Racial Disparities in Child Welfare: A Propensity Score Matched Analysis of Black and White Children in Canada

Abstract

Background: Research has revealed significant disparities in child welfare (CW) involvement for Black children in Canada. However, the underlying factors contributing to these differences remain poorly understood.Objective: This study aims to identify the factors influencing racial disparities in CW investigations and out-of-home placements,  with a focus on understanding the broader structural and institutional drivers shaping CW outcomes for Black children in Canada.Participants and Setting: Data were drawn from the 2019 Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS-2019). The fully weighted sample included an estimated 134,925 investigations involving White families and 28,415 investigations involving Black families. Methods: A two-stage analytical approach was employed using the weighted and unweighted sample. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used on the unweighted sample to examine racial disparities in out-of-home placement while controlling for case differences.Results: Findings indicate that Black children were investigated for maltreatment at 2.27 times the rate of White children. Out-of-home placement rates were also higher (3.4 vs. 1.9 per 1,000; 1.79 times per capita). After matching, Black children remained more likely to be placed in out-of home care, with a rate more than double that of their white counterparts (3.1% vs. 1.5%; LR = 0.004, p = 0.004).Conclusion: These findings highlight a compounded effect of bias across Black children’s CW trajectories, suggesting a need to address both structural and institutional factors that contribute to disparities in CW investigations and out-of-home placement decisions.