Outcomes following child welfare services: what are they and do they differ for black children?

Date

2020

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Journal of Public Child Welfare

Abstract

Current calls to end structural racism in the US include proposals to abolish or radically transform child welfare services (CWS). While substantial research finds numerous poor outcomes following maltreatment, the efficacy and acceptability of CWS, particularly for children of color, has long sparked debate. This review summarizes the state of quantitative research across seven domains for children overall and by race with varying degrees of CWS contact. Current research with adequate comparisons provides no robust evidence to support the idea that children have worse outcomes from CWS involvement, but few studies focused on Black children. Implications for research and system change are discussed.

Description

Keywords

outcomes, child welfare, foster care, research, child protection

Citation

Barth, R. P., Jonson-Reid, M., Greeson, J. K., Drake, B., Berrick, J. D., Garcia, A. R., ... & Gyourko, J. R. (2020). Outcomes following child welfare services: what are they and do they differ for black children?. Journal of Public Child Welfare, 1-23.

DOI