Why

Despite research showing no difference in rates of actual abuse across races, African-American youth are overrepresented in child protective services nationally throughout the entire process from referral, investigation, substantiation, to placement in foster care.

In Kentucky:

• African-American youth and families are referred for abuse and neglect at twice the rates based on the population.
• Abuse is substantiated at higher rates in comparison to white families.
• African-American youth are in foster care at rates higher than their representation in the population.

The counties currently involved in the RCCW initiative are Christian, Daviess, Fayette, Graves, Hardin, Jefferson, Kenton, and McCracken Counties. These communities are actively engaged in developing and implementing strategies to reduce the number of African-American youth entering out-of-home care and increase the number exiting out-of-home care.