Towards a shared understanding of the causes, consequences, and policy implications of racial disparities in child welfare involvement
本文探讨了儿童福利系统中黑人和原住民儿童比例过高的现象，不同学者从实证、经济学等角度分析原因，并讨论政策应如何补偿而非惩罚受歧视家庭。
Across a number of measures, Black and Indigenous children are substantially more likely to be engaged with the child welfare system than are White children—a disparity that has been the focus of substantial empirical work, and ongoing academic and policy debate. Arguably, the productivity of that debate has been limited by disagreement about the relevant questions as well as their answers. The authors of the papers in this issue of Point/Counterpoint share a deep concern about racial disparities, and generally agree that historical and contemporary racism account for the Black/White disparities. But, they bring different perspectives on the how disparities should be studied and understood, and on the implications for current child welfare policy. Berger and Jones-Harden cite empirical evidence on the role of differential risk and bias and argue that the overrepresentation of Black families in the child welfare system largely reflects greater need due to the consequences of racism and discrimination outside the system. Rather than potentially under serve Black children, the child welfare system should aim to function as a compensatory (rather than punitive) system that better supports children and families receiving needed services. Edwards challenges the feasibility of the “econometric” approach to distinguishing the role risk and bias, arguing that the existing literature obscures questions and voices—and an appreciation of the harms caused by the current system—that should fundamentally guide both research and policy. The authors do not reach a consensus on the causes, consequences, and policy implications of racial disparities in child welfare involvement. But their exchange ultimately highlights significant points of agreement as well as disagreement, and provides important insights on how to advance future research and practice.