Our Commitment to Promoting Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice in Child Maltreatment

Area of Science:

• Child Maltreatment Research
• Social Justice in Child Welfare
• Racial Equity in Child Protection

Background:

• The editorial team of Child Maltreatment acknowledges the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ).
• There is a recognized need to address systemic issues of race and racism within child welfare and protection systems.
• Previous positions by the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children (APSAC) provide a foundation for this discussion.

Purpose of the Study:

• To extend and expand upon APSAC's established position on DEIJ.
• To affirm the Child Maltreatment journal's commitment to addressing DEIJ issues.
• To highlight current research and commentary on race and racism in child welfare.

Main Methods:

• Commentary and editorial review.
• Identification and curation of relevant published articles.
• Affirmation of editorial policies and future directions.

Main Results:

• The journal is actively committed to advancing DEIJ principles.
• Specific articles within this issue contribute to the ongoing discourse on race and racism.
• The commentary outlines the journal's plans for continued focus on these critical issues.

Conclusions:

• Child Maltreatment is dedicated to fostering a more equitable and just approach to child welfare research.
• Continued examination of race and racism is crucial for improving child protection systems.
• The journal serves as a platform for critical discussions on DEIJ in the field.