The Important Role Black Female Social Workers Play in Helping Young Black Women Transition into Adulthood from Foster Care

Background and Purpose: Research suggests systemic racism and low levels of cultural responsiveness are embedded in the child welfare system, thus helping to explain some of the disparities young Black women (YBW) experience in foster care, especially in ways that prepare them to navigate systems of oppression. This is particularly important given both YBW are disproportionately represented in foster care and the likelihood of experiencing adverse outcomes. Social workers and allied professionals working with them need to understand the unique experiences and struggles Black females may encounter transitioning into adulthood from foster care. However, extant literature has not examined how Black female social workers’ (BFSW) intersectional positionality helps them see and understand systemic intersecting oppressions’ influence on YBWs transitioning from foster care. This researcher asserts that given BFSW and YBW in foster care share the positionally of being Black women, BFSW are potential resources for helping YBW navigate the children welfare system as well as preparing them for navigating various systems of oppression in society.

Methods: This hermeneutic phenomenological qualitative study uses Black Feminist Thought and Intersectional Frameworks to learn from Black female Social Workers about their perspectives and experiences assisting YBW transitioning into adulthood from foster care, especially in ways that prepare them to navigate systems of oppression. Thirteen Black female social workers with diverse ethnicities: African American, African, Caribbean, and Afro-Latina were interviewed in the Northeast working in child welfare in various roles: caseworkers, supervisors, and administrators. Their ages range from 38 to 62 years old with a collective total of over 279 years working in child welfare.

Results: Three key themes emerged across the interviews. First, the transition process is reduced to the basics. Across the 13 interviews a collective perspective emerged describing the transition process as completing tasks, paperwork, and holding conversations to name a few. Second, problems with the child welfare system (CWS), centering on CWS approaches being universal, “the goal is not about healing”. Third, individual case workers’ contributions, which capture what BFSW bring to the table in the face of adverse ways of being seen and treated, for example othermothering.

Conclusions and Implications: This study examined how BFSW who share an intersectional social position with YBW can help understand systemic intersecting oppressions’ influence on YBW preparation process through a BFT and intersectional lens transitioning into adulthood from foster care. This study contributes to existing research amplifying BFSW experiences, perspectives, and voices in child welfare, social work, and family science literature. The findings advance knowledge of real-life implications, increasing awareness, and informing practice and program decision-making to address the unique needs of YBW currently in the child welfare system preparing to transition into adulthood from foster care from perspectives and experiences of BFSW.