LAUSR

This chapter provides an overview to the concepts of racial disproportionality and disparities in the child welfare system, including definitions of racial disproportionality and disparities, and current data on the existence of racial disproportionality and disparities in this system. The chapter then reviews the organization of this volume which includes our current understanding of racial disproportionality and disparities, why they exist, the consequences of their existence, and strategies to address them. Foundational to this volume is an understanding and acknowledgment of racism as the overarching contributing factor to racial disproportionality and disparities. This understanding and acknowledgement is explored throughout this text.