Racial/ethnic and gender disparities in child protection decision-making: What role do stereotypes play?

BACKGROUND: A wide range of studies have revealed racial/ethnic and gender disparities in child protection decision-making. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated whether disparities are mediated by stereotypes that professionals may hold, by applying the Stereotype Content Model (SCM) which suggests that stereotypes are formed by perceptions of sociability, morality, and competence. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: 258 professionals (133 current staff and 125 trainees) from Colorado participated in the study. METHODS: The study applied a 2 × 3 randomized experimental vignette design. Participants read a case in which the gender of the parent responsible for maltreatment (mother or father) and race/ethnicity of the family (white, Black, or Latinx) varied. RESULTS: A SEM model (CFI = .94, RMSEA = .05) with free parameters for trainees and current staff was estimated. No significant association between stereotypes and race/ethnicity and gender appeared. However, evidence for disparities emerged. In the trainee group, scores to decide for a supervision order were higher for white fathers, Black mothers, Latinx mothers, and Latinx fathers (ß = 0.18 to 0.25) compared to white mothers. Current staff provided larger risk scores for Black mothers and both Latinx parents (ß = 0.20 to 0.22) compared to the white mother, resulting in increased inclinations to decide for a supervision order (ß = 0.26). Lastly, negative perceptions of morality increased supervision order scores (ß = -0.55 to -0.36). CONCLUSIONS: Evidence for disparities in decision-making appeared, but the study could not confirm that these disparities were mediated by stereotypes. Furthermore, perceptions of morality seemed to impact decision-making processes.

The effects of migrant background and parent gender on child protection decision-making: An intersectional analysis.

BACKGROUND: Disparities in decision-making are a recognized concern within child protection systems and imply that marginalized groups are being treated unequally compared to majoritized groups. Previous studies reported that both ethnicity and the gender of the parent that maltreated the child seem associated with an increased likelihood that child protection agencies provide services after an investigation or that children are placed out of their homes. OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether migration background and the gender of the parent who maltreated the child seem associated with the decision whether a case was opened for continuing services. In addition, we inspected whether the intersections between migration background and parent gender were correlated with disparities in decision-making. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Our multinational sample consisted of 1189 cases that were involved with child protection agencies in England, the Netherlands, and Germany. METHODS: We systematically coded and analyzed child protection case files. We conducted logistic regression analysis to investigate for disparities in decision-making. RESULTS: The intersectional analysis showed that maltreatment committed by mothers (OR = 2.25, p =  .001) and migrant fathers (OR = 2.21, p =  .030) was associated with an increased likelihood to provide ongoing services. However, country specific analyses showed that these effects were most pertinent in the English sample. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a need to address migration background and gender disparities in child protection practice. Future research could investigate whether other contextual factors (e.g. characteristics of the professional and agency) seem associated with disparities in decision-making.