A. In Texas

In Texas, the issue of disproportionality and disparities is complex. DFPS data from FY 2021 show:

•   African American children are 1.7 times more likely to be reported to CPS than Anglo children;

•   African American children are 1.9 times more likely to be investigated;

•   African American children are 1.5 times more likely to be removed;

•   Hispanic children are slightly less likely than Anglo children to be reported or removed, but are investigated at the same rate as Anglo children;

•   Children of “other” ethnicities are 2.2 times as likely to be reported to Statewide Intake and were likely to be investigated or removed at similar rates to Anglo children.^[250]

After removal, African American children are less likely to reunify and, if reunification is ruled out, they wait longer for adoption than other populations. African American children are overrepresented in foster care, Anglo children are proportionately represented, and Hispanic children are underrepresented. However, most Hispanic children wait longer than Anglo children to be adopted.[251]

DFPS collects data at critical decision points in the CPS system by race and ethnicity to measure and understand the extent of disproportionality in the child welfare system. In 2022, DFPS established an Office of Addressing Disproportionality and Disparity with two State Disproportionality Managers and two program specialists who see efforts across all division of DFPS. The Office is tasked with providing support and training to DFPS staff to improve the response to disproportionality and disparate outcomes in CPS cases. More information can be found on the DFPS webpage Disproportionality in Child Protective Services System including information on The Texas Model, Texas Community Engagement Model, and other CPS initiatives.[252]