Sangamon County Action Team

Sara Sanders

Christy Cunningham

Chrissy Gosteli

Overview of Demographic DataPopulation

• Gender– Males: 47.7%

– Females: 52.3%

• Age– Under 18: 25%

– 18 and over: 75%

• Race– Caucasian: 87.4%

– African American: 9.7%

– Latino or Hispanic: 1.1%

• Native American: 0.2% – Asian: 1.1%

– Two or More Races: 1.2%

(U. S. Census Bureau, 2008).

Overview of Demographic DataIncome/Poverty Status

• Median Income by Household– African Americans $24,628– Caucasians $45,272– Total Population

$42,957• Per Capita Income

– African Americans $12,440– Caucasians $24,547– Total Population $23,173

• Families below the poverty level: 3,250

– With related children under age 18: 2,696

• Female headed households below the poverty level: 1,993

– With related children under age 18: 1,900

• African American Families below Poverty Level: 1,215

• Caucasian Families below Poverty Level: 1,904

(U. S. Census Bureau, 2008).

Overview of Demographic DataEmployment and Housing

EMPLOYMENT• Population age 16+ :147,423

– Employed (civilian) 101,661– Unemployed 4,135– Not in labor force45,429

•  Caucasians in labor force: 92,079

• African Americans in labor force:

7,503

HOUSING• Single family owner occupied

homes– African Americans: 2,119– Caucasians: 44,411– Total: 47,303

• Renter-occupied housing units– African Americans: 4,007– Caucasians: 18,886– Total: 23,640

(U. S. Census Bureau, 2008).

Overview of Demographic DataEducation

• Race– High School Grads or

Higher• African Americans: 7,108 • Caucasians: 101,837

– Bachelor Degrees or Higher• African Americans: 1,468• Caucasians: 33,473

• Gender– High School Grads or Higher

• Men: 19,214• Women: 25,111

– Bachelor Degrees• Men: 11,811• Women: 12,763

– Grad School or Professional Degrees

• Men: 7,303 • Women: 5,796

(U. S. Census Bureau, 2008).

Permanency Data

• We analyzed statistics for child welfare in Sangamon County, particularly focusing on the disproportionality between African-American and Caucasian children in the system

• We also compared the finding in Sangamon County to national statistics.

Permanency Data

• From 2001-2007 the percentage of Caucasian children that did not have an indicated report was slightly higher than that of African American children. This is consistent with Hill (2006), that more reports of child abuse are submitted to child protect services for African Americans than Caucasians.

All Children Under Age 18 That Did Not Have An Indicated Report of Child Abuse And/Or Neglect

010,00020,00030,00040,000

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Years

No

Ind

icat

ed

Rep

ort African American

Hispanic

Caucasian

Permanency Data

• The amount of African American children entering substitute care increased.

• The amount of Caucasian children increased also, though not as significantly

All Children Served In Intact Family Cases in Sangamon, What Percentage Did Not Experience A Substitute Care Placement Within A 12 Month Period

80%85%90%95%

100%105%

2000

2002

2004

2006

Years

Per

cen

tag

es

Africian American

Hispanic

Other Ethnicity

Caucasian

Permanency Data

• African American children consistently were in more placements than Caucasians

• Hill (2006) reports that African Americans in the system receive fewer services and lower quality service than Caucasians.

All Children Entering Substitute Care And Staying For At Least One Year In Sangamon, What Percentage Had No More That Two Placements Within A

Year of Removal

0%50%

100%150%

Years

Per

cen

tag

es

Africian American

Hispanic

Other Ethnicity

Caucasian

Permanency Data• Kinship care increased for

both groups, but traditional foster care remained predominant

• Specialized care and institutional care was higher for African-Americans. Hill (2006) found that African American children in foster care are more likely to have medical conditions, mental disabilities, & psychological problems.

Amount of African Ameircan Children in Types of Care

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Year

Am

ou

nt

of

Ch

ild

ren

Traditional FC

Specialized FC

Kinship Care

Instituational Care

Amount of Caucasian children in types of care

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Year

Am

ou

nt

Traditional FC

Specialized FC

Kinship Care

Instituational Care

Permanency Data

• There was 4 years in which African American children were in substitute care longer than Caucasian children

• Brown (2008) found African American Children stay in foster care longer due to difficulty recruiting adoptive parents, lack of services for birth parents, and a greater reliance on relatives to provide foster care.

Median Length of Stay for Children in Care

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Years

Nu

mb

er o

f M

on

ths

African American

Caucasian

Hispanic

Other Ethnicity

Permanency DataPermanancy Attained By African American Children

Who entered Substitute Care

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Years

Ch

ild

ren

Reunified by 12 mo.

Adopted by 24 mo.

Reunified by 24 mo.

Adopted by 36 mo.

Guardianship by 36mo.

Reunified by 36 mo.

Permanancy Attained By Caucasian Children Who entered Substitute Care

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

30.00%

40.00%

50.00%

60.00%

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

Years

Ch

ild

ren

Reunified by 12 mo.

Adopted by 24 mo.

Reunified by 24 mo.

Adopted by 36 mo.

Guardianship by 36mo.

Reunified by 36 mo.

Permanency Data

• From 2000 to 2006, there were not significant differences between the rates of reunification at 12 mo.

• There was a difference of 1% to 12% more Caucasian children that were adopted than African American children at 24 mo.

• At 36 mo. African American children were less likely to be adopted, but more likely to be reunified (with the exception of 2004).

Action Team Project

• Faith Based Service Assessment– Located Local Churches and Faith Based

Agencies– Contacted aforementioned churches and

agencies for assessment– Inquired about services offered to the

community

Faith Based Services Assessment

• Completed Project contained a list of 26 churches and faith based agencies in Sangamon county

• Provides information regarding– Contact persons– Childcare– Counseling Services– Parenting Classes– Substance Abuse Services– Tutoring – Domestic Violence

Assistance– Monetary Assistance– Transportation

Works Cited

• Brown, K. (2008). African American children in foster care. HHS and congressional

• Actions could help reduce proportion in care. United States Government

• Accountability Office. Testimony before the Subcommittee on Income Security

• and Family Support, Committee on Ways and Means, House of Representatives.

• Hill, R. (2006). Synthesis of research on disproportionality in child welfare: An update.

• Casey-CSSP Alliance for Racial Equality in the Child Welfare System.

• U. S. Census Bureau. (2008). Illinois—County GCT-P6. Race and Hispanic or Latino:

• 2000. Retrieved October 5, 2008 from • http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GCTTable?-geo_id=04000US17&-

mt_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U_GCTP6_ST2&-ds_name=DEC_2000_SF1_U