An Indian Child Welfare perspective on disproportionality in child welfare

American Indians and Alaska Natives have struggled with outplacement of children from their families and communities since the beginning of colonization of North America. American Indian and Alaska Native efforts to keep children in their families, communities and tribal nations have created an Indian Child Welfare perspective that is vital to understanding disparities and disproportionalities in child welfare. The history of Indian Child Welfare consists of repeated documentation of institutional bias and institutional racism confirming that United States policies were designed to remove American Indian and Alaska Native children from tribes to undermine indigenous nations and to benefit non-native peoples. From an Indian Child Welfare perspective this means that institutional racism and institutional bias are the primary causes of disparities and disproportionalities in child welfare. The implication for other communities is the need to do their own research and documentation of the participation of their children and families in child welfare. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.