| Press Release |
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| January 5, 2009 |
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Governor Directs State to Address Racial Disparity in Foster Care
Executive Order creates task force on disproportionality in child welfare
(Salem) – Governor Ted Kulongoski today signed Executive Order 09-02, which directs state agencies and child advocacy groups to identify strategies that will reduce racial disparities in Oregon’s foster care system. In Oregon, Native American and African American children are over-represented in the foster care system compared to their numbers in the general population.
“On any given day in Oregon too many children of color, particularly Native American and African American children, are in foster care,” Governor Ted Kulongoski said. “The time has come for us to move beyond good intentions to intentional action so that we can ensure that children with the same needs are treated equitably… no matter the color of their skin.”
National studies reveal that minority children are not abused at higher rates than Caucasian children, but when a minority child enters a foster care system, that child and their families are treated differently.
In Oregon, these facts are revealed in the disproportionality of Native American and African American children in the foster care system. In Oregon’s foster care system, Native American and African American children represent 9.9% and 6.8% respectively. In the general population the number is 1.7% for each group.
“All of us – members of our law enforcement communities, educators, health care providers, business leaders and community members – must be part of this effort to end the disproportionate representation of children of color, and eliminate disparities for those children and their families in our child welfare system,” the Governor said. “Today I am signing an executive order, creating a taskforce charged to focus specifically on these issues.”
The taskforce will be led by the Oregon Department of Human Services Children, Adults and Families Division. The taskforce will report its findings and recommendations to the Oregon Legislation by October 2010 for how to transform child welfare policy and practice to produce better outcomes for minority children and their families.
The executive order complements legislation (SB 153) the Governor has introduced to codify the taskforce. If the Legislature passes SB 153, the work of the taskforce will be ongoing. Together, the executive order and the legislation will ensure the state’s child welfare system is responsive to all families in the long term.
To view a copy of the executive order, click here.
Contacts:
Anna Richter Taylor, 503-378-5040
Rem Nivens, 503-378-6496
Jillian Schoene, 503-378-5040
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