Summary: Federal law prohibits consideration of race in making decisions about where to place children in foster care. As a result, caseworkers have had to set aside their personal views, which in many cases hold that eliminating race as a factor will lead to placements that are not in the best interests of children. GAO found lingering confusion among state and local officials and caseworkers about allowable actions under the law. GAO notes that all levels of government face three significant challenges in changing placement practices. First, agencies need to continue changing long-standing social work practices, such as the beliefs of some officials and caseworkers that the interests of children are best served when race is considered. Second, agencies need to translate legal principles into practical advice for caseworkers. Although officials and caseworkers GAO spoke with understood that the law prohibits them from delaying or denying placement on the basis of race, they also voiced confusion about allowable actions under the law. Third, agencies need to develop information systems to monitor compliance with restrictions on race in placement decisions. GAO summarized this report in testimony before Congress; see: Foster Care: Challenges Faced in Implementing the Multiethnic Placement Act, by Mark V. Nadel, Associate Director for Income Security Issues, before the Subcommittee on Human Resources, House Committee on Ways and Means. GAO/T-HEHS-98-241, Sept. 15 (eight pages).
