Impact of intensive family preservation services on disproportionality of out-of-home placement of children of color in one state's child welfare system

Child Welfare. 2008;87(5):87-105.

Abstract

This study examines the impact of intensive family preservation services (IFPS) on racial disproportionality of placement into out-of-home care. A large sample (N = 30,060) was partitioned on the basis of race, risk, and services received. The probability of placement is examined as a function of these variables. High-risk minority children receiving traditional services are at higher risk of placement than white children are, but minority children receiving IFPS are less likely to be placed than white children are. When only minority children are examined, those receiving IFPS are less likely to be placed than those receiving traditional services are. IFPS is associated with a reduction in racial disproportionality of out-of-home placement among high-risk families. Within-race analysis suggests that IFPS may mitigate racial disparity in out-of-home placement existing in the remainder of the child welfare population that receives traditional services.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child Welfare / ethnology*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Family Relations*
  • Foster Home Care*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Minority Groups
  • North Carolina
  • Racial Groups*
  • Retrospective Studies