“…Three explanations are most often provided. First, this higher representation of blacks should be expected, since they have multiple risk factors that predispose them to maltreat their children more than whites (Cappelleri, Eckenrode, & Powers 1993;Gil, 1970;Jason, Andereck, Marks, & Tyler, 1982;Lauderdale, Valiunas, & Anderson, 1980;Spearly & Lauderdale, 1983). Second, this disproportionate representation is said to be due to their poverty status, i.e., since poor families are more likely to be in child welfare than non-poor families, and blacks are more likely to be poor than whites, they should be more highly represented than whites.…”