Native American children in Washington are far more likely to be placed in the state's child welfare system than any other racial or ethnic group, according to a new report.

Disproportionality in Child Welfare followed 58,005 children who were referred to Child Protective Services between 2004 and 2007. The study found that Native children were nearly three times as likely to referred than white children.

Native children were more likely to be accepted into protective services and were more likely to be removed from their homes. They were also more likely to remain in the system for more than two months and for more than two years.

"The level of disproportionality among Native American children really stands out. We are committed to working with tribal and community leaders throughout the state to understand why it exists at the level it does and finding ways to reduce it," Department of Social and Health Services Secretary Robin Arnold-Williams said in a press release.

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Native American, black kids more likely to end up in foster care (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 6/26)