**SayPro Identifying Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Human Services: A Conceptual Framework and Literature Review

Disparities exist in human services in the form of racial and ethnic disparities. Understanding the root causes, consequences, and solutions to these disparities is imperative for providing equitable services to all. This article provides a framework for understanding those root causes and summarizes literature on these disparities.

Disparities in human services are a known fact and have been recognized as a major barrier to accessing services. In order to address this, SayPro conceptualized and developed a framework for understanding disparities in human services. This framework enables practitioners to identify areas of disparity and develop appropriate interventions that target the root cause of the disparity.

The literature review identified barriers and facilitators to accessing human services, informed the framework, and helped practitioners understand the nuances of disparities. With all that in mind, it’s time for you to start thinking about how you can use this framework to your advantage.

Human services are meant to serve the needs of the marginalized and those experiencing poverty, healthcare, and homelessness. Disparities in race and ethnicity, though, limit these efforts by opening up the door for other forms of discrimination and barriers that are otherwise overlooked.

This conceptual framework is a step towards acknowledging that disparity in human services exists and understanding why it emerges. The article breaks down disparities across six different areas: health, nutrition, education, employment, housing, and criminal justice. It seeks to understand where these disparities exist in order for us to ensure holistic care is provided to all members of our society.

There is a widespread belief that racial and ethnic disparities in human services are decreasing, but nothing can be further from the truth. Besides contributing to the cycle of poverty and re-entry, disparities result in slower progress in addressing issues such as trauma and substance abuse treatment. At SayPro, we believe that it’s our responsibility to help combat these barriers and promote equality.

In this article, we will take a look at a conceptual framework for understanding racial and ethnic disparities, literature review on the topic, and suggestions for how the human services field can work towards eliminating them.