Blog post #10

Today’s readings made me question Roberts’s point that the child welfare system is racist. I believe that the system is racist to some degree. However, now I believe that the systematic process of the welfare system is a significant factor as to why there are a large amount of black children are taken from their homes and placed in foster care or adoption. Roberts talks about how the welfare system has gone through changes and that the new focus of welfare is harmful. She states, “ Its orientation has shifted from emphasizing the reunification of children in foster care with their biological families toward support for the adoption of these children into new families” (105). Proponents of this way of thinking advocate that permanency is important to a child’s well being, even if it means taking a child away from his/her birth parents. Roberts writes about the amount of time allocated to parents to get their stuff together before their parental rights are terminated. Roberts believes the shift toward adoption has decreased the amount of time given to parents. She states, “Termination of parental rights is the most extreme measure judges an impose in abuse and neglect cases. It permanently severs the legal ties between parent and child, ending the parent’s physical custody, as well as the rights ever to visit, communicate with, or regain custody of the child” (109). Roberts argues that the decision to terminate a parent’s rights to their child is often made too fast. This leads me to question is there a specific amount of time that parents should be given before their parental rights are terminated? What is considered too short of time or too long of time? My personal take on these questions is that there is no specific number because these cases are not black and white. Adoption is not the right solution for every situation, but it is not the wrong answer either. Each case is a different shade of gray. The focus needs to be on the child – not the biological parents, foster parents, prospective parents or the incentives offered to keep children in foster homes or place them for adoption.