Versión español

Rep. Pettigrew seeks solutions to racial disproportionality in the child welfare system

March 3, 2009

OLYMPIA – Dedicated to finishing what he started, Rep. Eric Pettigrew (D-Seattle) continues to address racial disproportionality in Washington’s child welfare system.

That’s why Pettigrew introduced House Bill 2164, which supports a study to determine the effectiveness of two models that are currently used to address racial disproportionality in Washington’s child welfare system.

“We need to move forward with what we’ve started and continue caring for those who need us the most,” Pettigrew said. “This study is a crucial step in the right direction.”

Last year, the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) established that racial disproportionality exists in Washington’s child welfare system. American Indian children were three times as likely to be referred to Child Protective Services (CPS) alleging child abuse and neglect, compared to white children. African American children were nearly twice as likely to be referred and Hispanic children were 1.3 times as likely to be referred. American Indian and African American children were also found to have been removed from their homes at a higher rate than white children, and they had a higher probability of remaining in the child welfare system for more than two years.

“We know where disproportionality exists in the child welfare system; now it’s time to find solutions,” Pettigrew said. “Neglecting to care for these kids now will only surface new and increasingly difficult problems to tackle in the future.”

The two models that House Bill 2164 will evaluate are Structured Decision Making (SDM) and Family Team Decision Making (FTDM). The SDM model is designed to help CPS workers make decisions regarding child safety and the risk associated with a child remaining in a home. The purpose of the FTDM model is to bring together family members and other support systems to identify a family’s strengths and resources to develop a plan to ensure child safety and improve family functioning. In turn, this model is meant to foster cooperation, collaboration and communication between families and professionals to help make decisions about when to refer a child to the child welfare system.

If passed, House Bill 2164 will require the WSIPP to study the two models and report its findings to the Legislature and the Department of Social and Health Services by September 1, 2010. House Bill 2164 was voted out of the House Health & Human Services Appropriations Committee last week.

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Contact: Rep. Eric Pettigrew (360) 786-7838; Pettigrew.eric@leg.wa.gov

Downloadable photo: http://leg.wa.gov/documents/House/Members/Photos/pettigrew.jpg

Staff Contact: Jamie Badilla (360) 786-7255; Badilla.jamie@leg.wa.gov

Radio and TV News Directors:  To obtain broadcast-quality audio on these issues, or to arrange for TV or radio interviews, please contact House Democratic Caucus Broadcast Coordinator Dan Frizzell at frizzell.dan@leg.wa.gov  or (360) 786-7208.