B5 - Strategies for Addressing Challenging Child Welfare Issues: Racial Disproportionality and Disparities and  Service Delivery to Women of Color with HIV/AIDS

Children of color are overrepresented in the child welfare system, and women of color experiencing HIV/AIDS and family violence, with children at risk of entry into child welfare, often survive extreme difficulties.  While there is a continuing discussion of the causes of overrepresentation (disproportionality), successful efforts have reduced disproportionality.  This presentation first provides an overview of current research in the field, and practical strategies successfully used by universities, agencies, and university/agency partnerships to challenge racial disproportionality in child welfare.  In addition, the presentation provides case study examples of HIV+ women of color who have survived challenges related to effective parenting as part of a federally-funded project to recruit and retain women into care by focusing on their strengths.  Findings from two years of data collection suggest that survival stories may enhance health and well being and family stability, deterring entry of children into child welfare, and preserving families experiencing HIV/AIDS and family violence. Finally the presentation will encourage participants to form their own partnerships and successful strategies to protect all children.

Presenters: Kathleen Belanger, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX; and Ruth McRoy, Boston College Graduate School of Social Work, Chestnut Hill, MA