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Resources to Support Racial Equity in Family-Serving Systems

In our work with children and families of color, it is important that we acknowledge the disproportionate challenges and disparities facing Black and minority communities still today. Child- and family-serving professionals play a critical role in breaking these cycles by helping to build resilience and promote healthy relationships among children and families of color.

In our work with children and families of color, it is important that we acknowledge the disproportionate challenges and disparities facing Black and minority communities still today. This includes the role of racism in child-serving systems that has led to an overrepresentation of children and youth of color in child welfare, child protection services, and juvenile justice.

In the U.S., 53% of Black children will be investigated as potential victims of child abuse by age 18, compared to 37% of all children (Children’s Rights). In addition, African-American and American Indian or Alaska Native children are at greater risk than other children of being confirmed for maltreatment and placed in out-of-home care (Yi et al., 2020).

Data shows that, in particular, Black families disproportionately experience oversurveillance and separation. According to a report by Child Welfare Information Gateway, researchers in the field organize explanatory factors for racial disproportionality and disparity into the following overarching pathways (Boyd, 2015; Dettlaff & Boyd, 2021; Fluke et al., 2011):

  • Disproportionate and disparate needs of children of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, particularly due to higher rates of poverty
  • Racial bias and discrimination exhibited by individuals (e.g., caseworkers, mandated reporters)
  • Child welfare system factors (e.g., lack of resources for families of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, caseworker characteristics)
  • Geographic contexts, such as the region, State, or neighborhood
  • Policy and legislation (e.g., lack of measures targeting the needs of children of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds)
  • Structural racism (e.g., historical policies and cultural dynamics)

 Black and Hispanic youth experience adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) at a greater rate than other racial and ethnic populations. In the U.S., 61% of Black children and 51% of Hispanic children have experienced at least one ACE, compared to 40% of white children (Merrick, Ford, & Ports, 2018).

Given what we know about racial disproportionality and disparity, the prevalence of ACEs among minorities is no surprise. In the article, ACEs and Minorities, the author discusses how the high occurrence of ACEs among minority groups can likely be attributed to the uneven provision of services and opportunities in minority neighborhoods (Jamieson, 2018).

Child- and family-serving professionals play a critical role in breaking these cycles by helping to build resilience and promote healthy relationships among children and families of color. In this blog post, CalTrin highlights resources relevant to addressing systemic racism and bias, historical and ongoing trauma, advancing racial equity in child and family well-being, and cultural considerations related to family strengthening and support.

California Training Institute (CalTrin)

Hey, that’s us! CalTrin has hosted several trainings that address disproportionalities and examine equity across prevention services and child welfare. Schedule time to watch a CalTrin Replay! Whenever possible, we record our training events so that you can fit them into your schedule and share them with your team. All CalTrin Replays are free, but some may require you to register for a CalTrin account.

Full recordings and materials are available for the following CalTrin-hosted webinars and workshops in our Training Archive:

Note: You will need to log in to your CalTrin account to access select archived training materials. You can create a free account here.

Are you interested in a live learning experience? Explore our calendar and sign up for training that fits your schedule and professional development goals!

Through our work with various partner agencies and professionals immersed in this work, we have amassed a wealth of resources to support working with children and families of color. Below, we share these partner resources as well as some of our favorite finds.

Administration for Children and Families and Children’s Bureau

Resources focused on the importance of striving for racial equity in the way child welfare systems help children and families.

California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC)

Our partner project, the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC), promotes the effective implementation of evidence-based practices for children and families involved with the child welfare system. Explore the CEBC’s Reducing Racial Disparity and Disproportionality in Child Welfare topic area, highlighting programs that propose replicable strategies for reducing disparities and disproportionalities facing children of color. View all programs in this topic area reviewed by the CEBC online here. Another great resource from the CEBC is their guide on Creating an Inclusive, Equitable, Anti-Racist Workplace.

Capacity Building Center for States and Center for Tribes

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University

Center for the Study of Social Policy

Chapin Hall

Child Trends

Child Trends thinks critically about the historical, political, and societal biases—explicit and implicit—that impact the lives of children, especially those in communities of color. View the latest research and analysis within their Racial Equity topic area, including:

Child Welfare Information Gateway

Child Welfare Information Gateway highlights issues relevant to working with Black families, which include understanding the impact of racism, historical trauma, and ongoing trauma on Black individuals and families, as well as relevant cultural issues. 

EmbraceRace

EmbraceRace was founded by two parents who set out to create the community and gather the resources they needed (need!) to meet the challenges faced by those raising children in a world where race matters.

National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI)

Explore NCWWI’s collection of resources that support child welfare staff and leaders as they confront implicit bias, implement system changes, and work to achieve racial equity within their organizations and across systems. 

Prevent Child Abuse America

Browse resources intended to aid others as they work to integrate an equity lens into child maltreatment prevention work as professionals, parents, and members of the community.

Project Implicit

Project Implicit is committed to advancing scientific knowledge about stereotypes, prejudice, and other group-based biases. The following Implicit Association Tests (IAT) are available for free:

Unconscious Bias Project

The Unconscious Bias Project (UBP) empowers the individual, group, and collective using the latest best practices to do more to address systemic inequities of racism, xenophobia, ageism, ableism, and others excluded in society. UBP’s mission is to help leaders build more inclusive spaces through custom programming so everyone can belong. Explore resources available on their website:

Check Out These Additional Resources!

Tools, Guides, and Topic Pages

Good Reads

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*Last updated January 31, 2024

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