NCJ Number
174355
Date Published
1996
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The current child welfare needs of Hispanic children and families were examined through research that used multiple methods and involved an intensive efforts to included voices of the Latino community, including Latino child welfare service providers and consumers.
Abstract
Information was collected mainly in California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New York, and Texas, representing families of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and other Spanish ancestries. Data came from a review of records, a survey of 38 child welfare service providers, and 6 focus groups of 90 community members and child welfare consumers. Results revealed the need to improve the quality of information about Hispanic children entering the child welfare system of care and to move Hispanic participation at all levels of involvement from the periphery to a more central location. In addition, the needs of Latino children need to be considered more holistically and beyond the boundaries of child welfare. Recommended actions include setting standards for accurately identifying and tracking Hispanic children, facilitating the inclusion of Hispanics in decision-making and other aspects of child welfare policies and programs, and improving the collaboration among children's services. Additional recommendations