From the Margins to Center: Reimagining the Child Welfare System from the Perspective of Youth

• In Event: Children at the Fault Lines: Rights, Protection, and State Violence

Abstract

Over the past two decades, there have been numerous calls to reform or abolish the child welfare system because of its disproportionate and negative impact on children of color. Often missing from these conversations, however, are the voices of youth who directly experience and are impacted by the child welfare system. It is critical to talk with youth not only because their perspectives may differ from those of their parents and other advocates calling for change, but also because every child is unique, identifies themselves differently, and enters the child welfare agency for distinct reasons. In this study, we draw from interviews with 62 current or former foster youth, ages 18 to 25, to elicit their perspectives on foster care, including the decision to remove, transparency and participation in their cases, and experiences in their placements. By foregrounding youth voices, reform efforts can move beyond assumptions and toward solutions grounded in the needs and experiences of those most directly impacted.

Authors

• Joanne Golann, Vanderbilt University

• Randi Mandelbaum

• Hannah Kim

• Gabriella Ulloa Para

• Kevin Pasquette