Use of parental disability as a removal reason for children in foster care in the U.S.

DeZelar, Sharyn; Lightfoot, Elizabeth

doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.01.027

Cited by 22 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Studies from the Czech Republic, Sweden and Iceland show that the parents' challenges to meet social expectations and norms are commonly attributed to the parents' disabilities, while the lack of proper support, both formal and informal, is overlooked (Sigurjónsdóttir & Rice 2017;Starke et al 2013;Stmadová et al 2017 ). As a consequence, studies from the US reveal that parents with ID are over-represented in the child protection system and even more so in custody-deprivation cases (DeZelar & Lightfoot 2018;Feldman et al 2012;Francis 2019). In Iceland, IQ measures continue to figure prominently in custody deprivation decisions (Rice & Sigurjónsdóttir 2018) though research has consistently argued that IQ alone is a poor predictor of parenting ability and that parents with ID can successfully take care of their children given appropriate support (Feldman et al 2012;McConnell & Llewellyn 2002;Tymchuk & Feldman 1991).…”

Section: Support Services For Parents With Idmentioning

confidence: 99%

Appropriate Measures? Supporting Parents with ID in the Context of the CRPD

Stefánsdóttir

Rice

Aunos

et al. 2022

Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research

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The international literature continues to show that parents with intellectual disabilities (ID) do not receive proper support and face disproportionate rates of custody deprivation. Despite the efforts of activists, critical scholars and some progressive support workers, it seems that the situation of parents with ID have not improved much. Iceland ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2016. This contribution is one part of a larger project that aims to explore the impact of the ratification of the CRPD on service responses to parents with ascribed ID. Thirteen indepth interviews were conducted with staff supporting these parents. The findings indicated attitudinal and organizational barriers to realizing the goals of the CRPD in this area. However, the findings also indicated a number of pathways forward upon which to build and which may help to produce better outcomes for parents with ID.

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Section: Support Services For Parents With Idmentioning

confidence: 99%

Appropriate Measures? Supporting Parents with ID in the Context of the CRPD

Stefánsdóttir

Rice

Aunos

et al. 2022

Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research

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“…Other research has identified that care-giver characteristics, rather than behaviours, are linked to child removal decisions. Using the data from the 2012 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) in the US, DeZelar and Lightfoot (2018) identified that parents having either a psychiatric or intellectual disability contributed to the decision to remove a child. They state that: ‘on average about 19% of children in foster care had a removal reason involving a parent’s or caretaker’s disability.’ (DeZelar and Lightfoot, 2018: 133).…”

Section: ‘Child Maltreatment’ and ‘Parental Culpability’mentioning

confidence: 99%

Recognising the caring capabilities of birth families of removed children: Towards a critical policy agenda

Healy

2019

Critical Social Policy

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Vulnerable families are subject to a myriad of State interventions. In this article, we analyse how interventions of the neo-liberal State may undermine, rather than activate, the caring capabilities of vulnerable families across the life course. We define ‘vulnerable families’ as financially disadvantaged families with complex and enduring needs. Drawing on examples from Australia, England and the USA, we consider how neo-liberal policy reforms may weaken the caring capabilities of these families. We focus our analysis on vulnerable families who have been subject to one of the most intrusive forms of state intervention: the removal of a child. We explain Bourdieu’s concept of ‘misrecognition’ and outline its utility for analysing the neo-liberal state’s failure to recognise and develop the caring function of birth families. We consider the implications of this analysis for the development of a critical research and policy agenda with vulnerable families.

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“…Long-standing research indicates that people with disabilities experience pervasive discrimination within child welfare, family law, and adoption and foster care systems (Callow et al, 2011). Studies have shown that parents with disabilities, especially parents with intellectual or psychiatric disabilities, have higher rates of child welfare system involvement and termination of parental rights than parents without disabilities (e.g., DeZelar & Lightfoot, 2018; Kaplan et al, 2019; LaLiberte et al, 2017; Lightfoot & DeZelar, 2016). Parents with disabilities involved with the child welfare system are also often denied accessible services, further limiting their opportunities to be reunified with their children (Albert & Powell, 2020; Powell, 2017).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Barriers and Solutions to Passing State Legislation to Protect the Rights of Parents With Disabilities: Lessons From Interviews With Advocates, Attorneys, and Legislators

Albert

Powell

Rubinstein

2021

Journal of Disability Policy Studies

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Parents with disabilities experience discrimination within the child welfare, family law, and adoption and foster care systems. In response, there have been increasing calls for states to pass legislation prohibiting discrimination against parents with disabilities, and as of 2020, 28 states have passed or are considering such legislation. This qualitative study explored the perspectives of 19 advocates, attorneys, and legislators on barriers and solutions for passing legislation to protect the rights of parents with disabilities. Participants identified three barriers: (a) legislators’ pejorative attitudes toward parents with disabilities, (b) external opposition, and (c) legislative barriers. Participants also identified eight solutions: (a) cross-disability advocacy, (b) education, (c) relationship-building, (d) bipartisanship, (e) support from state and national organizations, (f) strong sponsors, (g) incrementalism, and (h) model legislation. Study findings should help to inform ongoing legislative advocacy to protect the rights of parents with disabilities.

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Use of parental disability as a removal reason for children in foster care in the U.S.

Cited by 22 publications

References 14 publications

Appropriate Measures? Supporting Parents with ID in the Context of the CRPD

Appropriate Measures? Supporting Parents with ID in the Context of the CRPD

Recognising the caring capabilities of birth families of removed children: Towards a critical policy agenda

Barriers and Solutions to Passing State Legislation to Protect the Rights of Parents With Disabilities: Lessons From Interviews With Advocates, Attorneys, and Legislators

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