HR0695 101ST GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0695 LRB101 16773 LAW 66166 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Healthy families are vital to the success of our children and, ultimately, our nation; and

WHEREAS, Nationally, African American children are almost twice as likely as white children to have their well-being investigated by child protective services; and

WHEREAS, African American women and their children have long been overrepresented in the child welfare system, and while African American children represent 15 percent of the nation's children, they account for 45 percent of the foster care population and are four times as likely as white children to be in foster care; and

WHEREAS, As a percentage of the general population, African American children are five times more likely than Caucasian children to be in out-of-home care and are nearly twice as likely to enter care for "parent reasons", and African American families are more likely to be reported for neglect; and

WHEREAS, In Minnesota alone, African American children are 16.3 times as likely as Caucasian children to be placed out of home during a child protection assessment; and

WHEREAS, We believe that it is best to protect the best interests of African American children and to promote the stability and security of African American families to prevent arbitrary and unnecessary removal of African American children from their families; and

WHEREAS, The creation of an African American Child Welfare Advisory Council in our State would work to address disparities at major decision points, while providing oversight and accountability to the child protection workforce; and

WHEREAS, It is necessary to protect children and strengthen families, reduce the overall cost of child welfare services and out of home placement, reduce law enforcement and judicial system costs for intervention, improve the mental health and social function of African American children, and improve the child protection department's efficacy; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, That we encourage State policymakers to increase their awareness of the statistics surrounding the treatment of African American children and families in our existing institutions, to enact legislation to protect African American children and allow them to stay in safe home environments, and to work to reduce unnecessary government intervention into their homes and disruptions of their family unit; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Vice President of the United States, members of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, and other federal and state government officials and agencies as appropriate.