Articulates issues of pervasive racism and sexism within the child protective system (CPS) using the experiences of a mother and a CPS practitioner, and poses discussion questions to guide CPS providers toward system reforms. Research illustrates the high number of children of color in the CPS system even though data shows that child maltreatment does not differ by race. Gender-bias, through the form of ???mother-bashing,??? places unrealistic expectations on mothers and absolves fathers from parental responsibility. Child welfare practitioners, especially those who are women of color, are affected ???psychologically and spiritually??? by inflicting sexist and racist policies on their clients. The reality of these problems is illustrated through the story of ???Starr,??? an African-American mother who has two children placed in foster care. She feels isolated and voiceless in her attempts to regain custody, as does the author, a practitioner who is a woman of color, who battles hostile co-workers and policies in a new supervisory position. Recommendations to erase racism and sexism in the CPS system include: examining worker-client relationships which can be reframed using cultural strengths, such as the African-American philosophy of motherhood and familial importance; ensuring that foster care placement is not used as a parental punishment; integrating models to reduce gender and racial bias; and determining whether policies, such as the Adoption and Safe Families Act, are misused to further racial oppression. (IP)
