Black children in the system need foster and adoptive families

By Karen Franklin

Guest Columnist

In Minnesota, African American children have the highest rates of involvement in the child welfare system and continue to be over-represented in child protection services. Many of these children are placed in foster care and are never reunified with their birth families. Their parents’ rights are terminated, and they are available for adoption.

In Ramsey County alone, 54 percent of these children are African American, the largest racial/ethnic group awaiting adoption and only about 14 percent of the child population. In Ramsey County each year, approximately 80 children wait in foster care for a permanent family to adopt them. Likewise, the majority of these children are African American. Many are older youth.

Currently, in Ramsey County, the Permanent Families Recruitment Project is addressing this issue by conducting diligent recruitment efforts to increase the number of foster and adoptive parents who reflect the race and ethnicity of our children waiting in foster care for a family to adopt them.

Are you or someone you know from the African American community interested in adopting or providing foster care for a child in Ramsey County?

The initial requirements are simple! Adoptive and foster parents need to be 21 years of age. They may be single, married or divorced. They may own their own home or be a renter. Most importantly, they should be willing and able to provide the child with love, care and a safe and stable home environment.

No matter what age, all children and youth need a family who will make a lifelong commitment to them and are there for them forever. Whether or not you’re a community member, child advocate, community organizer or a citizen, we’re asking you to join us in this diligent recruitment effort by spreading the word about the need for permanent families for children in foster care in Ramsey County.

Our children need your help.

Karen Franklin is a permanency specialist for the Ramsey County Permanent Families Recruitment Project. She welcomes reader responses to karen.franklin@co.ramsey.mn.us.