These reports are based on children between the ages of 0 and 17 during the year of analysis.

 

Disproportionality is the level to which groups of children are present in the child welfare system at higher or lower percents/rates than their presence in the general population. 

 

For example disproportionality for Black children in the child welfare system is calculated by dividing the proportion of Black children in the child welfare system (the number of Black children in the child welfare system divided by the total number of children in the child welfare system) by the proportion of Black children in the population (the number of Black children in the population divided by the total number of children in the population).

 

 

Disparity means a lack of equity between groups.  The disparity index is a means of comparing the levels disproportionality among various ethnic groups.  It is also possible to use this as a means of examining levels of disproportionality for an ethnic group across different events in the child welfare system.  To calculate the disparity index for Black children compared to White children the Disproportionality Index for Black children is divided by the Disproportionality Index for White children.

 

 

 This is essentially the same as comparing the rates per 1,000 children in the population between groups.