A comparative analysis of child welfare services through the eyes of African American, Caucasian, and Latino parents

The purpose of this study was to find if differences exist among 88 African American, Caucasian, and Latino families who received child welfare services. Method: A secondary data analysis of cross-sectional survey data employing standardized measures was used for this study. Family preservation (FP) services were received by 49 participants, and 39 participants were provided Family maintenance (FM) services. Results: Minority clients were likely to have more children, lower incomes, and receive public assistance, and 30% were monolingual Spanish speakers. African American and Latino parents reported more positive outcomes on children's academic adjustment and symptomatic behavior than Caucasian parents when receiving FP services. Conclusion: When recommending child welfare services, workers need to take ethnicity into account as culturally sensitive and community-based programs, such as FP, may be more effective when serving ethnic or racial minority groups.