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Disproportionality
Children from racial and ethnic minority groups may be represented disproportionately in the child welfare system or may receive disparate services. This section includes issues such as overrepresentation in foster care, underrepresentation in family support and family preservation services, inequitable investigations for suspected cases of maltreatment, and disparities in decision-making.
- Disproportionality data
- Causes of disproportionality
- Strategies for reducing disproportionality
- Addressing disproportionality through policy change
Addressing Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare | |
Series Title: | Issue Briefs |
Author(s): | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
Availability: | View Download (PDF - 391KB) Order (Free) - Add to Cart |
Year Published: | 2011 - 28 pages |
Focuses on some promising practices from around the country that agencies and jurisdictions have implemented to respond to racial disproportionality in child welfare. The brief looks at the various decision points in the child welfare process where overrepresentation (or underrepresentation) of different racial or ethnic groups may occur and notes promising programs that address disproportionality at those decision points. The issue brief explores disproportionality in terms of prevalence, community development and prevention, reporting and screening, investigation and assessment, service provision, permanency for children in out-of-home care, across the stages of child welfare, States' efforts, and strategies and research. |
Disproportionate Representation of Children and Youth of Color
National Resource Center for Permanency and Family Connections
Provides resources for exploring and addressing racial disproportionality in child welfare, as well as information on States' efforts.
A Model for Examining Disproportionality (PDF - 86 KB)
Race Matters Consortium
Promotes strategies from a national, multisystem initiative to prevent, intervene, and eliminate adverse disproportionality and disparities in child welfare.
Disparity and Disproportionality Guidance
American Public Human Services Association & Positioning Public Child Welfare Guidance (2009)
Defines and discusses the relationship between racial and ethnic disparities and disproportionality in child welfare. (PDF - 115 KB)
Alliance for Race Equity
Center for the Study of Social Policy
Provides tools and technical assistance to help agencies develop and implement effective strategies to address and reduce racial and ethnic disproportionality in the child welfare system.
Courts Catalyzing Change (CCC) Initiative
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Provides information and research related to re-evaluating Federal, State, and local policy and makes recommendations for changes and improvements in the dependency court system to reduce racial disproportionality and disparate treatment.
Disparities and Disproportionality in Child Welfare: Analysis of the Research (PDF - 4,014 KB)
Center for the Study of Social Policy & Annie E. Casey Foundation (2011)
Builds upon a previous review by Robert Hill's Research Synthesis in Child Welfare: An Update, develops an updated explanation of the complexities and multi-faceted role that race and ethnicity play in the child welfare system, and identifies gaps in the research.
Guidance for Child Welfare Administrators on Achieving Racial Equity
Policy for Results, Center for the Study of Social Policy
Provides guidance for child welfare administrators for finding the causes of disproportionality and developing policies on how to measure and improve preventive services, entries into care, placement type, length of stay, and permanency for children and families of color.
Measuring Racial Disparity in Child Welfare
Shaw, Putnam-Hornstein, Magruder, & Needell
Child Welfare, 87(2), 2008
View Abstract
Recommends the use of a "disparity index" as a statistically sound and meaningful method for measuring racial disparity in child welfare.
National Research and Assessment of Disproportionality: Racial Equity Strategies, Tools, and Programs (PDF - 274 KB)
Black Administrators in Child Welfare & Casey Family Programs (2008)
Discusses strategies, tools, and programs used in nine States to prevent and reduce the number of minority children in out-of-home care.
Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare
Belanger, Green, & Bullard (Eds.)
Child Welfare (Special Issue), 87(2), 2008
View Abstract
Discusses ways to increase the understanding and awareness of disproportionality approaches in an effort to prevent, reduce, or eliminate disproportionality and disparity of outcomes in child welfare systems.
Racial Equity in Child Welfare: The Role of State Legislators)
National Conference of State Legislatures (2006)
Provides the agenda and materials from a 2006 annual meeting in Nashville, TN, including specific information on Michigan, Minnesota, Washington, and Texas.
Related Topics
Supporting & preserving families
Achieving & maintaining permanency: Guardianship
Out-of-home care: Kinship care
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Racial disproportionality