This section includes resources on using data, evaluation, and changes in policy to reduce and/or eliminate disproportionality and disparity within the child welfare system. It is critical for child welfare to focus on equity throughout the child welfare continuum, from prevention of abuse and neglect to adoption.
Strategies using data and evaluation
CWVE 2021 Session 2: Using Data and Evaluation to Advance Racial Equity in Child Welfare [Video]
Capacity Building Center for States (2021)
Includes a video from the Child Welfare Virtual Expo 2021 that reviews strategies for using data to move toward racial equity in child welfare.
Focusing on Race Equity Throughout Change and Implementation
Capacity Building Center for States (2021)
Guides child welfare leaders through ways to be intentional about advancing race equity when implementing new child welfare programs and practices. The publication reviews the process of teaming, readiness, implementation planning, testing, evaluation, and moving forward.
How to Embed a Racial and Ethnic Equity Perspective in Research (PDF - 443 KB)
Andrews, Parekh, & Peckoo (2019)
Child Trends
Answers questions from a researcher’s perspective about equity and provides equity principles to guide the research process. The resource describes how to apply the principles to four major stages of the research process, including 1) landscape assessment, 2) design and data collection, 3) data analysis, and 4) dissemination.
Our Identities, Ourselves: Anti-Racist Guidelines for Collecting Data on Race & Ethnicity [Webinar]
Center for the Study of Social Policy (2021)
Describes best practices and tools for prioritizing equity in data collection, analysis, reporting, and use. The webinar also explores how system leaders can ensure that data is used to advance equity. Also see A Guide to Anti-Racist Data Collection for System Leaders and Data Administrators.
Placing Equity Concerns at the Center of Knowledge Development (PDF - 321 KB)
Farrow & Morrison (2019)
Center for the Study of Social Policy
Provides principles for and discusses the importance of centering equity when developing knowledge and evidence through research and evaluation.
Reflections on Applying Principles of Equitable Evaluation (PDF - 324 KB)
Stern, Guckenburg, Persson, & Petrosino (2019)
WestEd Justice and Prevention Research Center
Defines what equitable evaluation is in contrast to traditional evaluation and describes how equitable evaluation principles can be implemented in studies.
A Toolkit For Centering Racial Equity Within Data Integration
Annie E. Casey Foundation (2020)
Provides a toolkit to support data sharing and integration that encourages centering racial equity and community voice within the context of data integration and use.
Using Data and Evaluation to Advance Racial Equity in Child Welfare [Video]
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (2021)
Examines strategies using data and evaluation to build evidence, engage youth and families, and move toward racial equity in child welfare.
Using Data in DCYF To Advance Racial Equity
Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families, Office of Innovation, Alignment, and Accountability (2020)
Discusses ways to improve agencywide issues by coordinating resources and information systems to strengthen the mission of achieving equity.
Strategies using policy
ICWA
Capacity Building Center for Tribes, Tribal Information Exchange (2019)
Shares an overview of and resources for successful implementation of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). The resource describes the disproportionality of American Indian/Alaska Native children in the foster care system and how noncompliance with ICWA further perpetuates their overrepresentation.
Embedding Equity Into Disaster Preparedness Efforts in Child Welfare
Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) Toolkit
University of California Berkeley, School of Social Welfare, California Social Work Education Center (2019)
Provides information regarding the history, successful implementation, and evaluation of the Indian Child Welfare Act. This toolkit is provided partially to address the disproportionate participation of and disparate access to services for children who are Native American in the child welfare system.
Integrating Positive Youth Development and Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Approaches Across the Child Welfare and Justice Systems
Lantos et al. (2022)
Child Trends
Explores how the child welfare and justice systems would benefit from an emphasis on positive youth development approaches that incorporate racial equity and inclusion. The paper also introduces a framework that can be used by child welfare programs.
The Path to Racial Equity in Child Welfare: Valuing Family and Community[Video]
Alliance for Children’s Rights (2021)
Shares a video of a virtual policy summit that brought together child welfare practitioners, advocates, and those with lived experience in child welfare to discuss racial inequities in the child welfare system and offer recommendations for policy change.
Race Equity and Inclusion Action Guide
Annie E. Casey (2015)
Outlines seven steps agencies can take to advance and embed racial equity within child welfare organizations.
Race/Ethnic Background and Child Welfare
Presents practice and policy recommendations around recruitment of families of color, diversity, cultural competence, and other equity-related topics in child welfare.
Transforming Child Welfare: Prioritizing Prevention, Racial Equity, and Advancing Child and Family Well-Being
National Council on Family Relations (2021)
Explains how a transformation of the child welfare system is needed and how the new system should prioritize racial equity among other topics.