NYC Called Out for Targeting Black Parents in Child Services Crackdown.
The report reveals that while Black and Hispanic individuals represent about 50% of NYC’s population, they make up more than 80% of child welfare investigations.
A troubling new report reveals that New York City’s child welfare investigations are disproportionately affecting low-income Black and Hispanic families. It highlights how this leads to parents being denied employment or losing their current jobs, further hindering their ability to care for their families and exacerbating the challenges caused by the Administration of Children’s Services.
The study, conducted by Legal Services NYC, analyzed extensive data from the city’s Administration for Children’s Services, covering the period from January 2020 to July 2022.
The group shared their findings with The Gothamist, which reported that although Black and Hispanic New Yorkers represent just 48% of the city’s population, they make up 81% of child welfare investigations.
In 2022, more than 70% of investigations that found sufficient evidence to support the allegations were classified as neglect. The consequences of these substantiated investigations, often stemming from issues like insufficient food, clothing, or stable housing, make it even harder for parents to regain stability. These credible cases can appear on a parent’s employer background check for up to 8 years. Advocates have criticized the ACS for investigating “neglect” and penalizing families for their financial struggles.
Washcarina Martinez Alonzo, a senior staff attorney with Legal Services NYC, stated, “There’s an over-policing happening that disproportionately impacts Black and Hispanic individuals in New York City, as well as survivors of domestic violence.”
In response, the ACS, which oversees all child welfare investigations in NYC, has announced that it is actively working to reduce racial disparities in the process by exploring alternative reporting methods. They are encouraging more people to contact city support lines instead of the state abuse hotline, aiming to help families access the resources they need without triggering mandatory investigations, which disproportionately affect Black and Hispanic families.
The support line collaborates with schools to connect high-needs families with social workers instead of the ACS.
Marisa Kaufman, an ACS spokesperson, said, “By reducing unnecessary child welfare involvement and offering supportive services that help stabilize families, we aim to reduce both racial disparities within the child welfare system and the number of families unjustly affected by it.”
“We look forward to reviewing the report when it’s released, and we remain committed to listening, learning, and evolving our vital work to support New York’s children.”
The current law mandates that the ACS must investigate any reports of neglect they receive, even if the reports are made anonymously.
The recent report has led advocates against ACS’s practices to urge New York lawmakers to ban anonymous reporting of child abuse allegations and implement protections to ensure parents are informed of their rights before ACS investigators enter their homes.
“One call can come from anyone—your neighbor, landlord, or even an abusive ex,” said one advocate. “They don’t require the caller’s information, and suddenly you’re facing child welfare involvement.”
Joyce McMillan, executive director of a nonprofit advocacy group, highlighted that complaints triggering ACS investigations often stem from issues like insufficient food, using candles instead of electricity due to financial hardship, or overcrowded homes—misconstruing poverty as neglect.
McMillan added, “Once a family is investigated, they risk being separated. What most families need is simply more support and financial assistance.”
