Children of color are overrepresented in the child welfare system. Families of color are more likely to be investigated for child abuse or neglect, and children of color have the greatest odds of being removed from their homes and placed in out-of-home care. One strategy to address racial disparities is to reduce these families' involvement with the child welfare system by providing community-based resources and support through a prevention approach. Prevention services in child welfare aim to keep families together by eliminating risk factors that may lead to child maltreatment or the separation of children from their parents. Effective prevention services focus on increasing the well-being of children and families by building resiliency, parenting capacity, and protective factors.
The supports offered through child abuse prevention programs can promote equity and inclusion within the child welfare system. Providing a safe and nurturing environment to build social connections along with concrete supports such as housing services, financial resources, and in-home services may be especially beneficial for at-risk families. Prevention service providers should work with their community to promote youth and family voice, particularly from communities of color, in the design and implementation of prevention programs.
Use the following resources to learn how child abuse prevention programs are working to engage diverse populations and advance racial equity.
Addressing Racial Bias & Inequity in Child Welfare
Eckhart (2021)
Children’s Defense Fund Ohio
Describes the issue of racial bias in child welfare and lists several initiatives related to prevention services and striving for equity.
Addressing Racial Inequity in Child Welfare: The Key Role of Prevention Services
Hansell (2021)
Center for New York City Affairs at The New School
Explains how prevention programs in New York City utilize efforts to address racial disparities at the organizational level, in their services provided, and through the formation of racial equity committees.
Child Abuse Prevention With a Racial Equity Lens [Webinar]
Strategies TA (2021)
Presents strategies for offering child abuse prevention programs through a racial equity lens and discusses the development of a community framework for antiracism.
Disproportionality and Race Equity in Child Welfare
National Conference of State Legislatures (2021)
Reviews racial disproportionality and efforts to achieve racial equity in child welfare, including the Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018, which provides funding to States for prevention services. Under the law, States can use funds to modify prevention programs to be more culturally responsive and work to recruit and retain underserved families of color.
The Path to Racial Equity in Child Welfare: Valuing Family and Community (PDF - 1,642 KB)
Alliance for Children’s Rights (2021)
Outlines proposed policy reforms to improve racial equity in child welfare, including enhanced child abuse prevention strategies that halt unnecessary separations of children from their parents.
Race Equity Within Our Prevention Work [Webinar]
Children’s Bureau Learning and Coordination Center (2021)
Features a webinar from the Children’s Bureau that describes efforts surrounding race equity in the field of child abuse prevention. The webinar includes presentations from the Children’s Bureau; the Office on Child Abuse and Neglect; the Center for the Study of Social Policy; Be Strong Families; and the Washington Department of Children, Youth and Families.
Racial Disparities in Perceptions of Community Supports: Implications for Policy, Practice, and Research With Children and Families (PDF - 1,597 KB)
Colorado Department of Human Services, Office of Early Childhood (2021)
Examines racial disparities within the field of child welfare and presents data to inform policy and practice recommendations that focus on a prevention-forward approach to equity for all families.