About OCS: Decrease Racial Disproportionality

Throughout national child welfare systems, children of racial backgrounds other than Caucasian are represented in numbers that exceed their relative proportion to the overall population. Rates of substantiated maltreatment, entry into out-of-home care, and length of stay are all higher for children of racial backgrounds other than Caucasian. Family reunification and exit rates are lower.

That trend is also true in Alaska where approximately 55 percent of children in state custody are Alaska Native. A primary goal of the Office of Children's Services is to decrease racial disproportionality. Strategies continue to be developed in collaboration with Tribal child welfare leaders and other community partners. Ongoing efforts include strategic planning with the Tribal State Collaboration Group, local plans between Tribal and state partners, and Knowing Who You Are workshops.

For more information please see the Indian Child Welfare (ICWA) & Tribal Partnership site