596 - Probing Bias: Understanding Experiences of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) Caregivers for Children with Developmental Disabilities and Their Involvement with Child Protection Services

Poster Number: 596
Publication Number: 596.2195

Background: In Canada and abroad, a disproportionate number of Black Indigenous and Persons of Colour (BIPOC) experience referral to child protective services (CPS). Children with developmental disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (IDD), are also disproportionately CPS-involved. Recent Canadian research has suggested that almost a quarter of children from a complex care pediatric program are CPS-involved, however there is no known research for ASD/IDD populations seen in a general pediatric clinic. Further, intersections of race/ethnicity and ASD/IDD and CPS involvement have not been examined.

Objective: We are conducting a mixed methods study to explore the intersections of race, developmental disabilities and involvement with CPS for our pediatric population.

Design/Methods: Phase 1: We completed a retrospective cohort study of 349 patients (0-18 years of age) who were seen by a pediatrician and social worker at a large, hospital-based pediatric clinic in Toronto, Canada in 2019. Electronic medical record data was reviewed and the following binary variables (yes/no) coded CPS-involved or referral made, 1+ caregiver identify as BIPOC, and primary language of caregiver(s) not English.

Results: Preliminary analyses indicate that 11.7% of our sample is CPS-involved. Contrary to over-representation of BIPOC families in the general CPS population, we found that the proportion of families involved with CPS was lower for BIPOC than non-BIPOC families. A similar pattern was observed for primary language, with a trend towards caregivers who reported English as a second language being less likely to be CPS-involved. In our presentation, we will present analyses regarding the type and intensity of CPS involvement and include other demographic characteristics of the family. These findings will be interpreted with findings from Phase 2 (currently underway), which explores lived experiences of 40 caregivers involved with CPS drawn from Phase 1.

Conclusion(s): Within an ASD/IDD patient sample, BIPOC families, and families with a primary language other than English, were less likely to be involved with CPS than non-BIPOC families. This finding is in stark contrast to provincial rates in Ontario, Canada that suggest a 2.2 times greater likelihood of CPS-involvement for Black youth. While these results on the surface suggest equity, trends towards decreased reporting may still reflect bias. It is possible that the concerns of these families are being downplayed in comparison to non-BIPOC families. This may reduce access to supportive services for these families.