Background

Alternative Response (AR) refers to assessment-focused responses to Child Protective Service allegations for families with low to moderate risk while diverting them from a traditional investigation. Although the AR is beneficial to meet needs and promote self-sufficiency of families, less is known about the AR assignment for families with alleged neglect. Also, the intersection of racial disparities and poverty in the assignment has not been studied.

Objective

This study examined the main and interaction effects of neglect allegations, poverty, and race on the AR assignment.

Participants and settings

Data came from the 2016 National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. Cases were selected within the five regions of Texas (N = 119,389).

Methods

Logistic regression models were constructed. Conditional process analysis was also employed.

Results

Families with neglect allegations were less likely to be assigned to AR than those who were reported without neglect. Children of color were less likely to be assigned to AR than white children. Children whose families received public assistance were less likely to be assigned to AR. Receiving public assistance amplified a negative association between neglect and AR assignment only for children of color, while it did not affect the association for white children.

Conclusions

There was an intersection of race and poverty in the AR assignment among neglected children. Children of color from low-income families experienced double disadvantages in receiving AR, leading to being marginalized from equal opportunities for promoting family self-sufficiency. Well-informed guidelines and training should be provided to reduce racial disparities in the child welfare system.

中文翻译：

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替代反应分配中的种族差异

背景

替代回应（AR）是指针对儿童保护服务指控的评估重点回应，适用于中低风险的家庭，同时又使其脱离了传统调查。尽管应收账款有利于满足需求并促进家庭的自给自足，但对于据称被忽视的家庭的应收账款分配却知之甚少。此外，还没有研究种族差异和贫困在任务中的交集。

客观的

这项研究考察了忽视指控，贫困和种族对应收账款分配的主要影响和相互作用。

参加者和设置

数据来自2016年国家虐待和忽视儿童数据系统。在德克萨斯州的五个地区（N = 119,389）内选择病例。

方法

构建了逻辑回归模型。还使用了条件过程分析。

结果

与被举报无疏忽的家庭相比，有疏忽指控的家庭被分配到AR的可能性较小。有色儿童比白人儿童被分配到AR的可能性较小。家庭得到公共援助的孩子被分配到AR的可能性较小。接受公共援助只会放大有色儿童的疏忽与AR分配之间的消极关联，而不会影响白人儿童的关联。

结论

被忽视的儿童在AR分配中存在种族与贫困的交集。来自低收入家庭的有色儿童在接受AR方面遇到双重不利因素，导致他们在促进家庭自给自足的平等机会中被边缘化。应提供消息灵通的指南和培训，以减少儿童福利系统中的种族差异。