The Effect of Risk Assessment on Racial Disproportionality in the Child Welfare System

Minority children are involved in the child welfare system at rates disproportionate to their numbers in the overall population. Prior research argues that risk assessments conducted by child welfare agencies may be racially biased, and thus contribute to disproportionality. This study seeks to explore the effect of different risk assessment models on racial disproportionality. This is done by examining the relationship between race/ethnicity and various child welfare outcomes in three states that utilize the consensus-based model and three states that utilize the actuarial model of risk assessment. Results were similar for both groups of states, suggesting that one model is not more biased than the other. The results also indicate that racial/ethnic groups enter the child welfare system at different rates. However, groups remained involved in subsequent outcomes at consistent percentages. Finally, the results suggest differential treatment among the most restrictive child welfare outcomes.

Name thesis:degree_name

MA

Level thesis:degree_level

Immediate Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Graduate Center for Social and Public Policy

Year dc:date.available

2012

Author dc:creator

• Martin, Joseph

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ann Marie Popp
• Norman Conti

• Child protection
• Child welfare
• Disproportionality
• Risk assessment

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/883

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dsc.duq.edu:etd-1899