The interaction of race, ethnicity, and family structure with respect to the timing of family reunification

This exploratory study examines the impact of the interaction of race/ethnicity and family structure on the timing of family reunification of three groups of children in the California foster care system: African American, Caucasian, and Hispanic children. Race/ethnicity had a different estimated effect on family reunification in two-parent families than in single-parent families. Specifically, in single-parent families, being African American was associated with a significant disadvantage with respect to the likelihood of family reunification relative to being Caucasian or Hispanic. In two-parent families, being Hispanic conferred a significant advantage in the timeliness of family reunification compared to being African American or Caucasian. These findings suggest that the association between race/ethnicity and family reunification cannot be accurately understood without taking into account family structure.