Assessing Racial and Class Bias in Child Welfare: Development and Piloting of the Race and Class Bias in Child Welfare Scale

Abstract

Research has highlighted racial and socioeconomic disparities for families in child welfare, with calls to address inequities through trainings and structural change. However, few measures have been developed to assess the recognition of racial and class biases among child welfare practitioners, one key step in addressing implicit biases and reducing racial disparities. While the Families First Prevention Services Act has prioritized evidence-based practices, it is crucial to ensure that practitioners are culturally responsive. This study developed and piloted the Race and Class Bias in Child Welfare Scale to measure the awareness of implicit and structural biases among child welfare practitioners. The development and validation of the Race and Class Bias in Child Welfare Scale included three parts: (1) scale development; (2) scale piloting using exploratory factor analysis; and (3) scale validation using confirmatory factor analysis. Two main factors were identified that explained 68.05% of the total variance; eight of the nine items loaded onto the two factors. Items on the first factor reflected implicit bias recognition, and items on the second factor reflected structural bias. Preliminary findings suggest that a two-factor scale presents good internal reliability and validity. As the Family First Preservation Services Act continues to prioritize evidence-based practices, it is important to consider the cultural sensitivity and responsiveness of providers administering them.

Keywords

• disproportionality
• racial bias
• foster care
• child welfare