D. Roberts, Northwestern University The Racial Geography of Child Welfare Dorothy Roberts, J.D....

D. Roberts, Northwestern University

The Racial The Racial Geography of Child Geography of Child

WelfareWelfareDorothy Roberts, J.D.Dorothy Roberts, J.D.

Northwestern University Northwestern University School of Law & Institute for School of Law & Institute for

Policy ResearchPolicy Research


Learning ObjectivesLearning Objectives

Meaning of racial disproportionality.Meaning of racial disproportionality. National rates. National rates. Research on causes.Research on causes. Impact on child welfare policy and practice.Impact on child welfare policy and practice. Impact on communities – the “racial Impact on communities – the “racial

geography” of child welfare.geography” of child welfare. Changes in policy and practice to eliminate Changes in policy and practice to eliminate

racial disproportionality.racial disproportionality. Ways you are affected by racial Ways you are affected by racial

disproportionality and can contribute to disproportionality and can contribute to eliminating it.eliminating it.


Measuring Racial Measuring Racial Disparities:Disparities:

National NumbersNational Numbers OverrepresentationOverrepresentation: percentage of children : percentage of children

in system from racial group is greater than in system from racial group is greater than group’s proportion in the general population.group’s proportion in the general population.

In 2000, children of color comprised only In 2000, children of color comprised only 31% of general population, but 59% of 31% of general population, but 59% of children in out-of-home care (“foster care”); children in out-of-home care (“foster care”); 61% of children awaiting adoption.61% of children awaiting adoption.

African Americans: 15% population v. 41% African Americans: 15% population v. 41% in carein care

Native Americans: 1% population v. 2% in Native Americans: 1% population v. 2% in carecare


RacialRacial Disproportionality: U.S.Disproportionality: U.S.

Compares rates of child welfare system Compares rates of child welfare system involvement for children of a particular involvement for children of a particular group with those for another (e.g., rates group with those for another (e.g., rates for children of color v. white children).for children of color v. white children).

Numbers in foster care per 1,000 Numbers in foster care per 1,000 children:children: Black: 21Black: 21 Native American: 16Native American: 16 Hispanic: 7Hispanic: 7 White: 5White: 5

Black children were 4 times as likely Black children were 4 times as likely as white children to be in foster care.as white children to be in foster care.


RacialRacial Disproportionality: Disproportionality: San Francisco, 2006San Francisco, 2006

Numbers in care per 1,000 Numbers in care per 1,000 children:children:

Native American: 130Native American: 130Black: 110Black: 110Hispanic: 10Hispanic: 10White: 6White: 6Asian: 3Asian: 3


Disproportionality in San Disproportionality in San Francisco, 2006Francisco, 2006

Native American children were Native American children were 22 times more likely than white 22 times more likely than white children to be in care.children to be in care.

Black children were 19 times Black children were 19 times more likely than white children more likely than white children to be in care in 2006.to be in care in 2006.


Percent of Children Exiting Percent of Children Exiting Care to Reunification within Care to Reunification within

Race, 2000Race, 2000


Median Length of Stay Median Length of Stay for Children Exiting for Children Exiting

Care, 2000Care, 2000


Other Racial DisparitiesOther Racial Disparities

African American children:African American children: Reported more often for abuse and neglect.Reported more often for abuse and neglect. More likely to have charges substantiated.More likely to have charges substantiated. Less likely to receive needed mental health Less likely to receive needed mental health

services once in foster care.services once in foster care. Have fewer visits with parents and siblings.Have fewer visits with parents and siblings. Families receive fewer preventive, Families receive fewer preventive,

reunification, and other services.reunification, and other services. Families have fewer contacts with Families have fewer contacts with

caseworkers.caseworkers. Parents’ rights more likely to be terminated.Parents’ rights more likely to be terminated.


“ “The disparities in The disparities in outcomes are so great that outcomes are so great that racial/ethnic inequities racial/ethnic inequities can best be described as a can best be described as a ‘chronic crisis.’” ‘chronic crisis.’” Casey-CSSP Alliance for Racial Equity, 2006Casey-CSSP Alliance for Racial Equity, 2006


Causes: Key IssuesCauses: Key Issues

Is the cause inside or outside Is the cause inside or outside the system?the system?

““Race effect”: How does race Race effect”: How does race interact with other factors?interact with other factors?

At which decision points do At which decision points do disparities occur?disparities occur?


Inside or Outside the Inside or Outside the System?System?

Societal conditions outside the Societal conditions outside the system increase risk of system increase risk of involvement (e.g., poverty, involvement (e.g., poverty, incarceration, parent death)incarceration, parent death)

v.v. Racially differential practices Racially differential practices

within the systemwithin the system


““Evidence about the needs of children and Evidence about the needs of children and families prior to service receipt cannot be used families prior to service receipt cannot be used to argue that less favorable outcomes result to argue that less favorable outcomes result from worse child welfare services for AA from worse child welfare services for AA children than for Caucasians rather than from children than for Caucasians rather than from worse initial circumstances of AA families.” worse initial circumstances of AA families.” (Courtney et al. 1998)(Courtney et al. 1998)

““When many factors are considered, AA children When many factors are considered, AA children are not overserved or overinvolved in the child are not overserved or overinvolved in the child welfare system.” (Barth et al. 2001)welfare system.” (Barth et al. 2001)


ReportingReporting Doctors failed to detect abusive head trauma Doctors failed to detect abusive head trauma

2X as often in white children as minority 2X as often in white children as minority children (Jenny et al. 1999).children (Jenny et al. 1999).

Black and Hispanic toddlers hospitalized for Black and Hispanic toddlers hospitalized for fractures between 1994 and 2000 5X more fractures between 1994 and 2000 5X more likely to be evaluated for child abuse, and 3X likely to be evaluated for child abuse, and 3X more likely to be reported, than white more likely to be reported, than white children with same injuries (Lane et al. 2002). children with same injuries (Lane et al. 2002).

Black women 10X more likely to be reported Black women 10X more likely to be reported by doctors for substance abuse during by doctors for substance abuse during pregnancy than white women. (Chasnoff et al. pregnancy than white women. (Chasnoff et al. 1990)1990)


Out-of-Home PlacementOut-of-Home Placement ““Even when families have the same Even when families have the same

characteristics and lack of problems, African characteristics and lack of problems, African American children, and Hispanic children to a American children, and Hispanic children to a lesser extent, are more likely than white lesser extent, are more likely than white children to be placed in foster care.” (U.S. Dept. children to be placed in foster care.” (U.S. Dept. Health & Human Services 1997)Health & Human Services 1997)

““African American children are more likely to be African American children are more likely to be placed in foster care than Caucasian children placed in foster care than Caucasian children with comparable characteristics.” (Hill 2001)with comparable characteristics.” (Hill 2001)

Black children are disproportionately in foster Black children are disproportionately in foster care for neglect.care for neglect.


Center for Study of Social Center for Study of Social Policy, Race Equity Review, Policy, Race Equity Review,

1/16/091/16/09 African American families don’t receive African American families don’t receive

necessary supports to prevent involvement or necessary supports to prevent involvement or to strengthen them.to strengthen them.

System doesn’t fairly assess or appreciate System doesn’t fairly assess or appreciate their unique strengths and weaknesses.their unique strengths and weaknesses.

African American families and youth are African American families and youth are negatively characterized or labeled by negatively characterized or labeled by workers.workers.

Insufficient advocacy for families and Insufficient advocacy for families and children.children.

No mechanisms to hold agencies accountable. No mechanisms to hold agencies accountable.


““The belief that African American The belief that African American children are better off away from children are better off away from their families and communities their families and communities was seen in explicit statements was seen in explicit statements by key policy makers and service by key policy makers and service providers. It was also reflected providers. It was also reflected in choices made by DHS.” in choices made by DHS.” CSSP CSSP Race Equity ReviewRace Equity Review


Societal Societal andand Systemic Systemic FactorsFactors

Race interacts with other predictors Race interacts with other predictors (parental substance abuse, child age, (parental substance abuse, child age, disability, welfare receipt, family disability, welfare receipt, family structure, location) to influence structure, location) to influence outcomes.outcomes.

Cumulative Effect: Disproportionality Cumulative Effect: Disproportionality increases at each decision point, as increases at each decision point, as children move through system.children move through system.

““Exit dynamics”: longer stays in foster Exit dynamics”: longer stays in foster care; independent race effect.care; independent race effect.


Impact: Key IssuesImpact: Key Issues Is disproportionality bad for children Is disproportionality bad for children

of color?of color?

What is the impact of What is the impact of disproportionality on policy and disproportionality on policy and practice?practice?

What is the impact of What is the impact of disproportionality on communities?disproportionality on communities?


Is Disproportionality Bad Is Disproportionality Bad for Black Children?for Black Children?

Black children benefit from receiving Black children benefit from receiving needed child welfare services (Barth et al. needed child welfare services (Barth et al. 2000; Bartholet 2009)2000; Bartholet 2009)

BUT are there less intrusive means of BUT are there less intrusive means of providing for Black children’s well being?providing for Black children’s well being? History of state-imposed institutions for History of state-imposed institutions for

BlacksBlacks History of race and services v. foster careHistory of race and services v. foster care Accounting for the harms of disproportionalityAccounting for the harms of disproportionality

Nicholson v. ScopettaNicholson v. Scopetta

“ “They are continually forcibly removed They are continually forcibly removed from their abused mothers without a from their abused mothers without a court adjudication and placed in court adjudication and placed in forced state custody in either state or forced state custody in either state or privately run institutions for long privately run institutions for long periods of time. They are disciplined periods of time. They are disciplined by those not their parents. This is a by those not their parents. This is a form of slavery.”form of slavery.”



The System’s Racial The System’s Racial GeographyGeography

Child welfare agency involvement Child welfare agency involvement concentrated in poor communities of concentrated in poor communities of color.color.

Chicago, SF, NYC: low-income black Chicago, SF, NYC: low-income black families concentrated in neighborhoods families concentrated in neighborhoods where most cases concentrated. where most cases concentrated.

One in ten children in some African- One in ten children in some African- and Native-American neighborhoods is and Native-American neighborhoods is in foster care.in foster care.

Dorothy Roberts, Northwestern University

The Community The Community Dimension of CPSDimension of CPS

What connections between communities What connections between communities and families have policy makers, and families have policy makers, researchers, social workers recognized?researchers, social workers recognized?

What connections have they failed to see?What connections have they failed to see?

Why are some aspects more prominent in Why are some aspects more prominent in research, policy, and practice than research, policy, and practice than others?others?

Dorothy Roberts, Northwestern University

Social Science Social Science ResearchResearch

““It takes a village to raise a child”It takes a village to raise a child” ““Neighborhood Effects”: impact of Neighborhood Effects”: impact of

neighborhood characteristics & neighborhood characteristics & community-level social dynamics on community-level social dynamics on children and families.children and families.

William Julius Wilson, The Truly William Julius Wilson, The Truly Disadvantaged (1987): Disadvantaged (1987): “concentration effects.”“concentration effects.”


Social Work PracticeSocial Work Practice

Community-based approaches to child Community-based approaches to child welfare decision making & service welfare decision making & service deliverydelivery

Two main approaches:Two main approaches: Integrate communities into traditional Integrate communities into traditional

case work with clients.case work with clients. Build capacity of neighborhoods to provide Build capacity of neighborhoods to provide

healthier environments for children.healthier environments for children.


Another DimensionAnother Dimension

Identifying the child welfare system Identifying the child welfare system itself as aspect of neighborhoods itself as aspect of neighborhoods with community-wide impact on with community-wide impact on residents.residents.

Socio-political impact of spatial Socio-political impact of spatial concentration of child welfare concentration of child welfare supervision in disadvantaged supervision in disadvantaged neighborhoods.neighborhoods.

Community impact of racial Community impact of racial disproportionality.disproportionality.


0.00%

1.00%

2.00%

3.00%

4.00%

5.00%

6.00%

Near West Side East Garfield Park Washington Park Woodlawn Grand Boulevard

Near West Side 1.46% 4.67%

East Garfield Park 0.94% 2.70%

Washington Park 0.70% 2.58%

Woodlawn 1.15% 2.70%

Grand Boulevard 1.31% 5.22%

Percentage of All Chicago ChildrenPercentage of all Chicago Children in

Substitute Care


0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

Near West Side East Garfield Park Washington Park Woodlawn Grand Boulevard Chicago

Near West Side 49.8

East Garfield Park 44.9

Washington Park 57.4

Woodlawn 36.7

Grand Boulevard 62.0

Chicago 15.6

Number of Children in Substitute Care Per 1000


Racial differences in rates of foster care Racial differences in rates of foster care placement affect more than individual placement affect more than individual child’s risk of placement. child’s risk of placement.

Also risk of growing up in neighborhood Also risk of growing up in neighborhood where state supervision prevalent.where state supervision prevalent.

Makes child welfare system distinctively Makes child welfare system distinctively different institution for white and black different institution for white and black children in U.S.children in U.S.

Requires a new paradigm that focuses Requires a new paradigm that focuses on neighborhood social dynamics.on neighborhood social dynamics.


Woodlawn Study: Woodlawn Study: Research QuestionsResearch Questions

Interviews with 25 African-American Interviews with 25 African-American female residents; ages 24-56.female residents; ages 24-56.

How do high rates of child welfare How do high rates of child welfare agency involvement affect:agency involvement affect: community life?community life? residents’ social networks, civic residents’ social networks, civic

participation, and collective efficacy?participation, and collective efficacy? Attitudes about government and self-Attitudes about government and self-

governance?governance?


Findings: Awareness of DCFS Findings: Awareness of DCFS Involvement in WoodlawnInvolvement in Woodlawn

24 respondents aware of intense 24 respondents aware of intense involvementinvolvement

with families in neighborhood.with families in neighborhood. 17 respondents estimated number of 17 respondents estimated number of

involvedinvolved

families to be at least half.families to be at least half. 14 respondents understood DCFS 14 respondents understood DCFS

main function to center on removing main function to center on removing children from their homes. children from their homes.


How many Woodlawn families How many Woodlawn families are involved with DCFS?are involved with DCFS?

Over half of the community I would say. Yeah, it’s a Over half of the community I would say. Yeah, it’s a lot. lot.

My God, probably thousands. My God, probably thousands. I’m gonna say 90 percent. I’m gonna say 90 percent. I wanna say, probably seven out of ten. I wanna say, probably seven out of ten. I think it’s a lot. I would say like 60 percent. I think it’s a lot. I would say like 60 percent. From 60th to 67th, State to Stoney Island, even with it From 60th to 67th, State to Stoney Island, even with it

being 150 cases just in that little vicinity, 150 being 150 cases just in that little vicinity, 150 apartments or families or whatever, or everybody in apartments or families or whatever, or everybody in the whole three-flat. the whole three-flat.

It’s definitely common because people always getting It’s definitely common because people always getting their children taken away. their children taken away.

I think everyone in Woodlawn knows someone in the I think everyone in Woodlawn knows someone in the system. system.


Impact on Social Impact on Social RelationshipsRelationships

interference with parental authorityinterference with parental authority family conflicts over placement of family conflicts over placement of

childrenchildren damage to children’s ability to form damage to children’s ability to form

social relationshipssocial relationships distrust among neighborsdistrust among neighbors

[DCFS] disrupts the community… I [DCFS] disrupts the community… I would say it’s a trust thing.... would say it’s a trust thing....


Parental AuthorityParental Authority

11respondents observed that DCFS 11respondents observed that DCFS involvement in Woodlawn generally involvement in Woodlawn generally interferes with parents’ authority over their interferes with parents’ authority over their children.children.

Children who have been placed in foster Children who have been placed in foster care lose respect for their parents because care lose respect for their parents because their parents do not have custody of them. their parents do not have custody of them.

General impact of DCFS involvement on General impact of DCFS involvement on parents’ ability to discipline their children. parents’ ability to discipline their children.


Aisha, 24Aisha, 24

She was taken away from her mother. She was taken away from her mother. Well, she’s staying with her mother now, Well, she’s staying with her mother now, but she still get checks and stuff from but she still get checks and stuff from [DCFS].… Like the respect – being away [DCFS].… Like the respect – being away from your mother like that, if you haven’t from your mother like that, if you haven’t been put in a good home, the respect that been put in a good home, the respect that you have for your parent is little. If you you have for your parent is little. If you don’t have anybody teaching you moral don’t have anybody teaching you moral decency or you don’t have God in your life, decency or you don’t have God in your life, your respect for that person who birthed your respect for that person who birthed you is little. It’s very, very little. you is little. It’s very, very little.


Vickie, 38Vickie, 38

A lot of people, when they hear the A lot of people, when they hear the word DCFS, a lot of people get word DCFS, a lot of people get scared. Because it’s to the point of scared. Because it’s to the point of okay, if I discipline my child this way okay, if I discipline my child this way or whatever, you all are gonna call or whatever, you all are gonna call on me, because I discipline my child. on me, because I discipline my child. How can you all tell me how to raise How can you all tell me how to raise my child?my child?


Foster Children’s Foster Children’s RelationshipsRelationships

18 respondents described instability, 18 respondents described instability, disconnection, and uncertainty experienced disconnection, and uncertainty experienced by children placed in foster care. by children placed in foster care.

11of these respondents noted psychological 11of these respondents noted psychological injuries hamper children’s ability to form injuries hamper children’s ability to form healthy social relationships later in life. healthy social relationships later in life.

4 respondents explicitly tied detrimental 4 respondents explicitly tied detrimental effects of foster care on individual children effects of foster care on individual children to interests of the broader community. to interests of the broader community.


Lauren, 26Lauren, 26

Really, you splitting the family up. Really, you splitting the family up. That does impact the family because That does impact the family because the kids they need to be with their the kids they need to be with their moms. If that’s the only thing they moms. If that’s the only thing they know, then they go somewhere else know, then they go somewhere else and they ain’t gonna be right. If they and they ain’t gonna be right. If they used to one environment and you put used to one environment and you put them somewhere else and they go them somewhere else and they go place to place to place to place, it’s a place to place to place to place, it’s a big impact.big impact.


Ida, 46Ida, 46

The kids with the relatives are not The kids with the relatives are not affected as much because they are at affected as much because they are at least with people they know. I feel for least with people they know. I feel for the kids who are with people they the kids who are with people they don’t know in new communities. I don’t know in new communities. I think they can lose their background think they can lose their background and culture and wonder who they are – and culture and wonder who they are – it’s those kids who could really get in it’s those kids who could really get in to some trouble with drugs and stuff.to some trouble with drugs and stuff.


Aisha, 24Aisha, 24

The child’s gotta go through all this The child’s gotta go through all this ridicule, being tossed about, your mother is ridicule, being tossed about, your mother is nothing, your family is nothing, you been nothing, your family is nothing, you been taken away. And it kinda makes the child taken away. And it kinda makes the child feel like unwanted. And that why we have feel like unwanted. And that why we have a lot of men and women growing up today a lot of men and women growing up today very rebellious and very hurt and doing a very rebellious and very hurt and doing a lot of things out of their hurt because of the lot of things out of their hurt because of the suffering and ridicule that they dealt with suffering and ridicule that they dealt with as a child. [Foster children] don’t have any as a child. [Foster children] don’t have any sense of security. sense of security.


Distrust Among Distrust Among NeighborsNeighbors

9 respondents reported it is common for 9 respondents reported it is common for residents to call DCFS to report residents to call DCFS to report neighbors for child maltreatment.neighbors for child maltreatment.

7 respondents reported DCFS 7 respondents reported DCFS involvement caused tension among involvement caused tension among neighbors by generating gossip.neighbors by generating gossip.

8 respondents reported common use of 8 respondents reported common use of DCFS as a means of retaliation DCFS as a means of retaliation heightens the sense of suspicion among heightens the sense of suspicion among neighbors. neighbors.


Anita, case manager for Anita, case manager for private agencyprivate agency

I think my friends, family, and I think my friends, family, and neighbors call more than I do. neighbors call more than I do. Sometimes I think they have DCFS Sometimes I think they have DCFS on speed dial like it’s an answer, a on speed dial like it’s an answer, a one and only answer. Even though one and only answer. Even though they will say they think DCFS is they will say they think DCFS is overly involved they will be the first overly involved they will be the first to call. It doesn’t really make sense, to call. It doesn’t really make sense, but they do. but they do.


Cassie, 26Cassie, 26

You got to watch what you do and You got to watch what you do and what you say and all this, ‘cause you what you say and all this, ‘cause you don’t know who you could be talking don’t know who you could be talking to. Out on the street you don’t know to. Out on the street you don’t know who you could be talking to. She who you could be talking to. She could be DCFS, writing down stuff, could be DCFS, writing down stuff, taking notes, all of that, and you don’t taking notes, all of that, and you don’t know who she is. So you have to be know who she is. So you have to be careful. You have to be very careful. careful. You have to be very careful.


Regina, 29Regina, 29

Everybody talk, especially over in Everybody talk, especially over in here, so, talking behind the backs, here, so, talking behind the backs, you could walk down the street and you could walk down the street and hear, “Oh girl, her kids got taken hear, “Oh girl, her kids got taken yesterday.” Now do you even know yesterday.” Now do you even know why her children got taken? why her children got taken?


Tiara, 24:Tiara, 24:

Teachers are even using it for revenge Teachers are even using it for revenge too. If you even went to school with too. If you even went to school with these teachers and they made it all these teachers and they made it all right in their career and now they’re right in their career and now they’re teaching in your community and your teaching in your community and your kids is one of their students, that if she kids is one of their students, that if she didn’t like you unknowingly all this didn’t like you unknowingly all this time since high school… you got time since high school… you got teachers that set you up at the end of teachers that set you up at the end of the school year. the school year.


Social ImpactSocial Impact

Residents often use DCFS as a Residents often use DCFS as a means of resolving family and means of resolving family and community conflicts.community conflicts.

Suggests concentrated agency Suggests concentrated agency involvement has a significant involvement has a significant influence on neighborhood influence on neighborhood relationships and norms. relationships and norms.


Is DCFS Too Involved?Is DCFS Too Involved?

NO!: additional financial resources NO!: additional financial resources to families; monitor foster homes to families; monitor foster homes better.better.

Key positive role: financial support Key positive role: financial support for mothers, foster parents, and for mothers, foster parents, and foster children.foster children.


It does help them out financial wise, pay bills andIt does help them out financial wise, pay bills and

stuff like that, they help them out, they do give themstuff like that, they help them out, they do give them

money for keeping the kids too. (Angela, 27)money for keeping the kids too. (Angela, 27)

The only [positive impact of DCFS] that I can thinkThe only [positive impact of DCFS] that I can think

about is the resources that they do provide childrenabout is the resources that they do provide children

or grandparents or other family members who takeor grandparents or other family members who take

in their family members….A lot of people needin their family members….A lot of people need

them. (Wanda, 56)them. (Wanda, 56)


But a different kind of But a different kind of involvementinvolvement

More financial support with less More financial support with less disruption of family relationships. disruption of family relationships.

10 respondents criticized agency’s 10 respondents criticized agency’s narrow role, rooted in investigating narrow role, rooted in investigating families rather than helping them.families rather than helping them. I think there are a lot of problems with I think there are a lot of problems with

DCFS because they only help when they DCFS because they only help when they are called. Other than that they don’t are called. Other than that they don’t care. care.


Michelle, 34:Michelle, 34:

The advertisement, it just says abuse. If you The advertisement, it just says abuse. If you being abused, this is the number you call, this being abused, this is the number you call, this is the only way you gonna get help. It doesn’t is the only way you gonna get help. It doesn’t say if I’m in need of counseling, or if my say if I’m in need of counseling, or if my children don’t have shoes, if I just can’t provide children don’t have shoes, if I just can’t provide groceries even though I may have seven kids, groceries even though I may have seven kids, but I only get a hundred something dollars food but I only get a hundred something dollars food stamps. And my work check only goes to bills. stamps. And my work check only goes to bills. … I don’t want to lose my children, so I’m not … I don’t want to lose my children, so I’m not going to call DCFS for help because I only see going to call DCFS for help because I only see them take away children. them take away children.

The price of supportThe price of support

The child welfare system The child welfare system requires poor parents of requires poor parents of color to relinquish custody color to relinquish custody of their children in of their children in exchange for state support exchange for state support needed to care for them. needed to care for them.



What are the policies, What are the policies, practices, and programs practices, and programs that decrease racial that decrease racial disproportionality?disproportionality?

What does this mean for policy What does this mean for policy & practice?& practice?

If racial disproportionality causes community-If racial disproportionality causes community-wide harms:wide harms:

Community involvement in developing child Community involvement in developing child welfare policy, programs, & practicewelfare policy, programs, & practice

More support for families to More support for families to avoidavoid system system involvementinvolvement

Family advocacy/ parent education & Family advocacy/ parent education & organizing organizing

Voluntary v. punitive, disruptive services Voluntary v. punitive, disruptive services Neighborhood-building strategies Neighborhood-building strategies


Strategic LevelStrategic Level

Multiple strategies: Multiple strategies: targeted & for all families; targeted & for all families;

interdepartmental; external interdepartmental; external partnerships.partnerships.

Prioritizing and accountability: Prioritizing and accountability: internal leadership capacity; data; internal leadership capacity; data; regular evaluation.regular evaluation.

Community engagement and Community engagement and partnership.partnership.

Neighborhood-building strategies. Neighborhood-building strategies.


System LevelSystem Level

Translate race equity philosophy into Translate race equity philosophy into policies and practices.policies and practices.

Improved support to Improved support to avoidavoid system system involvement:involvement: differential response; preventive differential response; preventive

services; kinship care.services; kinship care. Voluntary v. coercive services. Voluntary v. coercive services. Family involvement & advocacy. Family involvement & advocacy. Strength-based decision making; FGDM.Strength-based decision making; FGDM.


D.Crampton & W.Lewis Jackson, D.Crampton & W.Lewis Jackson, FGDM & Disproportionality in FGDM & Disproportionality in

Foster Care: A Case StudyFoster Care: A Case Study Of 257 cases involving children of color, 61 Of 257 cases involving children of color, 61

(24%) diverted from foster care by FGDM.(24%) diverted from foster care by FGDM.

Need for alternative financial supports for Need for alternative financial supports for relative caregivers who participate in relative caregivers who participate in FGDM.FGDM.

Voluntary family participation suggests Voluntary family participation suggests they believe FGDM is a valuable service.they believe FGDM is a valuable service.

Child Welfare, vol. 86, pp. 51-69 (May/June 2007)Child Welfare, vol. 86, pp. 51-69 (May/June 2007)


Social worker levelSocial worker level

Cultural humility (more than Cultural humility (more than cultural competency).cultural competency).

Undoing racism training Undoing racism training (e.g., People’s Institute 3-day (e.g., People’s Institute 3-day workshops).workshops).

Social workers as social Social workers as social advocatesadvocates


Casey-CSSP Alliance for Racial Casey-CSSP Alliance for Racial Equity Breakthrough Series Equity Breakthrough Series

CollaborativeCollaborative Plan-Do-Study-Act Plan-Do-Study-Act

Team: child welfare & human Team: child welfare & human services staff, judge, community services staff, judge, community members, former foster youthmembers, former foster youth

Each member chooses one idea for Each member chooses one idea for change & implements it for testing.change & implements it for testing.

Group reconvenes to discuss results.Group reconvenes to discuss results. Team member returns to test idea Team member returns to test idea

again, with feedback and expansion.again, with feedback and expansion.

Excuse: “It’s not the system’s Excuse: “It’s not the system’s fault”fault”

Societal conditions outside the Societal conditions outside the system increase risk of involvement system increase risk of involvement v. racial bias within the systemv. racial bias within the system

False dichotomyFalse dichotomy BothBoth societal conditions and bias societal conditions and bias Systemic v. individual causesSystemic v. individual causes Practice and policy make a differencePractice and policy make a difference

Excuse:“There’s no Excuse:“There’s no consensus on how to address consensus on how to address

disproportionality” disproportionality” Eliminating unequal treatment of Eliminating unequal treatment of

children by social workers (cultural children by social workers (cultural competency, training)competency, training)

Keeping children in their communities Keeping children in their communities and extended families (recruitment of and extended families (recruitment of foster parents, kinship care)foster parents, kinship care)

Reducing numbers of children of color Reducing numbers of children of color placed in foster care; family supportsplaced in foster care; family supports

Let’s see what works!Let’s see what works!

The real challengeThe real challenge Are we really prepared to make Are we really prepared to make

the fundamental changes in our the fundamental changes in our approach to child protection, child approach to child protection, child welfare, and support for families welfare, and support for families necessary to eliminate racial necessary to eliminate racial disproportionality?disproportionality?

What positive, effective steps can What positive, effective steps can we take in the meantime?we take in the meantime?


QuestionsQuestions What promising practices, programs, What promising practices, programs,

and policies have you seen? and policies have you seen? What are the barriers to their What are the barriers to their

implementation and how can they be implementation and how can they be removed?removed?

What can we each commit to do What can we each commit to do NOW to help increase racial equity NOW to help increase racial equity in the child welfare system?in the child welfare system?

D. Roberts, Northwestern University The Racial Geography of Child Welfare Dorothy Roberts, J.D....

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