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

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.

Disproportionality Rates for Children of Color in Foster Care (Fiscal Year 2013) (PDF - 2,468 KB)
Summers (2015)
National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
Discusses the disproportionality rates for children of color in foster care and represents data from all 50 States, including fiscal year 2013 Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System data and 2013 U.S. Census Bureau population estimates. Comparisons between 2000 and 2013 disproportionality rates are included, and African-American and Native American disproportionality rates are illustrated in color-coded maps to demonstrate trends over time.

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.