Black foster youth are reported as more likely to be placed in congregate settings, placing them at greater risk for negative outcomes while in care. Placement in congregate settings often follow a trajectory of youth crossing over into the juvenile justice system. Black youth, overrepresented in the foster care and juvenile justice systems respectively, and among the population of crossover youth, are disproportionately placed in congregate settings. Extant literature notes that structural factors, including out-of-home placement practices perpetuate race disproportionality for Black dually-involved youth. However, views from professionals, working in these systems, specifically on race disparities among Black crossover youth, are sparse. Through the lens of critical race theory, this qualitative study explores the perceptions of 12 child welfare and juvenile justice professionals on their beliefs of systemic racial bias impacting Black crossover youth in congregate settings. Findings illuminate the views of professionals on the impact of systemic racism on Black crossover youth, placed in congregate care. There was a common thread of responses from professionals acknowledging the presence to race disparities in congregate placements of Black crossover adolescents. Key beliefs included: 1) the impact of congregate placement on the crossover trajectory, 2) systemic race bias of placement of Black youth in these settings, and 3)compounded risk of being Black, male, and dually involved in the juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Results from this study suggests the existence of systemic and compounded barriers for Black crossover youth, residing in congregate placements. Implications for multi-system collaboration to enhance service provision, and a need for race-based social justice advocacy is presented.
