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This paper explores recent patterns involving child maltreatment and disproportionality, the role race plays at various decision-making stages in child welfare, the extent of racially disparate treatment in child welfare, and how other social systems contribute to disproportionality in child welfare. Despite diff erences in the design and methodology of the studies under review, much consensus about disproportionality was revealed in this summary of the professional literature, especially among more recent studies. Most of the studies reviewed identifi ed race as one of the primary determinants of decisions of child protective services at the stages of reporting, investigation, substantiation, placement, and exit from care. Th e only stage where no racial diff erences were identifi ed was the stage of reentry into the child welfare system. Further research is necessary to extend our knowledge of the direct causes of disproportionality and disparate treatment, including tests of diff ering strategies to reduce this problem. The hope for this research is that it serves as a starting point in talking about race and its impact on our nation’s most vulnerable children. As America continues the dialogue about race, we must make sure our voices are heard on behalf of these children, whom we’ve pledged to care for, no matter the color of their skin.