need access to these programs without the punitive policies which often accompany participation. The community plays a part in its own sustainability. Established civil rights organizations in African-American communities must play a greater role in eradicating poverty and extending support to the underclass. We must also create new networks and values based initiatives which address these disparities head-on with honesty and tenacity. Included in these networks should be programs which promote responsible fatherhood and address the issues of unemployment, disparities in the justice system, and high rates of incarceration among black men. Ultimately, mothers and fathers in unity are the partnerships which create strong and sustainable families. However, there are many families where women will remain head of household and these families must be supported in becoming self-sufficient.. The negative outcomes identified in single parent households disappear when incomes are increased. Poverty and family income are the most important factors in determining outcomes for children.6 Sources 1. Who Are America’s Poor Children? The Official Story, 2008 , National Center for Children in Poverty 2. Casey-CSSP Alliance for Racial Equity in the child Welfare System- Synthesis of Research on Disproportionality in Child Welfare: An Update 3. Williams, Erica, The Economic Status of Women in New York State, Institute for Women’s Policy in partnership with The New York York Women’s Foundation, June 2008 4. Reproductive Justice Briefing Book: A Primer on Reproductive Justice and Social Change, 2007 SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Health Collective 5. Roberts, Dorothy, Killing the Black Body: Race, Reproduction and the Meaning of Liberty, December 1998 6. .Lindblad-Goldberg, M. (1989). "Successful minority single-parent families." In L. Combrink-Graham (Ed.) Children in family contexts. New York: Guildford
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