NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Undoing Racial Disproportionality in Undoing Racial Disproportionality in Foster Care!Foster Care!
The People’s Institute For Survival and Beyond
A Symposium on Reducing Racial Disproportionality and Disparities
in the Child Welfare System
Monday, September 21, 2009
9AM to 5PM
Baruch College Mason Hall
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
PresenterPresenter
Gregory Owens, LMSW
Director of Special Projects
Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Development
NYS Office of Children & Family Services
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
IssuesIssues
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
DisparitiesDisparities Although African Americans constituted 15% of the
child population of the United States in 1999, they accounted for 45% of the children in substitute care. (Derezotes,Poertner & Testa, 2005)
Caucasian children, who constituted 60% of the U.S. child population, accounted for only 36% of the children in out-of-home care (Derezotes,Poertner & Testa, 2005)
Research Roundtable on Children of Color in Child Welfare System (2002)
• Greater Removal Rate even when levels of abuse are the same• More time in Foster Care• Parallel’s and Interaction with disparities in other systems
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Black, Latino, and First Nation YouthBlack, Latino, and First Nation Youthare: Less likely to receive appropriate health care More likely to encounter environmental toxins More likely to receive punitive and restrictive
segregating interventions More likely to interact with underpaid, overworked,
low-status, demoralized professionals/paraprofessionals
More likely be suspended, expelled,, adjudicated, and sent to juvenile justice facilities
Osher, 2002
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
DisparitiesDisparities “Children of color receive fewer familial
visits, fewer contacts with caseworkers, fewer written case plans, and fewer developmental or psychological assessments, and they tend to remain in foster care placement longer.” (Stukes Chipungu and Bent-Goodley, 2004)
Families of children of color have access to fewer services.
• E.g., even though substance-abuse rates are high among African-American families involved in foster care, community-based substance-abuse treatment frequently is not available or accessible to these families. (Stukes Chipungu and Bent-Goodley, 2004)
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Components of DisparitiesComponents of Disparities
Disproportionate Risk Disproportionate Access Disproportionate Treatment Disproportionate Outcomes Differential Evidence/Treatment Base
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Disparities not Unique to Child Disparities not Unique to Child WelfareWelfare
Criminal justice Health care Mental health Homelessness Victims of violent crime Special education
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Health Care & African AmericansHealth Care & African Americans
• Rate of diabetes is more than three times that of whites
• HIV/AIDS more than seven times that of whites• Infant mortality twice that of whites• Life span differential
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Treatment DifferentialsTreatment Differentials
Minorities are less likely than whites to get…
• proper heart medication, heart bypass surgery• kidney dialysis & transplants
Gap greatest between blacks & whites Blacks on Medicare more likely to have their
lower limbs amputated• diabetes
Institute of Medicine
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Mental HealthMental Health
Surgeon General’s report on inequities• Disparities in availability, accessibility, & quality of
mental health services for racial and ethnic minorities
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Homelessness & African Homelessness & African AmericansAmericans
44% of homeless population 3.5 times more AA than whites are
homeless• Overrepresentation includes many women, children &
youth
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Victims of Violent CrimeVictims of Violent Crime AA of all ages are more likely to be the
victims of serious violent crime than are whites.
At greater risk of knowing someone who had suffered violence• Greater risk not associated with SES differences or
differences in area of residence
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Impacts Across DomainsImpacts Across Domains Health > Mental Health, Education,
Child Welfare, Juvenile Justice Mental Health > Health, Education,
Juvenile Justice, Child Welfare Education > Mental Health, Juvenile
Justice
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Why Does DMR Exist?Why Does DMR Exist?
Disproportionate Need Disproportionate Attention Biased Decision-Making Fewer Community Resources Visibility Theory – Less & therefore
more visible.
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
DisproportionalityDisproportionality
Disproportionality exists when a group makes up a proportion of those experiencing some event (SCR report or foster care placement) that is higher or lower than that group’s proportion in the population
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Race/Ethnicity and the Path through the Child Welfare Race/Ethnicity and the Path through the Child Welfare System, 2006System, 2006
New York State
19% 26% 29%44% 47%
20%21%
24%
21% 20%54% 37% 33%
22% 19%
7%
1% 1% 0% 0%13% 13% 14%15%
0%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Child Population(n=4,524,996)
Children in SCRReports
(n=210,764)
SubstantiatedReports
(n=72,754)
Foster CareEntries
(n=14,240)
In Care(n=27,014)
Black Hispanic White Asian/PI Other/Unknown
New York City
28%40% 42%
56% 57%
33%
37% 40%
33% 28%27%
7%6%
4% 4%11%
3% 2% 1% 1%13% 10%
11%7%0%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
ChildPopulation
(n=1,959,308)
Children inSCR Reports(n=82,662)
SubstantiatedReports
(n=32,744)
Foster CareEntries
(n=7,622)
In Care(n=16,696)
Black Hispanic White Asian/PI Other/Unknown
Rest of State
11% 17% 18%30% 32%10%
10% 11%
7% 7%
75%56% 55% 43% 44%
3%
1% 1% 0% 0%
16% 15% 19% 18%
0%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
ChildPopulation
(n=2,565,688)
Children inSCR Reports(n=128,102)
SubstantiatedReports
(n=40,010)
Foster CareEntries
(n=6,618)
In Care(n=10,318)
Black Hispanic White Asian/PI Other/Unknown
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Black Children are Overrepresented in Black Children are Overrepresented in Child Welfare SystemChild Welfare System
Black children make up a substantially higher percentage of the child welfare population at each stage in the process than their share of the general population of children under 18.
The overrepresentation of black children increases steadily with progression through the child welfare system, from SCR report to foster care placement.
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Rate of Children Reported to SCR, Indicated for Abuse/Neglect, Admitted Rate of Children Reported to SCR, Indicated for Abuse/Neglect, Admitted to Foster Care, and In Care Per 1,000 Children < 18 in Populationto Foster Care, and In Care Per 1,000 Children < 18 in Population
New York State
66.3
25.2
15.1
47.9
5.8
31.7
9.82.1
7.419.0
3.31.30
20
40
60
80
SCR Reports IndicatedReports
Foster CareEntries
In CareRate Per 1000 Children < 18
Black Hispanic White
New York City
59.6
24.6
16.9
7.111.7
1.2
7.7
47.0
19.8
3.83.8 0.50
20
40
60
80
SCR Reports IndicatedReports
Foster CareEntries
In CareRate Per 1000 Children < 18
Black Hispanic White
Rest of State79.5
26.2
11.6
50.0
17.0
37.1
7.0
2.71.911.5 2.31.50
20
40
60
80
SCR Reports IndicatedReports
Foster CareEntries
In CareRate Per 1000 Children < 18
Black Hispanic White
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Rates of Reports, Indications, and Foster Rates of Reports, Indications, and Foster Care Highest for Black ChildrenCare Highest for Black Children
As measured by rate per 1000 children in population, black children are more likely than Hispanic children, and Hispanic children are more likely than white children, to be reported to SCR, indicated for abuse/neglect, admitted to foster care, and in care.
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Rate of Children Indicated for Abuse/Neglect Per 1,000 Children Rate of Children Indicated for Abuse/Neglect Per 1,000 Children < 18 in Population, by Age< 18 in Population, by Age
New York State
42.4
22.4
28.7
19.014.4
10.1 10.0 8.6
26.722.4
14.8 21.8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Under 1 1-5 years 6-12 Years 13-17 Years
Indication Rate per 1,000
Children < 18
Black Hispanic White
New York City
38.0
19.624.0
14.2
4.5 2.7 4.0 4.7
26.831.5
19.9 23.8
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Under 1 1-5 years 6-12 Years 13-17 Years
Indication Rate per 1,000
Children < 18
Black Hispanic White
Rest of State
52
16.6 16.7 16.617.9
12.6 11.5 9.5
19.5
26.728.4
22.9
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Under 1 1-5 years 6-12 Years 13-17 Years
Indication Rate Per 1,000
Children < 18
Black Hispanic White
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Indication Rates Highest for InfantsIndication Rates Highest for Infants
Regardless of race/ethnicity, infants have the highest likelihood of being indicated for abuse/neglect.
The rate of indication for black infants is particularly high in rest of state.
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Rate of Children Admitted to Foster Care Per 1,000 Children < 18 Rate of Children Admitted to Foster Care Per 1,000 Children < 18 in Population, by Agein Population, by Age
New York State
19.6
8.09.2
2.6 2.34.1
3.11.0 0.8
1.8
6.8 5.5
0
5
10
15
20
25
Under 1 1-5 years 6-12 Years 13-17 Years
Rate of per 1,000 Children
Under 18
Black Hispanic White
New York City
20.1
7.7
11.5
3.1 2.94.5
1.50.4 0.5 0.5
5.97.2
0
5
10
15
20
25
Under 1 1-5 years 6-12 Years 13-17 Years
Rate of per 1,000 Children
Under 18
Black Hispanic White
Rest of State
18.6
8.6
3.2
5.94.7
1.01.2
4.4
2.00.91.23.7
0
5
10
15
20
25
Under 1 1-5 years 6-12 Years 13-17 Years
Rate of per 1,000 Children
Under 18
Black Hispanic White
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Foster Care Admission Rates Highest for Foster Care Admission Rates Highest for InfantsInfants
Regardless of race/ethnicity, infants have the highest likelihood of being admitted to foster care.
The rate of placement in foster care is particularly high for black infants in both NYC and rest of state.
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
DisparityDisparity
Black Disparity Index
7.4331.278
= 5.816
Race/ Ethnicity
Foster Care Admission Rate per 1,000 Children
Black 7.433
White 1.278
Disparity refers to lack of equality among racial/ethnic groups in the likelihood of being reported to SCR, indicated for abuse or neglect, or placed in foster care. Disparity index is ratio of rate per 1000 for black children (or Hispanics) relative to rate for white children.
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Disparity Rates for Black and Hispanic Children (vs Whites)Disparity Rates for Black and Hispanic Children (vs Whites)
New York State
7.2
2.8
2.62.1
5.8
2.61.91.50
4
8
12
16
20
SCR Reports IndicatedReports
Foster CareEntries
In Care
DisparityRate
Black Disparity Hispanic Disparity
New York City
6.4
13.9
5.8
14.1
5.1
7.15.2
4.0
0
4
8
12
16
20
SCR Reports IndicatedReports
Foster CareEntries
In Care
Disparity Rate
Black Disparity Hispanic Disparity
Rest of State
5.0
1.1
4.7
2.32.11.3
1.51.30
4
8
12
16
20
SCR Reports IndicatedReports
Foster CareEntries
In Care
Disparity Rate
Black Disparity Hispanic Disparity
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Disparity Rates are Highest forDisparity Rates are Highest for Black Children Black Children
Relative to white children, black children are 2.1 times as likely to be reported to SCR, 2.6 times as likely to be indicated, 5.8 times likelier to be admitted to foster care, and 7.2 times likelier to be in care.
Hispanic disparity rate is more moderate, ranging from 1.5 for reports to 2.8 for in care.
Disparity rates for both blacks and Hispanics are more pronounced in NYC than in ROS. Black children in NYC are 14.1 times as likely as white children to be placed in foster care.
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
43.1%
4.2%
19.2%
25.9%
6.7% 29.5%
55.5%
44.1%
20.7%
0.5% 0.4%
0.4%
0.1% 0.2%
0.5%4.8%
1.3% 2.6%4.5% 2.9%
0.3%
4.4%9.8%18.4%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Rest of State (n=8,899)
New York City(n=14,275)
New YorkState
(n=23,174)
Unknown
Other
Multiple
Native American/AlaskaNativeAsian/Pacific Islander
Hispanic
Black
White
Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Children <18 Years in Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Children <18 Years in Foster Care on 12/31/2008Foster Care on 12/31/2008
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Trend 2006-2008: Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Children Trend 2006-2008: Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Children <18 Years in Foster Care at End of Calendar Year<18 Years in Foster Care at End of Calendar Year
StatewideStatewide
19.4% 18.9% 19.2%
43.9%
19.8% 20.5%
44.0% 44.1%
20.7%0.4%
0.4%0.4% 0.2%
0.2%0.2%2.4%
2.4%2.6%2.3%2.9%1.4%
11.3% 9.8%12.5%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2006(n=24,058)
2007(n=23,542)
2008(n=23,174)
Unknown
Other
Multiple
Native American/AlaskaNativeAsian/Pacific Islander
Hispanic
Black
White
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Youth <18 Years in OCFS Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Youth <18 Years in OCFS Custody on 12/31/2008Custody on 12/31/2008
Note: This includes all youth in OCFS facilities, voluntary agencies, aftercare and day placement.
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Trend 2006-2008: Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Youth Trend 2006-2008: Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Youth <18 Years in OCFS Custody at End of Calendar Year <18 Years in OCFS Custody at End of Calendar Year
StatewideStatewide
22.9%
2.1%10.7%
56.2%
17.9%
30.8%
63.9%
60.7%
25.5%1.1% 0.8%0.3%0.1% 0.2%0.3%
2.3% 1.9% 2.1%0.1% 0.1%0.0%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Rest of State(n=981)
New York City(n=1,384)
New YorkState (n=2,365)
Unknown
Other
Native American/AlaskaNativeAsian/Pacific Islander
Hispanic
Black
White
Note: This includes all youth in OCFS facilities, voluntary agencies, aftercare and day placement.
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
18.6%
4.1%
42.7%
44.9%
20.5% 28.7%
55.9%
26.7%
6.7%
0.5%
0.4%
0.5%
0.1%
0.4%
0.2%
5.5%
5.0%
5.3%
5.2%
18.0%10.0%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
New York State(n=26,161)
New York City(n=16,342)
Rest of State(n=9,819)
Unknown
Other
Native American/AlaskaNative
Asian/Pacific Islander
Hispanic
Black
White
Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Children in Foster Care Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Children in Foster Care on 12/31/2008on 12/31/2008
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
18.7% 18.2% 18.6%
44.7%
19.5% 20.2%
44.8% 44.9%
20.5%0.4%
0.5%0.4%
0.2%
0.2%0.2%
4.5%5.3%3.7%
11.7% 10.0%12.7%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
2006 (n=26,926) 2007 (n=26,451) 2008 (n=26,161)
Unknown
Other
Native American/AlaskaNative
Asian/Pacific Islander
Hispanic
Black
White
Trend 2006-2008: Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Children Trend 2006-2008: Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Children in Foster Care at End of Calendar Yearin Foster Care at End of Calendar Year
StatewideStatewide
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Youth in OCFS Custody on Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Youth in OCFS Custody on 12/31/200812/31/2008
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Trend 2006-2008: Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Youth Trend 2006-2008: Race/Ethnicity Distribution of Youth in OCFS Custody at End of Calendar Year in OCFS Custody at End of Calendar Year
StatewideStatewide
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Cumulative Time to Discharge to Permanent Cumulative Time to Discharge to Permanent Home for CY2001 Admission CohortHome for CY2001 Admission Cohort
White children are discharged from foster care faster than black or Hispanic children.
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
OCFS EffortsOCFS Efforts
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
An Overview of 1994-2006An Overview of 1994-2006 Informal conversations reveal similar
work by colleagues in CW and JJ Collaboration and sharing of
information and data 2003 meeting with OCFS leadership Ad hoc work group
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Presentations to regional office and OCFS division staff
Attempted videoconference 2004 Attempted symposium 2006 GAO report National experts provide training and overview
of issues Citizen Review Panels request emphasis on
DMR
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Overview of the period 2007 - 2009Overview of the period 2007 - 2009
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Formal Agency Committee recognized and support by OCFS Executive Office - 3 co chairs
Division specific sub committees & work plans Monthly reports from divisions to executive
office Quarterly reports from OCFS to Governors
Office Agency definition of cultural competence Commitment letter signed by agency
leadership
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Regular collection of state and county data on disparity rates
Erie County Videoconference Requiring race/ethnicity data from CFSR/PIP
counties Embed DMR work in CFSR/PIP Commitment to training for OCFS and support
for districts Governors Juvenile Justice Task Force – DMC
focus Growth from DMR/CC to Racial Equity &
Cultural Competence
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Work with Casey Family Programs Work with Westchester County Court
Catalyzing Change Committee Content specific presentations to
agency staff on working within a cross cultural context
October Commissioners’ videoconference with national experts
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
The Vision for the FutureThe Vision for the Future
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Work in counties with high placement and racial disparity indices
Cross system efforts to address high disparities
Commitment to reduce and ultimately eliminate racial and ethnic disparities
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Anticipated Benefits Anticipated Benefits Reduced placements Cost
Benefit/Reinvestment Opportunity
Reduced length of stay – time in care
Enhanced services Improved practice More effective policies
Opportunities to energize work force
Work with under represented groups (CBVH work)
Form new partnerships & collaborations – faith community, emerging CBOs
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
ChallengesChallenges Requires new and different leadership styles
and competencies Constant focus on outcomes for children
and families not just the system Overcome reluctance to hold up the mirror
and look at our practice and policy (public and agency)
Different supervisory skills to match the different practice that is required – cultural competence
NYS Office of Children & Family ServicesNYS Office of Children & Family Services
Measure and monitor Target geographically Use data Cross system communication with
stakeholders and partners from systems that have impact on the problem early in the process
Support with funding
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