Bridging Gaps: Advancing Equity and Human Rights in the Child Welfare System

Abstract

This chapter explores disproportionality in child welfare, focusing on the unequal representation of African American families in this system. It examines contributing factors, highlights systemic inequalities, and proposes anti-racism and human-rights-based training for child welfare professionals to improve their relationships with African American families. 
Specifically, the chapter identifies multiple factors that contribute to the disproportionate representation of African American households in the child welfare system, such as poverty, racial bias, individual decisions, and systemic issues within child welfare agencies. 
The discussion highlights the systemic disparities that impact African American families, including higher rates of reporting and investigations, longer stays in foster care, and lower rates of reunification. 
The chapter exposes the disproportionate impact of child welfare interventions on African American children, resulting in substantial implications for their well-being and the stability of their families. 
It also advocates the implementation of a human-rights-based approach to child welfare, which prioritizes the rights of children and parents. 
The chapter suggests that by integrating anti-racism and human-rights-based training, child welfare professionals may improve their interactions with African American families, thereby fostering more equal outcomes within the child welfare system.