Miami Gardens, FL (BlackNews.com) - Renee Michelle Harris created quite a buzz several months ago when she declared that the child welfare/foster care system is almost as damaging as slavery to black families. "I've received an enormous amount of feedback since releasing the article over the summer."

"The overwhelming majority of the feedback agrees that the child welfare system is destroying many black and poor families," Harris said. "It is imperative that all blacks, especially those who feel that they are not impacted by the child welfare system, take a closer look at what is happening in their local foster care organizations. Just as so many African Americans were shocked at what Hurricane Katrina revealed in terms poverty, I think an equal number will be shocked to know what is happening to poor blacks in the foster care system."

Harris said because there are strong correlations between poverty, race and whose children end up in foster care, the likelihood that Hurricane Katrina's victims have nightmare stories to tell about their child welfare system is very strong.

As founder of The Institute for Authentic Social Work, Harris plans to keep the topic front and center. "Its one of America's ugly secrets that needs to be exposed. Foster care is not being used as it was initially intended. Families are being busted up when other cost-effective, more humane and less traumatic options are available," the 16-year child welfare and family preservation expert said.

The E-book, Child Welfare System Almost as Damaging as Slavery for Black Families, will certainly create more controversy. In addition to debating whether the comparison to slavery is warranted, readers may also take issue with Harris assertion that Bill Cosby's remarks about poor blacks contributes to the systems dismantling of families; how President Clinton paid states to split up families; and why the cowardly actions of caseworkers and attorneys maintain the status quo.

"There are so many brilliant people employed within the system with the power to make significant changes; however, they remain silent in order to remain employed which is the equivalent of selling out," Harris said. "Their willingness to stand by, pretending to be powerless, while children are taken from their families unnecessarily, sometimes permanently, is really quite disgusting."

According to Harris, many in the system stand behind statements like 'we must err on the side of the child' and 'we work in the best interest of the child' when defending child welfare's shady practices. "The fact that there are organizations consistently doing what is in the best interest of the child by helping the child's family, not splitting them up, weakens those tired arguments," she said.

When questioned about her comparison to slavery and the country's disdain for the ugly topic, Harris explained that the child welfare system is only second to slavery in its ability to rip apart black families. "No other modern institution has been able to do so on such a large scale."

"Slavery persisted for as long as it did because people who knew better chose to remain silent. The injustices of the child welfare and foster care system continue for the same reason," Harris said.

She added, "The people who know better may feel that their individual efforts are insignificant; however, we just celebrated the life of a woman who proved otherwise. The consequences that Rosa Parks faced in 1955 should shame the cowards of the child welfare system, who, by comparison, face none."

The Institute for Authentic Social Work will address this important topic on Dec. 14 at its symposium, Curbing the Number of Black and Poor Families Disrupted by Child Welfare Intervention. The event will take place at the Omega Psi Phi Activity center in Miami Gardens, FL.

Visit www.authenticsocialwork.org to register for the symposium and to purchase the e-book, available for only $5.15.


About The Institute for Authentic Social Work
Founded by 16-year child welfare and family preservation expert, Renee Michelle Harris, the Institutes mission is to advocate for a balanced child welfare system that is value - not revenue - driven. The Institute asserts that when the system removes only those children who cannot be safe at home, caseloads will become more manageable, quality of care will improve and the unacceptably high rate of employee turnover will cease to be an issue.

Harris is the author of The ABCs of Authentic Work with Families and the workbook, 7 Steps to Strengthen Your Family. She is also a newspaper columnist whose Parent Power and Renee's Reflections columns appear monthly in the Miami metroNews.