Book SummaryWe Were Once a Family, by Roxanna Asgarian

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of We Were Once a Family

The deficiencies and biases present in the American Child Welfare System and their impact on families with scarce resources.

The mechanism intended to safeguard the welfare of children often leads to the disproportionate removal of young individuals from economically disadvantaged families and racially diverse neighborhoods.

Historically, the system designed to protect child welfare has been involved in the discriminatory practice of removing children from their Native American and Black families, a pattern that dates back to the 19th century.

During the latter part of the 19th century, the United States government embarked on a forceful campaign that disparaged the traditional lifestyles of indigenous people, seeking to assimilate Native American children into Euro-American society through mandatory enrollment in boarding schools, a process that necessitated the involuntary removal of these youths from their familial homes. The educational institution in Pennsylvania was established by Richard Henry Pratt with the primary objective of eradicating Native American identity and fostering a universal sense of humanity within the individual. Congress passed a law in 1978 requiring child welfare agencies to give precedence to Native American families and tribes in decisions regarding the placement of children, as a countermeasure to the customs that continued into the 1970s. Black children, similarly, faced systemic racism, often being excluded from orphanages serving poor white children and more likely to be categorized as "juvenile delinquents."

Practical Tips

• Volunteer your time with organizations that support Native American and Black families in navigating the child welfare system. By offering practical assistance, such as transportation, tutoring, or legal aid, you contribute to strengthening these families and reducing the likelihood of unwarranted separations. Look for local nonprofits or community groups that work directly with affected families and ask how you can help based on your skills and availability.
• Foster empathy and awareness by writing a fictional short story from the perspective of a Native American child in the boarding school era. Use historical research to inform the narrative, ensuring accuracy in the setting and events. This creative exercise can help you internalize the emotional and psychological effects of forced assimilation and promote a deeper personal connection to the historical context.

Other Perspectives

• The idea of a "universal sense of humanity" is itself subjective and culturally biased, potentially ignoring the rich diversity of what it means to be human across different cultures.
• Prioritizing placement within Native American families and tribes could sometimes conflict with the best interest standard that is supposed to be the cornerstone of child welfare decisions.

The termination of parental rights is increasingly common in modern child welfare organizations, and it affects Black children at a rate that is roughly 2.4 times greater than that of other children.

In today's society, systemic biases persist, and Black children are about two and a half times more likely to experience the permanent dissolution of their familial bonds due to the intervention of Child Protective Services. ASFA was a major factor in escalating circumstances that led to the removal of over two million children from their homes, a considerable portion of whom were Black, through the cessation of their parents' custodial privileges. The Minnesota African American Family Preservation Act aims to confront these biases by emphasizing the reestablishment of familial bonds and reducing the undue removal of Black children from their homes, particularly in situations that pose an immediate danger.

Context

• CPS is tasked with investigating reports of child abuse and neglect, and their decisions can lead to the initiation of termination proceedings.
• The overrepresentation of Black children in the child welfare system is rooted in historical inequalities and systemic racism, which have led to disproportionate scrutiny and intervention in Black families.
• There are ongoing efforts by advocacy groups and policymakers to address these disparities through reforms that emphasize family preservation...

We Were Once a Family Summary Children in the system face a wide spectrum of difficulties, including suffering trauma within institutions and the complexities of transracial adoption, in addition to being mistreated and overlooked.

The intricate challenges that arise when welcoming children from diverse racial backgrounds, coupled with the strenuous conditions inherent in the child welfare system, underscore a spectrum of concerns pertaining to race, culture, and the essential safeguarding and nurturing of the most vulnerable members of society.

Children from diverse ethnic backgrounds frequently found themselves adopted by white families who paid little attention to their cultural needs.

The widespread adoption of children from diverse ethnic backgrounds into white families, frequently overlooking their cultural and ethnic requirements, has ignited considerable debate. This tendency is underscored by the conviction that black children will have improved outcomes when raised by adoptive parents who are not of the same race, an oversimplified idea that might overlook the children's cultural needs, possibly leading to feelings of emotional alienation.

People who are adopted into families with a different racial heritage frequently struggle with intricate identity issues and may feel detached from their own cultural heritage.

Adoptees often struggle with their sense of self, in part because of...

We Were Once a Family Summary The persistent shortcomings have a lasting effect on the welfare of not only the children but also their family members.

The mechanisms put in place to safeguard children can also leave a lasting effect on the individuals and families who interact with them. The author explores the repercussions, focusing on the long-lasting trauma passed through generations and the weakening of family bonds, as well as scrutinizing the resulting psychological and societal challenges that arise.

The involvement of child welfare agencies has contributed to the disruption of family bonds and perpetuated trauma through successive generations.

Children whose parents have experienced the foster care system frequently end up in similar circumstances, thus continuing a legacy of transmitted trauma. The system's approach to evaluating children separately from their parents further erodes familial bonds, taking away younger children in the hopes of providing them with a better future, while mistakenly viewing the older siblings' normal reactions to uncertainty and fractured relationships as signs of maladjustment.

The approach to providing aid to parents is being reconsidered, with a strong recommendation for a complete transformation that guarantees assistance is provided freely and without any punitive actions....