Race Matters

African American children are over-represented in child welfare systems nationwide. The School of Social Work's Children and Family Research Center has launched an initiative to increase understanding of the causes of this situation, and to encourage states and localities to take action to remediate it. This initiative is especially significant in Illinois, where African American children make up a disproportionately large fraction of the children in foster care. In January 2001, the Center hosted a national forum in Washington for 25 of the most prominent scholars in the field who had conducted relevant studies. These scholars presented their research, adopted a common agenda and framework, and agreed to meet again to present new data in the coming year. Papers from the forum are to be published. The Center has received funding from the Annie E. Casey Family Foundation for another such forum, and will seek additional funding to support research on the topic.

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University of Illinois

Chicago Campus - Springfield Campus - Urbana-Champaign Campus