1 Paradoxical evidence on ethnic inequities in child welfare: towards a research agenda Bywaters, P.1, Scourfield, J.2, Webb, C.3, Morris, K.3, Featherstone, B.1, Brady, G.4, Jones, C.5 and Sparks, T.4 Afiliations 1. University of Huddersfield, England 2. University of Cardiff, Wales 3. University of Sheffield, England 4. Coventry University, England 5. University of Liverpool Email address
[email protected] Correspondence to: P.Bywaters, 1 Albany Terrace, Leamington Spa, CV32 5LP, United Kingdom Acknowledgements The authors wish to acknowledge the support of the Nuffield Foundation, which funded the work reported here (Grant/Award Number: KID/41925). The Nuffield Foundation is an endowed charitable trust that aims to improve social wellbeing in the widest sense. It funds research and innovation in education and social policy and also works to build capacity in education, science, and social science research. The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Foundation. More information is available at www.nuffieldfoundation.org. Keywords Disparity, inequity, ethnicity, child abuse and neglect, out-of-home care 2 Paradoxical evidence on ethnic inequities in child welfare: towards a research agenda Abstract This paper aims to compare developments in theory and evidence about ethnic disparities in the USA with findings from the Child Welfare Inequalities Project in England with a view to identifying key issues for a future research agenda. It has a particular focus on the relevance of the concept of the Hispanic Paradox for disparate intervention rates between ethnic populations in England. Three key theoretical dimensions for explaining such disparities are identified and outlined: artefactual, demand and supply factors.