State policies on child maltreatment and racial disproportionality

Catherine A. LaBrenz, Tenesha Littleton, Stacey L. Shipe, Rong Bai and Lauren Stargel

Children and Youth Services Review, 2023, vol. 151, issue C

Abstract: Over the past several decades researchers have documented disproportionality for Black families across multiple decision-making points within the child welfare system. Yet, few studies have examined how specific state policies may impact disproportionality across decision points. The racial disproportionality index (RDI) was calculated for Black children in each state and Washington DC (N = 51) based on the proportion of children who were received a referral to CPS, a substantiated investigation, or entered foster care. A series of bivariate analyses (one-way ANOVAs; independent sample t-tests) were used to explore the relationship between the RDI and these decision points. Further analyses were conducted between the RDI and state policies (e.g., child maltreatment definitions, mandated reporting, and alternative response). Our results suggest there is an overrepresentation of Black children in CPS across the three decision points. This overrepresentation continues with specific state policies such as a state using harsh punishment in their definition of child maltreatment. Recommendations are provided for policy and research, including a suggestion for further exploration of state policies and county-level disproportionality indexes.

Keywords: Child maltreatment; Racial disproportionality index; Substantiation; Foster care entry; State policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:151:y:2023:i:c:s0190740923002438

DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107048

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