Reproductive Justice for young Black women aging out of foster care

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we apply the reproductive justice framework to discuss how gendered racism disadvantages pregnant and parenting young Black women aging out of foster care. Specifically, we highlight the reversal of Roe v Wade as reflective of the United States’ long legacy of efforts to control Black women’s reproduction. We then discuss the structural factors contributing to the reproductive injustices of young Black women aging out of care, including a lack of access to sexual and reproductive health education, barriers to educational attainment, and foster care-based relational and placement deficits. We conclude with research, practice, and policy enhancements.

KEYWORDS:

• Aging out
• Black women
• foster care
• gendered racism
• reproductive justice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sara Matsuzaka

Sara Matsuzaka is an Assistant Professor within the Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy at Montclair State University. Her research examines how systemic oppression influences the psychological and behavioral outcomes of people from multiply-marginalized groups, particularly sexual and gender minorities of color.

Colleen C. Katz

Colleen C. Katz, PhD, LCSW, is an Associate Professor at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College, CUNY. She has focused her scholarship on child welfare-involved adolescents and young adults, especially those aging-out of foster care in urban settings like New York City. She has explored the direct experiences of these youth, and is currently pursuing several projects focused on the assessment of their psychiatric illness and suicidal behavior.

Alexis Jemal

Alexis Jemal, LCSW, LCADC, MA, JD, PhD, Associate Professor at Silberman School of Social Work, is a critical-radical social worker, artivist, scholar, educator, and researcher who specializes in justice, wellness, and liberation. Dr. Jemal integrates participatory action research methods, critical theory and the creative arts to develop and test holistic, psycho-socio-cultural and behavioral health interventions.

Svetlana Shpiegel

Svetlana Shpiegel is an Associate Professor at the Department of Social Work and Child Advocacy, Montclair State University, New Jersey. Her research focuses primarily on the functioning of adolescents and young adults transitioning from foster care in the United States. She is particularly interested in early pregnancy and parenthood among youth currently and formerly in foster care.

Nathali Feliz

Nathali Feliz, 25 years old and a mother of 6 children, entered foster care at age 16 with a child in the hospital due to the complications of premature birth. Nathali had 2 children while in the child welfare system – an experience that has given her the necessary experience to bring her voice to support young parents and make changes in the child welfare system.