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

Author

Listed:
  • Alan J. Dettlaff
  • Reiko Boyd

Abstract

Children of color are overrepresented in the child welfare system, and Black children have been most significantly impacted by this racial disproportionality. Racial disproportionality in child welfare exists because of influences that are both external to child welfare systems and part of the child welfare system. We summarize the causes of racial disproportionality, arguing that internal and external causes of disproportional involvement 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 disproportionality, arguing that it needs to be rectified because of the harm it causes Black children and families and that forcible separation of children from their parents can no longer be viewed as an acceptable form of intervention for families in need.

Suggested Citation

  • Alan J. Dettlaff & Reiko Boyd, 2020. "Racial Disproportionality and Disparities in the Child Welfare System: Why Do They Exist, and What Can Be Done to Address Them?," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 692(1), pages 253-274, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:anname:v:692:y:2020:i:1:p:253-274
    DOI: 10.1177/0002716220980329
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Raj Chetty & Nathaniel Hendren & Maggie R Jones & Sonya R Porter, 2020. "Race and Economic Opportunity in the United States: an Intergenerational Perspective [“Intergenerational Mobility of Immigrants in the US Over Two Centuries,”]," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 135(2), pages 711-783.
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    Cited by:

    1. Frank Edwards, 2025. "Bias, risk, racism: Reconciling critical and quantitative approaches to understanding racial inequality in child welfare system outcomes," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 44(2), pages 693-706, March.
    2. Zilberstein, Karen & Linville, Deanna & Ruff, Saralyn, 2025. "When care hurts: Institutional betrayal trauma among former foster youth," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    3. Piette Durrance, Christine & Wang, Yang & Wolfe, Barbara, 2025. "Abortion access and child protective services involvement," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 103(C).
    4. Hollinshead, Dana M. & Nunez, Juan J. & Shusterman, Gila R. & Fettig, Nicole B. & Fluke, John D., 2025. "Child maltreatment report disparities for black children by report source, urbanicity, and over time: An examination of the impact of COVID-19," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    5. Abazi Xhuana, 2025. "Regulating social welfare systems in International Law: A comparative analysis of legal challenges across diverse frameworks," Academic Journal of Business, Administration, Law and Social Sciences, Sciendo, vol. 11(2), pages 57-67.
    6. Fix, Rebecca L. & Luken, Amanda & Nair, Reshmi & Fix, Spencer T., 2025. "Racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in substantiated child maltreatment: A state-level analysis of U.S. incidence rates," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    7. Dunnigan, Allison & Ma, Ruijie & Davis, Claudette Grinnell, 2025. "Multiraciality and intersectionality: an Asian-centered exploration of out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    8. Brittany R. Schuler & Stacey L. Shipe & Astrid Uhl & Samantha Smith & LaShanta Majeed & Nicole O’Reilly & Cheri Carter & Bradley N. Collins, 2025. "Bridging Gaps: Provider Perspectives on Integrating Systems for Health Equity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(4), pages 1-20, April.
    9. Hemler, Mary Elizabeth, 2025. "Child welfare inequalities in an egalitarian nation: A Norwegian cohort study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    10. Rousson, Ashley N. & Merelas, Sophia & Tajima, Emiko A. & Orlando, Laura & Lund, Julia J. & Barkan, Susan, 2025. "“At the Mercy of our System”: Structural and programmatic changes for supporting parents with children in out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).

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