Zeitschrift für Alkoholismus und Drogenabhängigkeit
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Abstrakt

Disproportionality in Illinois Child Welfare: The Need for Improved Substance Abuse Services

Arthur Horton

In 2007, African Americans children made up 19% of the population in Illinois yet they made up 59% of the population of children in foster care. They make up 34% of subjects of maltreatment investigations. This study examines community characteristics as determinants of the number of African American children that are in foster care and come from some of the 77 community areas in the city of Chicago. Of the hypothesized relations to the dependent variable-ward of the state-concentrated poverty as operationalized was positively related and statically significant. Other poverty indicators were not in the posited direction nor statistically significant. The level of education attainment was inversely related and statistically significant. The presence of African Americans in specific communities was positively related to foster care placement in Illinois. The adequacy of substance abuse service to the very poor population is also considered.