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Title: Latino children of immigrants in the Texas child welfare system

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2007

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Abstract: The distinctive characteristics andexperiences of immigrant families havesignificant implications for child welfarepractice and the outcomes for familiesinvolved with child welfare authorities. Thisarticle presents the results of a study that usesa unique dataset, composed of child welfareadministrative data matched to birth recordsfrom Texas, to assess differences in the childwelfare outcomes for children of immigrantsand those for natives. The data include allchildren removed from their homes by theTexas Department of Family and ProtectiveServices (DFPS) and living in out-of-homecare on March 31, 2006, due to abuse orneglect.Study results show that first- and secondgenerationLatin American children ofimmigrants were underrepresented in the child welfare system in Texas, while nativebornHispanic children (i.e., the third orhigher generation) were overrepresented.First- and second-generation children weremore often removed for sexual abuse thanother children in care. First-generationchildren were less likely to be eligible forTitle IV-E reimbursement, the largest sourceof federal funding for state child welfareagencies (Scarcella, Bess, Zielewski, & Geen,2006). Both first- and second-generationchildren were less often placed with relativesor given permanency goals associated withthem. In addition, once removed from theirhomes, first- and second-generation childrenof immigrants had different child welfaresystem experiences from children of natives.

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Authors: Capps, Randy; Kuehn, Daniel; Vericker, Tracy

Periodical (Full): Protecting Children

Issue: 2

Volume: 22

Pages: 20-39

Data Collections: IPUMS USA

Topics: Family and Marriage, Migration and Immigration, Poverty and Welfare, Race and Ethnicity

Countries: United States