Racial/ethnic disproportionality in reunification across U.S. child welfare systems

LaBrenz, Catherine A.; Findley, Erin; Graaf, Genevieve; Baiden, Philip; Kim, Jangmin; Choi, Mi Jin; Chakravarty, Sreyashi

doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104894

Cited by 31 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…Models 3–6 included a cross-level interaction term to observe the association between state policy implementation and substantiation across diverse racial/ethnic groups. The inclusion of the cross-level interaction term was consistent with the multi-level approach described by Hox (2010) and has been utilized in several other recently published social science papers that have used multilevel modeling (e.g., LaBrenz et al, 2021; Vazquez et al, 2022). Specific to our research questions, inclusion of an interaction term allowed us to examine whether the relationship between state child maltreatment policies and substantiation varied significantly across racial/ethnic groups.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research over the past several decades has documented racial and ethnic disparities across the lifespan of child welfare cases (Dettlaff & Boyd, 2020; Harris & Hackett, 2008). Children and families of color face bias and overrepresentation from the initial referral (Antwi-Boasiako et al, 2020) to substantiation (Dettlaff et al, 2011), and foster care entry (LaBrenz et al, 2021). Although racial disproportionality and disparities have been identified by several state and county child welfare systems as priority areas to improve, few large-scale studies have examined specific efforts or initiatives intended to decrease disproportionality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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State Child Maltreatment Policies and Disparities in Substantiation: A Study of State-Administered Child Welfare Systems in the U.S.

et al. 2022

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Although several studies have examined child and family factors associated with substantiation, less research has explored the role of state child maltreatment policies in substantiating cases of alleged maltreatment. In parallel, there is growing pressure to reduce racial/ethnic disproportionality and disparities across the span of a child welfare case. We examined the relationship between state child maltreatment policies and substantiation, with child race/ethnicity as a moderator of this relationship. Data came from the 2019 National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) and the State Child Abuse and Neglect (SCAN) Policy Database. Using a series of multi-level binary logistic models, we calculated the odds of substantiation based on child characteristics (e.g., child age, number of types of alleged maltreatment) and state policies (e.g., state definitions of maltreatment that include exposure to domestic violence, harsh punishment). Approximately 17% of the variance in substantiation occurs between states. Although we did not find a direct effect of state policy on substantiation, there were significant interaction terms, in that inclusion of exposure to domestic violence, harsh punishment, or educational neglect in state policy was more strongly associated with substantiation for children of color than white children. Implications for policy and research are explored.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

State Child Maltreatment Policies and Disparities in Substantiation: A Study of State-Administered Child Welfare Systems in the U.S.

et al. 2022

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“…Not only are AI/AN children more likely to enter foster care, but they are also more likely to experience disparate outcomes in comparison with their peers. AI/AN children have lower rates of reunification (Farmer et al, 2009; LaBrenz et al, 2021; Webster et al, 2005) and higher rates of reentry into care (Shaw, 2006) in comparison with other race/ethnic groups. AI/AN youth who age out of the foster care system are more likely to experience depression and anxiety (Landers et al, 2017) and incarceration, and less likely to enroll in higher education than their peers (Watt & Kim, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring Indian Child Welfare Act implementation and case outcomes

Summers¹

2023

Juvenile Family Court J

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Despite the passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA) more than four decades ago, little is known about how or how well it is being implemented into practice by the state courts or how implementation may be related to improved outcomes for Indian children and families. This study explores how ICWA implementation in five state court sites is related to case outcomes. One hundred and fifty‐one ICWA cases were reviewed for factors including active efforts findings, tribal presence at hearings, use of qualified expert witness (QEW) testimony, notice, and confirmation of ICWA status. Results are mixed. Specific ICWA implementation measures and aggregate measures were mostly not related to outcomes, but early implementation, such as having the tribe present at the first hearing, did appear related to timely permanency. Implications of these findings and future research directions are discussed.

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“…The goal of most cases begins as reunification or returning children to the parents from which they were removed. In a review of articles exploring factors related to reunification, three studies found that AI/AN children are less likely to reunify compared to Caucasian children (LaBrenz et al, 2021; Webster et al, 2005) or children of other races (Farmer et al, 2009). Other studies have found no difference in reunification rates (Connell et al, 2006; Landers, Dane, et al, 2017; Shaw, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effectiveness of an ICWA Court at achieving improved ICWA implementation and outcomes: A pre‐post intervention study

Gatowski¹,

Summers²,

Bussey³

2023

Juvenile Family Court J

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This article presents findings from a quasi‐experimental study of the St. Louis County (Duluth, Minnesota) ICWA Court examining its effectiveness at achieving improved ICWA implementation and a better case process and outcomes for Indian families. Using a case file review method, cases prior to implementing the ICWA Court were compared to post‐ICWA Court cases on demographics, case characteristics, application of ICWA requirements, presence of parties at hearings, achievement of child permanency outcomes, and permanency timeliness. Compared to pre‐ICWA Court, this study found several statistically significant improvements in the ICWA Court's handling of cases, including taking less time to confirm the case as an ICWA case, greater appearance of tribal representatives by the Dispositional review hearing stage, more active efforts findings, more placements with relatives at earlier stages of the case, more placement with relative outcomes when reunifications were not possible, and timelier permanency.

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Racial/ethnic disproportionality in reunification across U.S. child welfare systems

Cited by 31 publications

References 56 publications

State Child Maltreatment Policies and Disparities in Substantiation: A Study of State-Administered Child Welfare Systems in the U.S.

State Child Maltreatment Policies and Disparities in Substantiation: A Study of State-Administered Child Welfare Systems in the U.S.

Exploring Indian Child Welfare Act implementation and case outcomes

The effectiveness of an ICWA Court at achieving improved ICWA implementation and outcomes: A pre‐post intervention study

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