School of Social Work

No. 28 M.S.W. Program in the U.S.

Discussion explores systemic racism, disproportionality, equity in child welfare

by VCU School of Social Work Communications

The VCU School of Social Work and its Child Welfare Stipend Program hosted a panel discussion, Systemic Racism, Disproportionality, and Equity in Child Welfare: Our History and Where to Focus Our Change Efforts? Nov. 10, 2020.

The panel session, available for viewing through the YouTube archive above, featured three alumni working in the field:

  • Danika Briggs (M.S.W.’03/SW), assistant director, Chesterfield-Colonial Heights Department of Social Services
  • Allison Gilbreath (B.S.’11/GPA; M.S.W.’16/SW), policy analyst [policy and program director], Voices for Virginia’s Children
  • Kristin Zagar (M.S.W.’03/SW), director, Division of Family Services, Virginia Department of Social Services

Resource list

Books

Roberts, D. (2002). Shattered bonds : The color of child welfare. ProQuest Ebook Central. *This book is available free online through the VCU Library

Websites 

Articles

Graphics

Illustrating Disparity in Virginia

How unique and significant to school, diriving statement about what department is and value it brings. Mission - provide info and accomplishments by audiences Goals - increase student recruitment materials Increase external comms thru social Showcasing sw educations, ethics, profession values education impact, inspire workforce dev and individuals and can be change agents in communities, support social justice, diversity, fairness, equity and impact in world around them. A decision point analysis is a useful way to see where children are overrepresented relative to their proportion in the base population. Data on poverty by race/ethnicity may not be available for all racial/ethnic groups. Percentages based on available data only. Community landscape Child population data 7% Asian/Pacific Islander 6% Multiracial 15% Latinx 21% Black/African American 50% White Child poverty data 7% Multiracial 17% Latinx 39% Black/African American 33% White Child Welfare Involvement Data on children screen in for investigation 6% Multiracial 12% Latinx 27% Black/African American 54% White Data on children confirmed as maltreated 7% Multiracial 13% Latinx 26% Black/African American 52% White Foster Care Involvement Data on children entering care 9% Multiracial 10% Latinx 24% Black/African American 57% White Data on children in care 9% Multiracial 10% Latinx 27% Black/African American 53% White Data on children in care 2+ years 9% Multiracial 11% Latinx 33% Black/African American 46% White Data on youth agin out 2+ years 7% Multiracial 10% Latinx 34% Black/African American 47% White

Data source: state submitted AFCARS files 2019 / Casey Family Programs. For more information: cwstipend@vcu.edu.

Roots of foster care

Roots of Foster Care Illustration of a tweet with leafy branches and a root system. Issues displayed at the highest level, i.e., the “leaves”: Disproportionate number of Black children in foster care Greater number of placement changes for Black children Lack of funded community-based prevention programs Greater emphasis on adoption vs. reunification Lack of support for Virginia tribal families Poor outcomes for your in the foster care (low education attainment, job attainment, incarceration rates) Lack of kinship care supports 500 youth aging out each year Issues displayed at the middle level, i.e., the “trunk”: Expedited termination of parental rights Racial biases in the workforce Majority white staff Cultural biases for child rearing Police presence in low-income neighborhoods Issues displayed at the lowest level, i.e., the “roots”: Adoption and Safe Families Act TANF time limits Public housing Family court laws Structural racism School funding formulas based on property taxes Minimum wage not indexed to cost of living Segregated communities White supremacy Mass incarceration/war on drugs Systemic racism Voices for Virginia’s Children

Source: Voices for Virginia’s Children. For more information: allison@vakids.org.

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