Multiraciality and Intersectionality: An Asian-Centered Exploration of out-of-Home Care

Background:

Criticism of the child welfare system has long centered on its inadequate handling of racial and ethnic diversity, this is particularly true for Asian populations. Despite increased recognition of multiraciality and intersectionality, the specificities of Asian experiences in foster care often remain overlooked. This gap is exacerbated by the foster care system’s simplistic categorizations of ‘Asian,’ obscuring the diverse experiences within this group. Preliminary data hints at distinct pathways into foster care for Asians, underscoring potential systemic disparities and support deficiencies. This study aims to apply an Asian-centered lens to dissect: 1) disparities in foster care entry for Asian children versus their peers, and 2) the influence of multiraciality on foster care outcomes for Asian-American children.

Methods:

This study employs a secondary data analysis of the FFY 2018 AFCARS dataset. This analysis separates out Asian youth in out-of-home care as Asian-only(n=3042), Asian/White(n=1522), Asian/Black(n=559), Asian/Indigenous(n=225), Asian/Hawaiian or Pacific Islander(n=83), and Asian/2 or more races(n=750). Bivariate analysis included the use of chi-square tests with a post-hoc measure of independence to identify if statistically significant associations between race, physical and mental well-being, placement, and child welfare system responses exist and differ based on identified racial categories.

Results:

Asian-only youth are more likely to enter the child welfare system due to physical abuse(ZR=6.87), a trend also noted among youth of Asian/2 or more other races(ZR=3.33). However, this relationship between physical abuse and system entry does not extend to other multiracial Asian subgroups. Notably, Asian-only youth show a higher likelihood of system entry due to sexual abuse(ZR=11.52), whereas this is not the case for other subgroups. Conversely, Asian-only youth are less likely to enter the system because of neglect(ZR=-4.77), in contrast to Asian/White(ZR=5.96) and Asian/Hawaiian or Pacific Islander groups(ZR=4.09), who demonstrate a higher propensity for system entry for neglect. Furthermore, Asian-only youth exhibit a decreased likelihood of entering the system due to parental alcohol use(ZR=-4.32) or parental drug use(ZR=-21.33). In contrast, the Asian/Indigenous group shows an increased likelihood(ZR=7.04). The Asian-only group is also distinguished as the only demographic demonstrating a higher likelihood of system entry due to parental inability to cope with childrearing(ZR=5.28) and less likely to enter for inadequate housing(ZR=-10.73). Regarding case goal, Asian-only youth are less likely to have a casegoal of reunification(ZR=-5.11). Conversely, Asian and Hawaiian/Pacific Islander youth(ZR=4.10) and Asian/2 or more races(ZR=4.33) are more likely to have a goal of reunification.

Conclusions:

This study constitutes the first analysis of Asian-identified youth in out-of-home care employing an Asian-centered approach to intersectionality. Our study confronts the limitations of Child Welfare Services’ (CWS) definitions of Asian identity, which often fail to capture the rich diversity of sub-populations. The higher rates of sexual abuse in certain sub-groups warrant urgent attention and action. The study suggests that culturally sensitive approaches are essential in addressing the varied realities of Asian American children in foster care. These findings prompt a reevaluation of current practices and policies to ensure they are equitable and effective in safeguarding the welfare of all children, irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds.