Dr. Paul Elam
517-485-4477
Public Policy Associates, Inc. is partnering with Michigan State University and the Michigan State Court Administrative Office to study the over-representation of African Americans in the child welfare system and devise strategies to address it.
Dr. Paul Elam, a recognized expert in disproportionate minority contact in the juvenile justice and criminal justice systems, is PPA's lead researcher on the project.
PPA is joining with an Michigan State University's School of Social Work and the State Court Administrative Office's Child Welfare Services Division in the research. MSU Assistant Professor Sacha Klein is pricipal investigator. The project is supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Casey Family Programs, and the U.S. Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. The partnership is cited in the Spring/Summer 2011 News, Special Research Edition, published by the Michigan State University School of Social Work.
African American children are greatly overrepresented in the child welfare system in Michigan and across the country. Data show that African-Americans are more likely to be placed in the child welfare system, and they usually stay in the system longer. A significant percentage age out of the system and end up homeless or in prison.
The partnership is seeking additional funding to study the disproportionality and disparities and develop strategies for creating a safe and equitable child welfare system. The research will be used to inform decision-makers about effective strategies to improve the lives and futures for vulnerable children.
Public Policy Associates has done extensive research in child welfare system and in issues of disproportionality. In 2008-09, PPA provided the staff and wrote the report for the Michigan Child Welfare Improvement Task Force, which developed recommendations for improving the system, including those to reduce racial inequities. Dr. Elam was the project manager. He is currently the project director on an evaluation of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's investments in Michigan to improve the lives of children. The work will include an examination of grants through a racial-equity lens.
PPA is currently working with the Michigan Committee on Juvenile Justice to analyze crime data to ensure that the state has a juvenile crime-reduction strategy that is data-driven and establishes priorities. The PPA research includes the study of over-representation of people of color in the juvenile justice system.
To see the MSU School of Social Work article, click here. It's on Page 6. To learn about Public Policy Associates' work with the Michigan Child Welfare Improvement Task Force, click here.