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African American disproportionality and disparity in child welfare: Toward a comprehensive conceptual framework

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  • Boyd, Reiko

Abstract

The disproportional representation and disparity experienced by African American children and families in the child welfare system have received increasing attention over the past three decades. A review of the literature for explanatory factors and conceptual frameworks reveals that, as with the general definitions of disproportionality and disparity, there is a need for increased precision and refinement of the current frameworks used to explain the occurrence of these phenomena in the child welfare system. In order to address these issues, an alternate conceptual framework is proposed, with explanatory factors organized into five major paths: 1) Disproportionate Need; 2) Human Decision-Making; 3) Agency-System Factors; 4) Placement Dynamics; and 5) Policy Impact. This comprehensive framework aims to enhance the theoretical basis relevant to future research, critical thinking, and analyzing responses to the issues of disproportionality and disparity in child welfare.

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  • Boyd, Reiko, 2014. "African American disproportionality and disparity in child welfare: Toward a comprehensive conceptual framework," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 15-27.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:37:y:2014:i:c:p:15-27
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.11.013
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    5. Skrypek, Margaret & Woodmass, Kyler & Rockymore, Maxie & Johnson, Geoff & Wells, Susan J., 2017. "Examining the potential for racial disparity in out-of-home placement decisions: A qualitative matched-pair study," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 127-137.
    6. Smith, Brenda D. & Li, Qingyi & Wang, Kun & Smith, Angela M., 2021. "A national study of child maltreatment reporting at the county level: Interactions among race/ethnicity, rurality and poverty," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
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    10. Lisa Merkel-Holguin & Ida Drury & Colleen Gibley-Reed & Adrian Lara & Maleeka Jihad & Krystal Grint & Kendall Marlowe, 2022. "Structures of Oppression in the U.S. Child Welfare System: Reflections on Administrative Barriers to Equity," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-15, February.
    11. Emily Keddell, 2022. "Mechanisms of Inequity: The Impact of Instrumental Biases in the Child Protection System," Societies, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-19, May.
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    15. Collins, Mary Elizabeth & Scott, Judith C., 2019. "Intersection of race and religion for youth in foster care: Examining policy and practice," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 163-170.
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    17. Jill R. McTavish & Christine McKee & Masako Tanaka & Harriet L. MacMillan, 2022. "Child Welfare Reform: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-24, October.
    18. Ahn, Haksoon & Xu, Yanfeng & Williams, Kimberly A. & Parks-Bourn, Kimberly & Williams, Syreeta & Conway, Denise, 2022. "Family team decision meeting and child welfare service disparities: The influence of race and poverty," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).

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