Strategies for Reducing Disproportionality: State and Local Examples

The following resources provide examples of State and local efforts to reduce disproportionality.

Alaska Child Welfare Disproportionality Reduction Project Western and Pacific Child Welfare Implementation Center Implementation Project Plan (PDF - 264 KB)
Western and Pacific Child Welfare Implementation Center (2009)
Describes a 4-year project designed to reduce the overrepresentation of Native American children involved in the child welfare system in Alaska. Also see the logic model. (PDF - 194 KB)

Child Welfare System Involvement of African Americans, Jones County, Illinois (PDF - 831 KB)
Derezotes & Hartnett (2005)
Provides the first step administrators should take when addressing racial disproportionality in the child welfare system.

Disproportionality in Child Protective Services: The Preliminary Results of Statewide Reform Efforts in Texas
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (2010)
Identifies programs and system improvements that can enhance positive outcomes for all children and families served by child protective services agencies in Texas.

Disproportionality in Illinois Child Welfare (PDF - 255 KB)
Children and Family Research Center (2008)
Examines disproportionate representation in the child welfare system in Illinois for children of different races/ethnicities.

Equity: Moving Toward Better Outcomes for all of Michigan's Children (PDF - 1,519 KB)
FRIENDS National Resource Center for Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention (2006)
Discusses the overrepresentation of children of color in the child welfare system in Michigan and presents recommendations for addressing this issue.

Family Group Decision Making and Disproportionality in Foster Care: A Case Study
Crampton & Jackson
Child Welfare, 86(3), 2007
View Abstract
Describes one community's efforts to use Family Group Decision Making in placement decisions to reduce disproportionality in foster care by diverting children from regular foster care services and keeping them within their extended families.

Indiana Disproportionality Committee: 2007 Annual Report (PDF - 3,103 KB)
Indiana Disproportionality Committee (2008)
Details Indiana's plan to develop, communicate, and initiate the implementation of a written, sustainable plan to reduce disproportional representation and disparities in outcomes for children within the child welfare, education, juvenile justice, and mental health systems.

Iowa's Strategies and Actions to Address Youth Transition, Permanency, and Disparate Outcomes for Children and Families of Color (PDF - 116 KB)
Iowa Department of Human Services (2008)
Describes strategies used in Iowa to improve services to children and families involved in the Iowa State child welfare system to address youth transition, permanency, and disproportionality, and more.

NASW Practice Snapshot: Promising Practices in Child Welfare
National Association of Social Workers (2005)
Highlights the University of Iowa 's National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice's work to reverse the overrepresentation of children of color in the child welfare system.

Places to Watch: Promising Practices to Address Racial Disproportionality in Child Welfare (PDF - 1,635 KB)
Center for Community Partnerships in Child Welfare of the Center for the Study of Social Policy (2006)
Highlights the work of 10 jurisdictions that are committed to reducing racial disproportionality and disparity in their child welfare systems.

Racial Disproportionality and Disparity in Washington State Child Welfare: Remediation Plan
Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (2008)
Analyzes and makes recommendations for addressing the overrepresentation of children of color in the Washington State child welfare system.

The Role of the Caseworker in Identifying, Developing and Supporting Strengths in African American Families Involved in Child Protective Services: A Practice Guide (PDF - 618 KB)
Rockymore (2008)
Helps Minnesota child protective services caseworkers identify strengths in African-American families and build on them.

Santa Clara County: Disproportionality in Child Welfare: 2008 Plan (PDF - 100 KB)
County of Santa Clara Social Services Agency, Department of Family and Children's Services (2008)
Describes the activities and accomplishments of Santa Clara County, California, in addressing racial disparities in child welfare. It reviews progress in referral screening, joint response, emergency response and dependency investigation, reunification services, and more.

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