Disproportionality
Disproportionate representation (or disproportionality) refers to the current situation in which particular racial and ethnic groups of children are represented in foster care at a higher or lower percentage than their representation in the general population. Disproportionality refers both to the overrepresentation of children of color in foster care and to the disparate outcomes they experience while they are in foster care.
CHILDREN OF COLOR
- Recent research found strong and pervasive race differences in the incidence of maltreatment. In nearly all cases, the rates of maltreatment for Black children were significantly higher than those for Caucasian and Hispanic children.
- Children of color are likely to stay in foster care for longer periods of time and are less likely to be either returned home or adopted.
- Nationally, African-American children are 4 times as likely and American Indian children about 3.5 times as likely as white children to be in state protective custody.
- As a percentage, there are more children of color in the foster care system than in the general U.S. population. However, child abuse and neglect occur at about the same rate in all racial/ethnic groups. For example:
- Black children account for 31 percent of the out-of-home care population and account for 15 percent of the general population;
- White children account for 40 percent of the out-of-home care population and account for 56 percent of the general population;
- Hispanic children (any race) account for 22 percent of the out-of-home population and account for 20 percent of the general population;
- American Indian/Alaska Native (non Hispanic) account for two percent of the out-of-home population and account for one percent of the general population;
- Asian children account for one percent of the out-of-home population and account for four percent of the general population;
- Unknown accounts for two percent of the out-of-home population; and
- Two or more races account for five percent of the out-of-home population and account for three percent of the general population.
Please see the PDF document for important notes and sources. Information provided by the National Foster Care Month Partnership.
