A study of select factors that predict foster care placement of African American children in Georgia

• Main Author: Johnson, Shaun Ervin
• Format: Others
• Published: DigitalCommons@Robert W. Woodruff Library, Atlanta University Center 2013
• Subjects: Social Work
• Online Access: http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/dissertations/1591; http://digitalcommons.auctr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3146&context=dissertations

This study explores the disproportionate rate of foster care placements of African American children by the Department and Family Children Services' Child Welfare Case Workers in the State of Georgia. The predictors such as poverty, neglect, previous child protective history, caretaker's behavior and safety conditions are variables that are studied for the purpose of this study. The research study employed a survey questionnaire entitled A Study of Select Factors That Predict Foster Care Placement of African American Children. Items on the Predicting level of Risk Index were responded to on a five point continuum Likert scale. The targeted population for this research was composed of former and current case managers who obtained employment through the DeKalb or Fulton County Department of Family and Children Services. One hundred (100) respondents were selected utilizing nonprobability convenience sampling from among the participants. The findings of the study indicated that the case managers agreed (82%) that they believed that African American children are overrepresented in foster care. In addition, case managers indicated that they agreed (73%) that African American children are disproportionate in foster care.