Racial disparity in foster care

High percentage of black children in state care
WBKO , KY, Apr 1, 2007.

A new report shows there are higher percentages of black children in state care than the general population.

The report says 20 percent of children in state care are black, while only 7.3 percent of the state's population is black.

That disparity has state officials launching a project to see why so many black children are being removed from homes and what can be done about it.

State officials have identified 11 counties with the highest rates of black children in state care and will spend about $500,000 dollars over the next year to try to find out why.

The state is also launching more training and education on possible biases by child welfare workers and how to overcome them.

Jefferson County has the highest rate of black children removed from homes because of alleged neglect and abuse.

More than half of the Jefferson County children in state care are black, although African Americans make up only 19 percent of the county's population.