Developmental Implications
Black children are less likely to receive services than white children; these racial inconsistencies in services received remain even after controlling for need.
To examine the racial disproportionality in child welfare, this report draws on peer-reviewed papers and chapters from data gathered during the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW). Topics include child factors and related services, including early childhood development and early intervention services, as well as mental health and substance abuse treatment needs and access; parental factors and related services, including parental arrest and child involvement with child welfare services agencies, as well as domestic violence; and reunification and related services.
Race and ethnicity was not found to be a significant predictor in services received by children remaining at home, nor was it an indicator in whether children would be placed in out-of-home care; but race and ethnicity are strongly associated with the overall level of child welfare involvement, especially for younger children.