Racial Disproportionality and Disparity for African American Children and Families in Michigan's Child Welfare System

Click here to download the full report:Race Equity Review: Findings from a Qualitative Analysis of Racial Disproportionality and Disparity for African American Children and Families in Michigan's Child Welfare System

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
National data show that African American children and families are disproportionately represented in almost all child protective systems in the United States. Once involved with these systems, African American children are more likely to be removed from their homes, spend longer periods of time in out-of-home care, and oftentimes their families have less access to relevant and helpful social services.

In a courageous step to examine racial disproportionality and disparity, the State of Michigan's Department of Human Services (DHS) undertook to have their policies and protocols analyzed by a team of national experts, local leaders, and stakeholders. This team, led by the Center for the Study of Social Policy, designed and implemented a qualitative Race Equity Review (Review) to assess the institutional features of Michigan's child protective system that directly produce or contribute to racial disproportionality and disparity.

Throughout the course of the Review, the environment for child welfare practice in Michigan was and remains very challenging. The economic climate of the state is poor and has resulted in significantly reducing the resources available for many public services, including child welfare services. In addition, a national child advocacy group sued the state for failing to meet the needs of children in the foster care system. State leadership participated in discovery, depositions and negotiations during the Review and ultimately, this lawsuit reached a settlement agreement in July 2008. These two powerful forces placed the agency and child welfare services under tremendous pressure and have challenged morale of workers and the quality of practice. In this context, workers who come to work everyday with the intention of improving the conditions of children are asked to do so with fewer resources. Workers frequently sense that their efforts are not valued or appreciated by the community. Further many feel powerless and unable to impact the systemic issues that compromise their work.