Too many families with young children grow up facing conditions that challenge their full and healthy development. This is especially true for children of color and children in low income neighborhoods. Children of color are represented disproportionately in the child welfare system In Washington this is particularly true for American Indian/Alaska Native and African American populations (see DCYF Racial Disparity Indices Report 2018).
DCYF is committed to closing the equity gaps and achieving good outcomes for all young children. This requires innovation, accountability, and investment across multiple fields and addressing structural barriers to children’s success, including structural and institutional racism. We believe prevention can be a tool to help address disproportionate involvement in the child welfare system, and intend for this to be one theme in the agency’s FFPSA Prevention Plan.
Helpful information and research is available on the Child Welfare Information Gateway.