The Casey-CSSP Alliance for Racial Equity in Child Welfare seeks to address two widespread issues in child welfare: disproportionality and disparity of outcomes for children of color.

Disproportionality and disparity
Disproportionality is the over- or under-representation of minority children under age 18 in foster care compared to their representation in the general population. Disparity is the disparate or inequitable treatment or services provided to minority children as compared to those provided to similarly situated Caucasian children.

In recognition of the importance of addressing the racial and ethnic disproportionality and disparity in the child welfare system, the Alliance has launched an intensive national campaign to achieve racial equity in child welfare services.
 
Purpose
The long-term change goal of the Alliance is to significantly reduce racial and ethnic disproportionality and disparity in jurisdictions agreeing to partner with the Alliance by 2015 in order to improve outcomes for children and families of color involved with the child welfare system. With racial equity serving as the outcome measure for ensuring safety, permanence, and well-being for all children, the mission of the Alliance is to create a child welfare system that is free of structural racism and that benefits all children, families, and communities.

Concern
The Aspen Roundtable reports, “race and poverty are still strongly linked in America. Data from the 2000 U.S Census show that a person of color is nearly three times more likely to be poor than a white person. Similarly, a neighborhood that is largely made up of people of color is more likely to be poor than a predominately white neighborhood, and racial minorities are overrepresented in the poorest and most disadvantaged neighborhoods.”

With respect to child welfare, nationally and in almost every state, children of color are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system even though the federally funded National Incidence Study of Abuse and Neglect found no significant differences in the overall incidence of child maltreatment between African Americans and Whites.

Approach
The causes are complex and explanations vary regarding why African American, American Indian/Native Alaskan and Latino children under age 18 are overrepresented in the child welfare system, compared to their overall numbers in the general population.

The Alliance posits that when six dimensions or “critical levers” are activated together, they will work interdependently to achieve the long term change goal of the Alliance. Each of the dimensionsisnecessary to bring about change for children and families of color in the child welfare system, yet each one is insufficient to achieve the overall goal on its own. The six dimensions are:

1. legislation, policy change and finance reform
2. research, evaluation and data-based decision-making
3. youth, parent and community partnership and development
4. public will and communication
5. human service workforce development
6. practice change (site-based implementation)

Alliance partners

• Annie E. Casey Foundation
• Casey Family Programs
• Casey Family Services
• Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative
• Marguerite Casey Foundation
• Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP)
• parents and alumni of foster care