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Report: Racial Bias Not the Culprit in Child Abuse Cases
O
nce again, National Child Abuse
Prevention Month is here and the con-
versation on the physical safety and
welfare of children is taking place amid blaz-
ing headlines over the controversial issue of
paddling in schools. A recent study on race
and child abuse reporting published in the
March issue of Pediatrics is making waves
throughout the social services community.
As disproportionate numbers of Black chil-
dren continue to enter foster care, and a high-
er number die each year as a result of abuse
and neglect, researchers at Washington
University in St. Louis have sparked a serious
debate over the causes. Are the high numbers
of Black child victims reflective of a higher
degree of abuse at home? Or are the numbers
a product of racial bias in reporting from
mostly White social workers who are more
likely to suspect maltreatment among
Blacks?
The study titled “Racial Bias in Child
Protection? A Comparison of Competing Explanations
Using National Data,” says that child abuse really is more
common in Black than White homes. The study also chal-
lenges long-held suspicions that the disproportionately high
numbers of Black abuse cases are driven by racial bias in
the largely White social welfare workforce that reports
abuse.
“We knew [abuse of] Black kids was reported about twice
as often as it was for White kids, and we were concerned
that that might be due to racism,” said Brett Drake a social
work professor at Washington University and the study’s
lead author. “We also knew Black kids, in terms of eco-
nomics, were facing a lot of problems that most White kids
were not facing.”
Using national reports and the most recent available data
from the Census Bureau, the study found that of the
702,000 cases of substantiated child abuse in 2009, 44 per-
cent involved White children who make up 75 percent of
the population, and 22 percent involved Black children,
who comprise 12 percent of the population. In 2009, Black
children represented 21 percent of the total population of
abused children.
“The problem is not that (child protective services) work-
ers are racist,” Drake said. While the study does not pre-
clude the possibility of a racial thread in reporting child
abuse, Drake argued that the main problem is that huge
numbers of Black people are living under devastating cir-
cumstances. “Mitigating poverty, and the effects of pover-
ty, would be the most powerful way to reduce child mal-
treatment,” Drake said.
Drake and his colleagues found that about 17 per 1,000
Black children were abused or neglected in 2009, compared
to only 9 in 1,000 White children. The study noted that
almost three times as many Blacks as Whites live below the
poverty line, and that economic need plays a huge role in
child abuse.
Elizabeth Bartholet, a professor at Harvard Law School
supports the study’s findings. “There is no good evidence
Black kids are removed for reasons related to bias,” she said
at a recent conference on race and child welfare hosted by
Harvard. “We need to focus on prevention of maltreatment
and protection of Black children as well as White,” she
added.
The study is not without its critics.
Sondra Jackson, Executive Director of the Washington,
D.C.-based Black Administrators in Child Welfare said that
this study is yet another attempt to shift the discussion away
from race and toward other causes like poverty. “People
can use research to disprove stuff they don’t want to deal
with,” she said.
Richard Wexler, Executive Director of the National
Coalition for Child Protection Reform (NCCPR) offered
critical comments about this and other studies, saying they
are rife with fatal flaws in that they fail to take into account
that child welfare decisions are affected by both class and
racial biases, and they reinforce each other.
“Three-quarters of all “substantiated” cases of child mal-
treatment involve neglect,” said Wexler. He noted that state
statutes typically define neglect as lack of adequate food,
clothing, shelter or supervision – “the definition of pover-
ty.” Wexler added, “It makes perfect sense that poverty, in
addition to causing higher rates of infant mortality, low
birth weight, etc. would both contribute to more actual mal-
treatment, if only due to the additional stress that comes
with being poor, but also, more important, to the appearance
of more maltreatment when the poverty itself is confused
Page 10 The Portland Skanner april 13, 2011
with neglect.”
Wexler and other critics
have noted that since Blacks
are disproportionately poor,
they are disproportionately
at risk for being mislabeled
as guilty of neglect. “To
know where the class bias
leaves off and the racial bias
begins, it’s necessary to use
methods that control for
poverty,” said Wexler. He
noted that studies conducted
by the NCCPR has shown
that caseworkers are more
likely to describe a child as
“at risk” when the family is
Black.
Wexler asked: “Why do
Sondra Jackson
these
distinguished
researchers believe that the
bias that still is part of every
facet of American life somehow disappears at the child wel-
fare agency door, or the office of a doctor or some other
mandated reporter of child abuse?” While acknowledging
that he has seen improvement in attitudes about poverty and
child protection, Wexler said the fact remains that so many
are willing to “cop to class bias rather than be accused of
racial bias is at least a small step in the right direction.”
The Washington University study also concluded that the
rate of abuse among Hispanic children was proportionately
higher than that of Whites but lower than that of Blacks.
Researchers call it the “Hispanic Paradox.” So why is it
that Hispanics, who suffer high poverty rates and poor
access to health care, have fewer numbers of child abuse
cases?
Researchers explain that the answer may lie in cultural
factors. Drake and others have explained that Hispanic
communities tend to be more child-centered and have
stricter mores against the maltreatment of children than in
Black communities. Polls and studies of racial attitudes
have shown that many African Americans support physical
discipline of children, which can sometimes lead to more
serious abuse. Wexler said that understanding culturally
specific factors that place Black children at risk is needed,
as well as the role that poverty plays.
“Sometimes, very poor people have to make really awful
decisions . . . We’re pretty darn sure that poverty is associ-
ated with abuse and neglect,” Drake said. “There is a lot of
evidence that being poor is rough on people and rough on
parents.” So long as our society permits such a large num-
ber of our children and young families to live in horrible
economic circumstances, we can expect to see high rates of
child maltreatment. Reducing current racial disproportion-
ality in the child welfare system can be best achieved by
reducing underlying risk factors that affect Black families,
specifically poverty.”
And, still others call for more Blacks to be placed in
administrative positions within the child welfare system
and for more sensitivity training among teachers, case-
workers, and doctors.
I think that a holistic approach to child protection is nec-
essary, one that addresses the individual, social, emotional,
and physical needs of children and families. The training of
social workers needs to be balanced with considerations of
the role of macro-level poverty and community perspective
simultaneously.
The problem of racism is still deeply ingrained and sys-
temic in all of our institutions. Thus, the child welfare sys-
tem does not exist in a vacuum, unaffected by the past and
present treatment of Black people. Similar racial disparities
can be found in health, employment, education and crimi-
nal justice. If there is a lack of equitable resources, if peo-
ple can’t feed their children, pay their bills, or find ways out
of the poverty of life, we shouldn’t be surprised to see this
disturbing data on child maltreatment.
As long as we continually try to fix people rather than the
institutional racism that burdens us all, the problems will
persist and children will continue to be become hapless vic-
tims of the poverty of life and scores more will die.
Stacey Patton is a writer for the naaCP legal Defense
and educational Fund.
SUB BIDS REQUESTED
Pony Creek Treatment Plant
Expansion Project
REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Coos Bay, Oregon
METRO FINANCE AND REGULATORY
SERVICES DEPARTMENT
SOLID WASTE INFORMATION SYSTEM (SWIS)
APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT AND
IMPLEMENTATION
RFP 11-1867
The Finance and Regulatory Services Department of
Metro, a metropolitan service district organized under the
laws of the State of Oregon and the Metro Charter, locat-
ed at 600 NE Grand Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-2736,
is hereby requesting sealed proposals for Solid Waste
Information System (SWIS): Application requirements,
design, development and implementation.
Sealed proposals are due May 6, 2011 until close of busi-
ness in Metro’s business offices at 600 NE Grand
Avenue, Portland, OR 97232-2736, Attention: Sharon
Stiffler, Procurement Analyst, RFP 11-1867.
This request for proposals will obtain development and
implementation services required to realize the vision
and requirements for Metro’s Solid Waste Information
System (SWIS) identified and documented in the first
phase of the SWIS project.
Bidding documents/Proposals can be viewed and down-
loaded at Metro’s website http://www.oregonmetro.gov,
click on “Doing Business With”, then “Requests for Bids
and Proposal”.
Metro may accept or reject any or all bids, in whole or in
part, or waive irregularities not affecting substantial
rights if such action is deemed in the public interest.
Metro extends equal opportunity to all persons and
specifically encourages minority, women-owned and
emerging small businesses to access and participate in
this and all Metro projects, programs and services.
Metro and its contractors will not discriminate against
any person(s), employee or applicant for employment
based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual
orientation, age, religion, physical handicap, political affil-
iation or martial status. Metro fully complies with Title VI
of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related statutes and
regulations in all programs and activities. For more infor-
mation, or to obtain a Title VI Complaint Form, see
www.oregonmetro.gov.
4-13-11
Bids Due: May 3, 2011 2 pm Local Time
Scopes of work include but are not limited to:
Scopes of work include but are not limited to: dem-
olition, site clearing, earthwork, driven steel piling,
chain link fence and gates, asphaltic concrete
paving, precast concrete manholes and vaults,
seeding, sodding and landscaping, reinforcing
steel, supply concrete, masonry, structural steel,
miscellaneous metals, damp proofing, EPDM roof-
ing, metal doors and frames, glazing, framing,
painting and coatings, FRP panels, pumping equip-
ment, polyethylene chemical tanks, sludge collec-
tion equipment, chemical feed equipment, filter
media, fire alarm system, steel, ductile, copper,
plastic, stainless steel and HDPE pipe, valves and
fittings, fire protection system, HVAC, plumbing,
electrical and instrumentation.
Ph 760-871-0102
Fax 760-871-0100
2434 Auto Park Way,
Suite 102
Escondido, CA 92029
100% performance bonds are required on all items
over $100,000. Bonds may be required on lesser
amounts. For assistance with bonding, credit,
insurance or certification guidance contact Bob
Thode at 303-980-8233.
For technical assistance or to view plans contact
estimating at 303-980-8233. Quotes and scope
must be received prior to bid time at our Colorado
office.
Stanek Constructors, Inc. intends to conduct nego-
tiations in good faith with SBE/DBE/MBE/WBE
subcontracting and supplier firms for participation
on this project.
Stanek Constructors, Inc. is an equal opportunity
affirmative action employer. Minorities, women,
disabled and veterans are encouraged to apply for
available openings.
4-13-11