Equity from the Start Disproportionality and Disparity Among Young Children in the CW System: What the Data Tell Us Wendy Wiegmann CCWIP May 10, 2017

Learning Objectives Better understand the terminology surrounding differences in the experiences of children in the child welfare system based on race/ethnicity Know how child welfare outcomes differ for children in the California child welfare system by age and race/ethnicity Understand how poverty may influence disparity among children in the California child welfare system by age and race/ethnicity

What does the literature say about the causes of disparity? Racial bias and discrimination in the child welfare system and other ecologies (e.g., among mandated reporters) Child welfare system processes and (lack of) resources Disproportionate and disparate need of children and families of color Geographic context All may be true! Fluke, J., Harden, B. J., Jenkins, M., & Ruehrdanz, A. (2010). Research synthesis on child welfare disproportionality and disparities. Disparities and Disproportionality in Child Welfare: Analysis of the Research, 1-93.

Terminology

Disproportionality vs. Disparity Disproportionality: When a group makes up a proportion of those experiencing some event that is higher or lower than that group’s proportion of the population Disparity: A comparison of one group (e.g., regarding disproportionality, services, outcomes) to another group

Q4_2016

Black Disproportionality 18.7% 5.5% = 3.4 White Disproportionality 24.0% 28.3% = 0.85 Disparity Index 𝟑.𝟒 𝟎.𝟖𝟓 = 𝟒.𝟎 “Black children are 4 times more likely to enter care than white children.” Q4_2016

Q4_2016 Disparity exists across all child welfare outcomes, especially for Black and Native American children. Disparity gets worse for Black and Native American children as they progress through the system.

Population in Poverty Estimates Combination of data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), and population data from The California Department of Finance. Separate multipliers were created for each Race/Ethnicity at the state level and for each of the 58 counties. Poverty Multiplier = 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑛 𝑃𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑦 𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑁𝑢𝑚𝑏𝑒𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑛 The multiplier was then applied to the California Department of Finance Population Estimates

Q4_2016 Disparity rates are reduced when poverty/geographic factors are taken into consideration, particularly for Allegations and Substantiated Allegations. For Latino/a children, disparity is reversed.

AGE FACTORS

Q4_2016 For Allegations, disparity is the highest among the youngest Black and Native American children.

Q4_2016 Among substantiations, disparity is also the highest among the youngest Black and Native American children, although there is a high level of disparity among Black 16-17 year olds as well.

Q4_2016 For Entries, there is greater overall racial/ethnic disparity, particularly for Black children, but fewer gradations across age.

Q4_2016 Among in care cares, disparity is highest among the oldest Black children. The same is not true among Native American children.

EXITS

88%

Black Children (n = 5,000) White Children (n = 6,971) 88% 85% For Black children, there is a lower percentage of children who exit to permanency within 72 months from entry [85% (n = 4,211) vs. 88% (6,148)]. Note the difference between the percentage of children who achieve permanency through adoption [17% (n = 833) vs. 25% (n = 1,772)] and guardianship [13% (n = 648) vs. 7% (n = 478)].

Native American Children (n = 310) White Children (n = 6,971) 88% 86% For Native American children, there is a lower percentage of children who exit to permanency within 72 months from entry [86% (n = 266) vs. 88% (6,148)]. Note the difference between the percentage of children who achieve permanency through adoption [17% (n = 53) vs. 25% (n = 1,772)] and guardianship [11% (n = 34) vs. 7% (n = 478)].

Summary Disparity increases for Black and Native American as they progress through the child welfare system. Disparity rates are reduced when poverty/geographic factors are taken into consideration. For Latino/a children, disparity is reversed. Among Allegations and Substantiations, disparity is the highest among the youngest Black and Native American children. Overall disparity is higher for Entries and In Care rates, but more evenly distributed across age groups. Disparity across the system is highest for In Care rates for Black children. Black and Native American children are less likely to exit foster care within 72 months, particularly to adoption.

How is disparity being addressed? Nationally California Cultural trainings to reduce bias and sensitize workers Common Core 3.0 and the Core Practice Model include training to reduce disparity Infusion of funding and technical assistance from the Casey-CSSP Alliance for Racial Equity at the State and local level Standing Committee on Disproportionality (Fresno County) Cultural sensitivity trainings Family and community involvement Team Decision Making/Child & Family Team Meetings Cultural Brokers

Thank You! The California Child Welfare Indicators Project (CCWIP) is a collaboration of the California Department of Social Services and the School of Social Welfare, University of California at Berkeley, and is supported by the California Department of Social Services, Casey Family Programs, the Stuart Foundation, and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation. CCWIP is a collaboration of the California Department of Social Services and the School of Social Welfare, University of California at Berkeley, and is supported by the California Department of Social Services and the Stuart Foundation.

Questions? Wendy Wiegmann wendy.wiegmann@berkeley.edu 510-643-0839