Racial Disproportionality and Disparities in the Child Welfare System: Why Do They Exist, and What Can Be Done to Address Them?

• Author: Alan J. Dettlaff,Reiko Boyd
• DOI: 10.1177/0002716220980329
• Published date: 01 November 2020
• Date: 01 November 2020

ANNALS, AAPSS, 692, November 2020 253

DOI: 10.1177/0002716220980329

Racial

Disproportionality

and Disparities in

the Child Welfare

System: Why Do

They Exist, and

What Can Be

Done to Address

Them?

By

ALAN J. DETTLAFF

and

REIKO BOYD

980329ANN THE ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMYRACIAL DISPROPORTIONALITY AND DISPARITIES

research-article2021

Children of color are overrepresented in the child wel-

fare system, and Black children have been most signifi-

cantly impacted by this racial disproportionality. Racial

disproportionality in child welfare exists because of

influences that are both external to child welfare sys-

tems and part of the child welfare system. We summa-

rize the causes of racial disproportionality, arguing that

internal and external causes of disproportional involve-

ment originate from a common underlying factor:

structural and institutional racism that is both within

child welfare systems and part of society at large.

Further, we review options for addressing racial dispro-

portionality, arguing that it needs to be rectified

because of the harm it causes Black children and fami-

lies and that forcible separation of children from their

parents can no longer be viewed as an acceptable form

of intervention for families in need.

Keywords: racial disproportionality; racial disparities;

child welfare; foster care

Research has observed the overrepresenta-

tion of children of color in the child wel-

fare system for more than 50 years. Commonly

referred to as racial disproportionality, this

phenomenon describes a condition that exists

when the proportion of one group in the child

welfare population (i.e., children in foster care)

is proportionately larger (overrepresented) or

smaller (underrepresented) than the propor-

tion of the same group in the general child

population. Overrepresentation in the child

welfare system has most significantly occurred

for Black children, with national data indicating

that Black children represent 23 percent of

children in foster care, although they represent

Alan J. Dettlaff is dean and Maconda Brown O’Connor

Endowed Dean’s Chair at the University of Houston

Graduate College of Social Work. His research focuses

on examining and addressing issues of structural and

institutional racism that contribute to the overrepresen-

tation of children of color in the child welfare system.

Correspondence: ajdettlaff@uh.edu

254 THE ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY

only 14 percent of children in the general population (KIDS Count 2020). This

represents a decrease in disproportionality since 2000 when Black children rep-

resented 38 percent of children in foster care (Summers, Wood, and Russell

2012). This decrease was realized in part due to national attention to the problem

of disproportionality in the early 2000s, which led to a number of state legislative

mandates requiring system responses (e.g., Michigan Department of Human

Services 2006; Texas Health and Human Services Commission 2006), as well as

national philanthropic efforts to assist in these responses (e.g., Casey Family

Programs 2009). However, despite decades of efforts to address this, Black chil-

dren remain overrepresented in foster care at a rate more than 1.6 times their

proportion of the general population. While the national dialogue has focused

largely on Black children, racial disproportionality has also been observed for

Native American and Latinx children, although to a lesser degree and with vari-

ation by state.1

While racial disproportionality refers to one group’s representation in the child

welfare system being out of proportion with their representation in the popula-

tion, racial disparity refers to inequality in group representation in the child

welfare system. That is, racial disparity is used to describe inequitable outcomes

experienced by one racial group when compared to another racial group, while

disproportionality compares the proportion of one racial group to the same racial

group in the general population. Racial disparities can occur at every decision-

making point in the child welfare system, beginning with the point of initial

report, acceptance of reports for investigation, substantiation of maltreatment,

entries into foster care, and exits from care. These decisions are made not only

by child welfare caseworkers, but also by supervisors, administrators, judges, and

other legal professionals, as well as professionals external to the child welfare

system and the general public. At each of these decision-making points, racial

disparities occur that disproportionately impact Black children.2

Beginning with the point of initial referral, multiple studies demonstrate that

Black children are more likely to be reported for suspected maltreatment than

White children (e.g., Putnam-Hornstein et al. 2013). Once a report is made,

allegations involving Black children are more likely to proceed to investigation

than those involving White children (e.g., Fluke et al. 2003). Once accepted,

allegations involving Black children are more likely to be substantiated than those

involving White children (e.g., Putnam-Hornstein et al. 2013). Following an

investigation, Black children are more likely to be removed from their homes and

placed into foster care than White children (e.g., Maguire-Jack, Font, and Dillard

2020). Finally, once in care, studies show that Black children are less likely to be

reunified with their families and spend a longer time in care than White children

(e.g., M. Miller 2008). Over the years, studies have examined factors that explain

these disparities and findings have been mixed regarding the role of race, with

some studies identifying race as a significant factor at various decision points

Reiko Boyd is an assistant professor at the University of Houston Graduate College of Social

Work. Her research focuses on racial disparity and equity in child welfare, Black infant health,

transition-age youth, and structural inequality in Black communities.