African-American families have historically experienced more societal disadvantages, such as higher poverty rates, than white Americans. This public policy forum will explore whether shifts in social welfare policy and economic conditions since the mid-1990s have reduced persistent racial disparities in systems serving children, including education, health, and particularly child welfare. About 37 percent of children in foster care are African American, even though African Americans make up only 15 percent of the nation's 80 million children.

A recent Chapin Hall study on foster care admissions found that while racial disparity was actually lower in areas with high poverty rates, African-American infants are still nearly three times more likely than white infants to be placed in foster care. In light of these findings, speakers will discuss how child welfare system administrators are leading initiatives to reverse the tide of racial disparity.

Speakers:

• Sharlynn E. Bobo, director, District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency
• Tula Lacy, co-chairperson of the Task Force on Racial Equity and Cultural Competence, New York City Administration for Children's Services
• Marla McDaniel, research associate, Urban Institute Center on Labor, Human Services, and Population
• Fred Wulczyn, research fellow, Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago
• Moderator: Patrick Boyle, editor, Youth Today