Racial/Ethnic Differences in Child Protective Services Reporting, Substantiation and Placement, With Comparison to Non-CPS Risks and Outcomes: 2005–2019

Abstract

We used National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System and Census data to examine Black–White and Hispanic–White disparities in reporting, substantiation, and out-of-home placement both descriptively from 2005–2019 and in multivariate models from 2007–2017. We also tracked contemporaneous social risk (e.g., child poverty) and child harm (e.g., infant mortality) disparities using non-child protective services (CPS) sources and compared them to CPS reporting rate disparities. Black–White CPS reporting disparities were lower than found in non-CPS risk and harm benchmarks. Consistent with the Hispanic paradox, Hispanic–White CPS reporting disparities were lower than risk disparities but similar to harm disparities. Descriptive and multivariate analyses of data from the past several years indicated that Black children were less likely to be substantiated or placed into out-of-home care following a report than White children. Hispanic children were slightly more likely to be substantiated or placed in out-of-home care than White children overall, but this difference disappeared in multivariate models. Available data provide no evidence that Black children were overreported relative to observed risks and harms reflected in non-CPS data. Reducing reporting rates among Black children will require addressing broader conditions associated with maltreatment.

Seeking a Balanced View of Child Protective Services

“…Indeed, after analyses control for sociodemographic variables, Black newborns exposed to illicit drugs appear less likely to be reported than White newborns. Similarly, others found that racial disproportionality in CPS’ overall statistics is largely confounded by poverty, with further support by a recent analysis . Reported Black children were less likely to have maltreatment substantiated and less likely to be placed out of home than White children .…”

“…Similarly, others found that racial disproportionality in CPS' overall statistics is largely confounded by poverty, 5 with further support by a recent analysis. 6 Reported Black children were less likely to have maltreatment substantiated and less likely to be placed out of home than White children. 6 Clearly, child poverty and its many associated burdens are strongly linked to a lengthy list of problems.…”

“…6 Reported Black children were less likely to have maltreatment substantiated and less likely to be placed out of home than White children. 6 Clearly, child poverty and its many associated burdens are strongly linked to a lengthy list of problems.…”

The stark implications of abolishing child welfare: An alternative path towards support and safety

“…Roberts, 2022). Available data do not support these common assumptions (Barth et al, 2021;Drake et al, 2023). Since 2018, black children are slightly less likely to be substantiated than white children (Children's Bureau, 2023a, tab.…”

Our Commitment to Promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice in Child Maltreatment

“…Black parents' greater racial identification was associated with lower child abuse risk and less observed negative parenting, whereas the reverse was true for White parents. In another study using the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System and U.S. Census data, Drake et al (2023) examined Black-White and Latine-White disparities in reporting, substantiation, and home removal, controlling for social risk (e.g., child poverty) and child harm (e.g., infant mortality) disparities using non-child protective services (CPS) sources to unravel confounding in CPS data. They found Black-White and Latine-White CPS reporting disparities were lower than disparities in non-CPS risk benchmarks.…”