Aren't they just black kids? Biracial children in the child welfare system

ABSTRACT In the USA, African‐American children are overrepresented in the child welfare system. However, little is known about the child welfare system experiences of biracial children, who are predominately both White and African‐American. To better understand this population, data from public chil...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Child & family social work 2010-11, Vol.15 (4), p.441-451
Main Authors: Fusco, Rachel A., Rauktis, Mary E., McCrae, Julie S., Cunningham, Michael A., Bradley-King, Cynthia K.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
African American Children
African-Americans
Biraciality
Caregivers
Caring
Child abuse
Child protection
child protection (policy and practice)
Child welfare
Child Welfare Services
Children
Ethnicity
minority ethnic families
Multiracial people
Multiracial Persons
race
Social services
U.S.A
Welfare state
Whites
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Summary:ABSTRACT In the USA, African‐American children are overrepresented in the child welfare system. However, little is known about the child welfare system experiences of biracial children, who are predominately both White and African‐American. To better understand this population, data from public child welfare in a US county were used to examine biracial children in the child welfare system. Results showed significant racial differences between children in the child welfare system. Despite the common belief that biracial children will have experiences similar to African‐American children, the child welfare system seems to view them differently. Biracial children are more likely to be referred, rated as high risk and investigated compared with White or African‐American children. Their mothers were younger, and were more often assessed as having physical, intellectual or emotional problems. These caregivers were also considered to have lower parenting skills and knowledge compared with White or African‐American caregivers. Although the disproportionate representation of African‐American children in the system has been well documented, this study provides evidence that biracial children are also overrepresented. Despite the fact that this is a rapidly growing population in the USA, there is little research available about biracial children and their families.
ISSN:1356-7500
1365-2206
DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2206.2010.00690.x