ABSTRACT
For several decades, child welfare researchers have explored the issue of disproportionality in child welfare. Top-level government reports have confirmed that African-American children are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system. This knowledge led to the concern that equity standards are not being implemented in child welfare systems partially due to implicit bias and insufficient data to track services to this population of children. The lack of data and recognition of the disparate entry of African Americans into care will continue unless systems move to having the child welfare system understand overrepresentation and the need for equity in the provision of services. This article shares findings of a research study and is focused on the use of data as a strategy to improve racial equity in child welfare. It uses critical race theory (CRT) to explain how racism can impact equity in the provision of child welfare services.
Acknowledgments
Dr. Jacqueline Smith for her consultation and participation in research and Shayna Waites, Howard University doctoral student. Further acknowledgements go to the Black Administrators in Child Welfare (BACW) organization for their work and committment in assuring that African American children in Child Welfare systems recieve adequate care and are served with equity.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.