Factors associated with racial differences in child welfare investigative decision-making in Ontario, Canada.

Racial disparities in child welfare are well documented in the US but rarely studied in Canada. Using provincially representative Ontario data, this study found that Black children were more likely than White children to be investigated, and Black and White families differed in child, caregiver and socioeconomic characteristics. There was little evidence that race alone drove decisions to substantiate, provide ongoing services or place children in care. However, after accounting for those differences, Black families were still more likely to be transferred to ongoing services, driven mainly by concerns about the parent-child relationship and severe economic hardship.