Poverty, rather than abuse, often underlies many child removal cases. The child welfare system serves a crucial role in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children, yet it also exemplifies systemic classism and racism. In a thought-provoking op-ed featured in the New York Times, family defense attorney Sarah Thompson sheds light on an uncomfortable reality surrounding Child Protective Services (CPS) that demands attention.
Critical Flaws in the System
In her article titled, “Live in a Low-Income Neighborhood? Strive to Be the Perfect Parent,” Thompson reflects on her experiences as a public defender, emphasizing a critical flaw within the child protective system: “The misconception is that CPS is failing to protect children from harmful environments… The real issue lies in the agency’s inability to address the persistent economic and racial inequalities. Instead of addressing structural problems, it attributes these issues to the perceived shortcomings of low-income parents.”
Thompson recounts the story of a client she refers to as “Maya,” a single mother of two whose children were placed in foster care for three years due to allegations of neglect. Maya resided in a dilapidated apartment infested with pests, making it impossible for her to provide the nutritious food her pediatrician recommended for her underweight child. After completing a state-mandated parenting class and securing new housing, Maya was finally reunited with her children. However, as Thompson points out, the real injustice was not that Maya needed parenting skills; rather, she required a safe and healthy home—support that should have been readily available.
Disparities in Standards
This troubling disparity highlights how low-income parents are held to standards far different from those of their wealthier counterparts. Wealthy parents often escape scrutiny for behaviors that can lead to CPS intervention for those in poverty. As Thompson notes in a previous piece for The Nation, affluent neighborhoods often treat parenting differences with mere disapproval, while similar actions in poorer communities can result in severe consequences, such as child removal.
The statistics reveal a stark reality: According to a 2017 report from the American Society for the Positive Care of Children (SPCC), 75.3% of reported child abuse cases in 2015 were categorized as neglect. The definitions of neglect vary from state to state, encompassing issues like “failure to educate” or “parental substance abuse.” These broad definitions often disproportionately affect low-income families and families of color.
Public Defender Alex Johnson shared examples illustrating this bias: “I’ve seen state attorneys claim that parents were neglectful simply for allowing their children to play outside in impoverished neighborhoods or for briefly leaving a baby unattended in a crib while taking out the trash, despite suburban parents doing the same without consequence.”
The American Bar Association (ABA) has acknowledged this troubling link between poverty and child neglect, stating, “Poverty itself is frequently misidentified as neglect, leading to heightened rates of child maltreatment reports. The inability to provide basic necessities should not be labeled as neglect.”
Addressing the Root Causes
The core issue lies not in poor parenting, but in the overwhelming challenges poverty presents to families. The ABA advocates for addressing the root causes of poverty through increased parental support and resources, which could help prevent unnecessary child removals and preserve familial bonds.
It is heartbreaking that families are torn apart over issues that are not resolvable through parenting classes alone. We cannot simply separate children from their parents, instruct them to rectify unmanageable situations, and claim to be addressing the problem. Instead, we must confront the deep-seated issues of racism and class disparity while providing the necessary support to help families stay intact.
A Crisis of Care
What we face is not merely a crisis of care but a profound crisis stemming from racism and poverty. For further insights into family planning and related topics, check out this informative resource on pregnancy and home insemination, or explore the journey of couples using artificial insemination.
In summary, the child welfare system must evolve to recognize the complexities of poverty and its impact on parenting. By focusing on systemic change rather than individual failures, we can work towards a more equitable future for all families.