Where Native populations are concerned, do the stats combine kids who are served through tribal and non-tribal programs? Is there data breaking down percentage of cases that arise on and off reservation and compare outcomes for NA kids based on tribal involvement? (Boy, then the murkiness of state policies gets multiplied by differences between tribal characteristics, governance, economic status, culture, etc etc etc).
Another thought that comes to mind: how closely do race/ethnic disproportionality rates follow life expectancy rates? Rationale: dead parents mean someone else has to take care of the kids. Policy implication: improving life expectancy of racial/ethnic groups could reduce child welfare disproportionality?
Every piece of information seems to generate a dozen new questions.
Sheri McMahon