Delineating disproportionality and disparity of Asian versus White households in the child welfare system

Objective: Disproportionality and disparity are complex phenomena. Comparing three disparity indices (population based, decision-based, and maltreatment-based), this study provides an in-depth examination of the definitional... [ view full abstract ]

Objective: Disproportionality and disparity are complex phenomena. Comparing three disparity indices (population based, decision-based, and maltreatment-based), this study provides an in-depth examination of the definitional and methodological considerations in examining racial disproportionality and disparity in child welfare research.
Methods: This study used the 2008 Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS-2008) data adjusted by Census child population data. Disproportionality was examined using rates per 1,000 children in the Canadian population. Disparity was examined using population-based (PDI), decision-based (DDI), and maltreatment-based indices (MDI). Logistic regression was used to determine the odds of case closure for substantiated child maltreatment investigations, and whether Asian ethnicity remained significant while controlling for child demographics and household composition, case characteristics, and clinical concerns.
Results: This study found that Asian-Canadian households were under-represented in the child welfare system compared to White-Canadian households (13.9 per 1,000 Asian children in the Canadian population vs. 36.1 per 1,000 White children in the Canadian population). Asian-Canadian households were almost 2 times more likely to close after an investigation than White-Canadian households. The three disparity indexes (PDI, DDI, MDI) showed substantially different results with respect to the representation of child maltreatment investigations involving Asian-Canadian versus White-Canadian households for physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, emotional maltreatment, and exposure to domestic violence.
Conclusions: The variation in results derived from the different methods of calculating representation suggests the need for greater clarity and consistency in the definitions and methodology in examining racial disparity in child welfare research. Future research examining disproportionality and disparity should present both population-based (PDI) and decision-based (DDI) findings as a way to minimize misinterpretation. Maltreatment-based disparity index (MDI) may be a more suitable measure of representation when an ethno-racial group is over- or under-represented for a particular maltreatment type in the child welfare system.