Resources that explore the relationship between culture and child maltreatment, including how child abuse and neglect is viewed in different cultures and how child welfare workers can respond.
Cultural Healing Practices That Mimic Child Abuse (PDF - 1,280 KB)
Killion (2017)
Annals of Forensic Research and Analysis
Discusses specific cultural healing practices that mimic identifying markers of child abuse.
Culturally Responsive Child Welfare Practice (PDF - 9,670 KB)
LaLiberte, Crudo, & Skallet (2015)
CW 360 Degrees
Discusses the importance of culturally responsive child welfare. Several articles in the edition discuss culturally competent ideals in child welfare practice areas.
Family and Partner Interpersonal Violence Among American Indians/Alaska Natives
Sapra, Jubinski, Tanaka, & Gershon (2014)
Injury Epidemiology, 1(7)
Discusses the prevalence and risk factors of child abuse, intimate partner violence, and elder abuse among American Indian and Alaskan Native communities.
Nativity and Immigration Status Among Latino Families Involved in the Child Welfare System: Characteristics, Risk, and Maltreatment
Cardoso, Dettlaff, Finno-Velasquez, Scott, & Faulkner (2014)
Children and Youth Services Review, 44
Discusses the incidence of child maltreatment among Latino families based on the legal status and household structure of families involved in the child welfare system.
| Series Title | Issue Briefs |
| Author(s) | Child Welfare Information Gateway |
| Availability | View Download (PDF - 656KB) Order (Free) |
| Year Published | 2016 |
Strategies to Reduce Racially Disparate Outcomes in Child Welfare (PDF - 3,210 KB)
Miller & Esenstad (2015)
Center for the Study of Social Policy
Discusses disparities in child welfare services based on race and suggests ways to remediate these issues.
Understanding Child Abuse in Rural and Urban America: Risk Factors and Maltreatment Substantiation (PDF - 607 KB)
Walsh & Mattingly (2012)
University of New Hampshire & Carsey Institute
Compares the outcomes of child maltreatment cases in rural versus urban settings and identifies the characteristics associated with substantiation indicating key findings.
Female genital cutting
Female Genital Cutting
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health (2015)
Provides general information on female genital cutting, including locations where it occurs, the health risks associated with the practice, and resources for individuals that have undergone it.
Female Genital Mutilation or Cutting
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Offers national and international resources and information about female genital mutilation or cutting, including information to eliminate the practice.
State and local examples
Child Abuse Prevention and Intervention
The Ford Family Foundation (2018)
Highlights child abuse prevention work in rural Oregon.
Cultural Diversity and Child Protection (PDF - 36 KB)
Minnesota Department of Human Services (2013)
Discusses the legal precedence for the punishment of certain cultural practices that can be viewed as child maltreatment in various States. Practices examined in this issue brief include female genital cutting, cupping, and coining.
Developing a Child Abuse Prevention Media Campaign in Rural Alaska
Alaska Children’s Alliance (2015)
Provides information and tools to equip Alaska child welfare workers in promoting child abuse prevention campaigns.
Promoting Racial Equity Through Workforce and Organizational Actions (PDF - 234 KB)
National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (2017)
Provides guidance to State child welfare agencies for increasing positive outcomes for families of color involved in the child welfare system.