Describes how Asian American culture influences child-rearing practices and urges child welfare professionals to take a more balanced approach to investigating cases of neglect or abuse. Because child welfare policies are rarely tailored to the Asian American community, a better understanding of the culture will decrease the chances of unnecessarily traumatizing a family or removing a child. This 2-page fact sheet prepared by the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families explains that Asian Americans new to the United States face a number of obstacles, including language barriers, which can perpetuate misunderstandings about their customs and practices. For example, Asian American parents working long hours and without access to affordable child-care may leave their children alone at an age that is deemed too young by American culture, and hence face a possible charge of neglect. If they leave an older child at home to look after the younger ones, they may be accused of educational neglect. In the hierarchical Asian American household, other practices, such as spanking or applying traditional folk remedies that leave red marks on the skin, may be viewed as neglect or even abuse. Asian Americans also are at a disadvantage due to misperceptions or ignorance of American law.
