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African American disproportionality and disparity in child welfare: Toward a comprehensive conceptual framework

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  • Boyd, Reiko

Abstract

The disproportional representation and disparity experienced by African American children and families in the child welfare system have received increasing attention over the past three decades. A review of the literature for explanatory factors and conceptual frameworks reveals that, as with the general definitions of disproportionality and disparity, there is a need for increased precision and refinement of the current frameworks used to explain the occurrence of these phenomena in the child welfare system. In order to address these issues, an alternate conceptual framework is proposed, with explanatory factors organized into five major paths: 1) Disproportionate Need; 2) Human Decision-Making; 3) Agency-System Factors; 4) Placement Dynamics; and 5) Policy Impact. This comprehensive framework aims to enhance the theoretical basis relevant to future research, critical thinking, and analyzing responses to the issues of disproportionality and disparity in child welfare.

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  • Boyd, Reiko, 2014. "African American disproportionality and disparity in child welfare: Toward a comprehensive conceptual framework," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 15-27.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:37:y:2014:i:c:p:15-27
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.11.013
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    4. Emily Keddell, 2022. "Mechanisms of Inequity: The Impact of Instrumental Biases in the Child Protection System," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, May.
    5. Boatswain-Kyte, Alicia & Esposito, Tonino & Trocmé, Nico & Boatswain-Kyte, Alicia, 2020. "A longitudinal jurisdictional study of Black children reported to child protection services in Quebec, Canada," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    6. Ahn, Haksoon & Xu, Yanfeng & Williams, Kimberly A. & Parks-Bourn, Kimberly & Williams, Syreeta & Conway, Denise, 2022. "Family team decision meeting and child welfare service disparities: The influence of race and poverty," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    7. Woodmass, Kyler & Weisberg, Sanford & Shlomi, Hilla & Rockymore, Maxie & Wells, Susan J., 2017. "Examining the potential for racial disparity in out-of-home placement decisions: A quantitative matched-pair study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 96-109.
    8. Henry, Colleen & Victor, Bryan G. & Ryan, Joseph P. & Perron, Brian E., 2020. "Substantiated allegations of failure to protect in the child welfare system: Against whom, in what context, and with what justification?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    9. Kim, Hyunil & Drake, Brett & Jonson-Reid, Melissa, 2018. "An examination of class-based visibility bias in national child maltreatment reporting," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 165-173.
    10. Jill R. McTavish & Christine McKee & Masako Tanaka & Harriet L. MacMillan, 2022. "Child Welfare Reform: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-24, October.
    11. Emily Keddell, 2019. "Algorithmic Justice in Child Protection: Statistical Fairness, Social Justice and the Implications for Practice," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-22, October.
    12. Shipe, Stacey L. & Uretsky, Mathew C. & LaBrenz, Catherine A. & Shdaimah, Corey S. & Connell, Christian M., 2022. "When families, organizational culture, and policy collide: A mixed method study of alternative response," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 139(C).
    13. Lisa Merkel-Holguin & Ida Drury & Colleen Gibley-Reed & Adrian Lara & Maleeka Jihad & Krystal Grint & Kendall Marlowe, 2022. "Structures of Oppression in the U.S. Child Welfare System: Reflections on Administrative Barriers to Equity," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, February.
    14. Lens, Vicki & Katz, Colleen Cary & Suarez, Kimberly Spencer, 2016. "Case workers in family court: A therapeutic jurisprudence analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 107-114.
    15. Mowbray, Orion & Ryan, Joseph P. & Victor, Bryan G. & Bushman, Gregory & Yochum, Clayton & Perron, Brian E., 2017. "Longitudinal trends in substance use and mental health service needs in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 1-8.
    16. Emily Keddell & Gabrielle Davie, 2018. "Inequalities and Child Protection System Contact in Aotearoa New Zealand: Developing a Conceptual Framework and Research Agenda," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(6), pages 1-14, June.
    17. Mohamud, Faisa & Edwards, Travonne & Antwi-Boasiako, Kofi & William, Kineesha & King, Jason & Igor, Elo & King, Bryn, 2021. "Racial disparity in the Ontario child welfare system: Conceptualizing policies and practices that drive involvement for Black families," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    18. Collins, Mary Elizabeth & Scott, Judith C., 2019. "Intersection of race and religion for youth in foster care: Examining policy and practice," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 163-170.

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