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Evidence-based behavioral parent training (BPT) programs are the most effective way to address children's behavior disorders and participant engagement is essential to achieving positive treatment outcomes. However, there is limited understanding of the factors that contribute to engagement, particularly for at-risk families. This qualitative study explored factors affecting "behavioral" and "attitudinal" engagement among child welfare-involved parents participating in Pathways Triple P (n = 47). Data were collected through semistructured interviews and three major themes affecting parental engagement were identified: (a) ensuring comprehension, (b) increasing parenting efficacy, and (c) addressing obstacles to participation. Findings suggest that practitioner behaviors play an essential role in increasing the engagement of families receiving BPT, and identify practitioners as a promising strategy to improve program effectiveness for parents involved with child welfare.

It is evident that father engagement in parenting contributes to child well-being, and fatherhood programs effectively enhance father engagement and employment outcomes. However, program effectiveness can be compromised if participating fathers drop out. This study investigates factors associated with program engagement (i.e., initiating treatment) and completion (i.e., attending 75% or more sessions) with a sample of primarily African American fathers recruited from a community-based organization in the United States (n = 691). The analysis showed that nearly one-third (31%) of enrolled fathers did not attend any program session, and just over half (55%) of those who attended at least one session completed the program. Being older was associated with program engagement, while having a high school diploma and being ordered by the court to pay child support were associated with program completion. Fathers expressed several barriers to program participation, including programmatic and institutional issues (Rules and Staff, Fit Misaligned with Needs), as well as scheduling and external factors (Job-Related Conflict, Logistic Issues, Challenging Life Events). These findings highlight the importance of identifying participant motivation, addressing life challenges, and implementing strengths-based practices in fatherhood programs to make fathers feel seen, welcomed, and supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System and Census data to examine Black–White and Hispanic–White disparities in reporting, substantiation, and out-of-home placement both descriptively from 2005–2019 and in multivariate models from 2007–2017. We also tracked contemporaneous social risk (e.g., child poverty) and child harm (e.g., infant mortality) disparities using non-child protective services (CPS) sources and compared them to CPS reporting rate disparities. Black–White CPS reporting disparities were lower than found in non-CPS risk and harm benchmarks. Consistent with the Hispanic paradox, Hispanic–White CPS reporting disparities were lower than risk disparities but similar to harm disparities. Descriptive and multivariate analyses of data from the past several years indicated that Black children were less likely to be substantiated or placed into out-of-home care following a report than White children. Hispanic children were slightly more likely to be substantiated or placed in out-of-home care than White children overall, but this difference disappeared in multivariate models. Available data provide no evidence that Black children were overreported relative to observed risks and harms reflected in non-CPS data. Reducing reporting rates among Black children will require addressing broader conditions associated with maltreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to analyze a nationally representative sample of families referred to Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies, the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, to examine the association between maternal depression and parenting practices over a 36-month follow-up period. Three hypotheses were tested: (1) Depressed mothers are more likely to demonstrate harsh parenting than are nondepressed mothers; (2) depressed mothers are more likely to demonstrate neglectful parenting than are nondepressed mothers; and (3) depressed mothers are more likely to demonstrate emotional maltreatment than are nondepressed mothers. The interaction between depression and time was also analyzed for each parenting practice to determine how changes in maternal depression affected changes in parenting. The sample for this study was 1,536 mother-child dyads in which the child was age three to 10 years and remained in the home after a CPS investigation. Depression remained high across time points and was associated with increased risk of emotional maltreatment and neglect over a 36-month period. In addition, self-reported emotional maltreatment remained high across time points. Implications of this work are the needs for better identification of mental health needs for mothers entering the child welfare system and parent training to specifically address positive parenting. (Contains 4 tables.)

Objective: Children of mothers with mental illness are at risk for multiple untoward outcomes, including child maltreatment and foster care placement. The purpose of this analysis was to determine the association between maternal mental illness and children's long term safety and stability. Methods: A multi-sector administrative dataset from the Department of Social Services (DSS) and Department of Mental Health (DMH) was analyzed. The sample was 4,895 low income families (mother and child dyads) first reported to child welfare in 1993 or 1994. Families were followed until March of 2009. Dates of new report and foster care placement were obtained from DSS data. ICD-09 or ICD-10 diagnostic codes were obtained from Department of Mental Health data. Schizophrenic disorders, episodic mood disorders, anxiety disorders and personality disorders were examined. Results: New reports were more likely for children of mothers with mental illness, regardless of diagnosis. While overall 67% of children had a new report over the course of their childhood, rates ranged from 80 to 90% for children of mothers with mental illness and occurred within a shorter time frame than for other children. In the multivariate models, mood (HR = 1.41, p less than 0.001) and anxiety disorders (HR = 1.32, p less than 0.05) placed children at greater risk for new reports. The proportion of children with foster placements was more than double for children of mothers with mental illness than for other children. In the multivariate model, anxiety disorders were strongly associated with the risk of placement (HR = 1.75, p less than 0.001). Conclusions and Practice implications: Important differences in safety and stability were found between children of mothers with and without mental illnesses, as well as some variability across diagnoses. Since these mothers had already received services our findings suggest that access is not enough. The services they are receiving or have received may be an ineffective approach to helping them parent safely. (Contains 3 tables and 4 figures.)

Author(s): Kristen D. Seay[sup.1] , Patricia L. Kohl[sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) College of Social Work, DeSaussure College, University of South Carolina, 29208, Columbia, SC, USA (2) George Warren Brown School [...], Maternal depression, substance dependence, and the comorbidity of these conditions are highly prevalent risk factors among families involved with Child Protective Services (CPS). Data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being I (NSCAW I) were analyzed to examine the influence of maternal substance dependence, depression, and comorbidity on parenting and child behavior over 36-months among children reported to CPS who remained in the home at all waves. Although neglect and child behavior problems were highest for mothers with comorbidity at baseline, mothers with substance dependence had the poorest self-reported parenting and child behavior problems over time. Results indicate a need for intensive targeted services to address the complex needs of CPS-involved mothers with substance dependence and their in-home children.

Efficacious parent training programs are available, yet the gap between research and practice persists. Organizational factors influence the adoption and implementation of new treatments; however, little is known about social service agencies' organizational context and readiness for change. Twenty-one program directors (PDs) and 25practitioners employed by 19 agencies providing parent training in a moderate-sized Midwestern city were surveyed to begin to fill this gap. PDs and practitioners had similar perceptions of agency culture and climate, and little interagency variation was evident. The atmosphere for adopting and implementing efficacious parent programs appeared favorable, although agencies may not feel sufficient pressure to change. Potential barriers to change and areas for future research are discussed. KEYWORDS readiness for change, evidence-based practice, parent training programs DOI: 10.1080/03643101003609487

The objective of this study was to examine differences in parenting, psychological well‐being, and economic outcomes between fathers receiving two different programs offered by Fathers & Families Support Center for economically disadvantaged fathers: (a) Family Formation (FF), a 6‐week/240‐h program focused on economic stability/mobility, responsible fatherhood, and healthy relationships, with case management and legal services; (b) Economic Stability (ES), a 4‐week/80‐h program focused only on economic stability with limited case management and legal services. A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was used to compare fathers in FF (n = 350) vs. ES (n = 342). Surveys were administered at enrollment and 3‐ and 12‐months postintervention. Linear and generalized linear mixed models were used to assess changes in program outcomes over time and across study groups. Four hundred and eighty‐two fathers responded to either follow‐up survey (251 FF, 231 ES). Nearly all (98%) were non‐white (93% Black, 5% other/mixed race) and were on average 34 years old. Approximately 46% attended ≥75% of program sessions (FF 48% vs. ES 44%). Both FF and ES groups experienced improvements in parenting, psychological well‐being, and financial outcomes after the programs, but changes in outcomes over time did not differ significantly by program. The lack of difference in outcomes between fathers in FF and ES groups could be due to a similar core focus on employment‐related curriculum for both groups. Gaining financial stability could have contributed to positive improvements in other fatherhood domains. Implications for future research and practice are discussed herein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2005.04.005 Byline: Patricia L. Kohl (a), Richard P. Barth (a), Andrea L. Hazen (b), John A. Landsverk (c) Keywords: Child welfare; Domestic violence; Child maltreatment; Substance abuse Abstract: This paper uses data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well Being to examine the identification of domestic violence (DV) by child welfare workers during investigations of maltreatment and determine how this contributes to the receipt of DV services. The study focuses on female caregivers of children remaining in the home following the investigation (n =3165). While child welfare workers indicate that active DV is present in only 12% of families investigated for maltreatment, 31% of caregivers reported DV victimization in the past year. The sensitivity of reports of DV is low between caregivers and workers, with both reporting active or recent DV in only 8% of families. Substance abuse by the primary caregiver is a strong predictor of under identification of DV by the child welfare worker (OR=7.6). Overall, about half of the caregivers with active DV identified by the worker received DV services over the 18 months following the investigation. Logistic regression analyses examined whether receipt of child welfare services (CWS) increases the likelihood that a referral will be made to DV services and whether caregivers will then obtain these services. Both the identification of DV by the worker and having an open CWS case are significant contributors to receipt of DV services. Author Affiliation: (a) School of Social Work, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3550 United States (b) Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, United States (c) San Diego State University, United States

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2005.04.003 Byline: Patricia L. Kohl (a), Jeffrey L. Edleson (b), Diana J. English (c), Richard P. Barth (a) Keywords: Domestic violence; Child welfare services; National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being Abstract: Domestic violence (DV) and child maltreatment co-occur in many families and this may lead to involvement with child welfare services (CWS). This study explores the role of domestic violence in CWS using data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, a large, national probability sample of families investigated for child maltreatment. It relies on child welfare worker report of active DV or a history of DV to examine the association of DV with child maltreatment type, substantiation, and placement of children into out of home care. Maltreatment type classification was similar for children with and without exposure to DV. Families with active DV were substantiated for child maltreatment at higher rates than other groups, but DV was not a powerful contributor to the CWS decision-making process. Families with co-occurring DV and maltreatment often had high levels of cumulative risks, and children in families with the highest level of cumulative risk were 10 times more likely to be placed into foster care than children in families assessed with low levels of risk. The policy and practice implications of these findings are discussed. Author Affiliation: (a) University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, School of Social Work, NC 27599 3550, United States (b) University of Minnesota, United States (c) Department of Social and Health Services, State of Washington, United States

Research on paternal incarceration has paid less attention to young fathers incarcerated in jail settings where most residents are either pretrial detained or serving out short sentences. This study describes the characteristics of a sample of 103 jailed fathers aged 18 to 25, including two subsamples consist of participants who had opportunity to recidivate (n = 83) and participants who completed trauma history questionnaire (n = 62), and explores associations between father experiences, father–child relationships, behavioral health factors, and recidivism. Results show jailed young fathers have several risk factors as well as strengths. Their father–child relationship is positively associated with training on fathering skills, employment experiences, and self-efficacy, and negatively associated with incarceration history. Employment is the only variable that identifies the differences in recidivism. Implications for a future research agenda are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the efforts of social services and social workers to prevent family violence, child abuse and gender-based violence (GBV). The relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and child maltreatment, including the scholarship on this, is discussed.

Almost half of young American children live in low-income families, many with unmet needs that negatively impact health and life outcomes. Understanding which needs, proactively addressed, would most improve their lives would allow maternal and child health practitioners and social service providers to generate collaborative solutions with the potential to affect health in childhood and throughout the life course. 2-1-1 referral helplines respond to over 16 million inquiries annually, including millions of low-income parents seeking resources. Because 2-1-1 staff members understand the availability of community resources, we conducted an online survey to determine which solutions staff believed held most potential to improve the lives of children in low-income families. Information and referral specialists, resource managers, and call center directors (N = 471) from 44 states, Puerto Rico, and Canada ranked the needs of 2-1-1 callers with children based on which needs, if addressed, would help families most. Childcare (32%), parenting (29%), and child health/health care (23%) were rated most important. Across all childcare dimensions (e.g. quality affordable care, special needs care), over half of the respondents rated community resources inadequate. Findings will help practitioners develop screeners for needs assessment, prioritize resource referrals, and advocate for community resource development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 10 years, there has been a significant decline in the rate of domestic violence (DV) experienced among caregivers involved with the child protective services (CPS) system. It is unclear whether this shift is related to changes in caregiver characteristics. Furthermore, despite evidence that suggests CPS caseworkers poorly identify DV and fail to link families to DV services, limited research exists on whether the current CPS interventions that are known to improve caseworkers’ DV identification will also improve chances for DV service receipt. The present study uses data from the first and second cohorts of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) to compare differences in demographic characteristics and DV experiences between caregivers in NSCAW I (1999-2000; n = 2,758) and NSCAW II (2008-2009; n = 2,207). We also examine the effects of CPS interventions on NSCAW II caregivers’ receipt of DV services external to the CPS agency (i.e., external DV services). Caregivers with caseworker reports of active DV in NSCAW I and II were similar in their demographic characteristics and external DV service experiences. However, caregivers in NSCAW II generally reported lower rates of victimization for specific types of violence than NSCAW I caregivers. Finally, caregivers with active DV involved with an agency that used DV assessment tools were 7.03 times more likely to receive external DV services than those in agencies without DV tools (95% confidence interval [CI] = [2.33, 21.22]). Whereas caregivers in agencies that sometimes (odds ratio [OR] = 0.16, 95% CI = [0.03, 0.99]) or always (OR = 0.15, 95% CI = [0.02, 0.98]) had a DV specialist available were less likely to receive external DV services than those in an agency that never/rarely had a DV specialist available. We recommend CPS agencies use specialized assessment tools to identify DV-affected families and link them to services. Additional research is needed to understand what types of services DV specialists offer within CPS agencies and whether these services meet caregivers’ needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from a longitudinal cohort study of low-income children reported for maltreatment matched to similarly poor nonreported children were used to examine intentional and unintentional injury deaths in young adulthood. The goal was to examine the unique contribution of maltreatment history and identify other potential systems for preventive efforts. Maltreatment reports were associated with increased risk of injury-related death per 6-month intervals (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.09, p < .05). Young adults with histories of both status offenses and delinquent offenses were at greater risk for later death (HR = 2.24, p < .05) as were those with histories of emergency room (ER) treatment for intentional injury prior to age 18 years (HR =3.95, p < .05). More than 50% of the deaths were firearm-related; nearly all firearm deaths occurred among Black youth. Implications for prevention within at-risk populations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is to better understand the characteristics of men who act as primary caregivers of maltreated children. We examined differences between male primary caregivers (fathers) for youth involved in the child welfare system and female primary caregivers (mothers). We conducted secondary data analyses of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being-II baseline data. Overall, primary caregiving fathers and mothers were more similar than different, though a few differences were revealed. Compared to mothers, fathers tended to be older and were more likely to be employed, with a higher household income and older children. Fathers and mothers did not differ in terms of depression or parenting behavior, but there was evidence that mothers have more problems with drug use compared to fathers. Compared to fathers, mothers reported higher levels of internalizing and externalizing problems in their children. Children with male primary caregivers were more likely to have experienced physical abuse but less likely to have experienced emotional abuse or witnessed domestic violence than children with female primary caregivers. These findings may help to inform researchers, practitioners, and policy makers on how to address the needs of male caregivers and their children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Federal mandates require state child welfare systems to monitor and improve outcomes for children in three areas: safety, permanency, and well-being. Research across separate domains of child well-being indicates maltreated children may experience lower pediatric health–related quality of life (HRQL). This study assessed well-being in maltreated children using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0), a widely used measure of pediatric HRQL. The PedsQL 4.0 was used to assess well-being in a sample of children (N = 129) receiving child welfare services following reports of alleged physical abuse or neglect. We compared total scores and domain scores for this maltreated sample to those of a published normative sample. Within the maltreated sample, we also compared well-being by child and family demographic characteristics. As compared with a normative pediatric population, maltreated children reported significantly lower total, physical, and psychosocial health. We found no significant differences in total and domain scores based on child and parent demographics within the maltreated sample. This preliminary exploration indicates children receiving child welfare services have significantly lower well-being status than the general child population and have considerable deficits in social and emotional functioning. These findings support continued investment in maltreatment prevention and services to improve the well-being of victims of maltreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Increasing numbers of female youth involved in the juvenile justice system highlight the need to examine this population. This study enumerates distinct profiles of risk and protection among juvenile court-involved females, examining young adult outcomes associated with these profiles. Administrative data on 700 participants were drawn from multiple service sectors in a Midwest metropolitan region. Latent class and Pearson chi-square analyses were used. Five unique classes were identified; these classes were associated with young adult outcomes. One class of impoverished African American females was most likely to experience problematic young adult outcomes but least likely to have received juvenile justice services. Findings highlight the heterogeneity in the female juvenile court population and discrepancies between service needs and service receipt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Improving quality in children's mental health and social service settings will require implementation strategies capable of moving effective treatments and other innovations (e.g., assessment tools) into routine care. It is likely that efforts to identify, develop, and refine implementation strategies will be more successful if they are informed by relevant stakeholders and are responsive to the strengths and limitations of the contexts and implementation processes identified in usual care settings. This study will describe: the types of implementation strategies used; how organizational leaders make decisions about what to implement and how to approach the implementation process; organizational stakeholders' perceptions of different implementation strategies; and the potential influence of organizational culture and climate on implementation strategy selection, implementation decision-making, and stakeholders' perceptions of implementation strategies. Methods/design: This study is a mixed methods multiple case study of seven children's social service organizations in one Midwestern city in the United States that compose the control group of a larger randomized controlled trial. Qualitative data will include semi-structured interviews with organizational leaders (e.g., CEOs/directors, clinical directors, program managers) and a review of documents (e.g., implementation and quality improvement plans, program manuals, etc.) that will shed light on implementation decision-making and specific implementation strategies that are used to implement new programs and practices. Additionally, focus groups with clinicians will explore their perceptions of a range of implementation strategies. This qualitative work will inform the development of a Web-based survey that will assess the perceived effectiveness, relative importance, acceptability, feasibility, and appropriateness of implementation strategies from the perspective of both clinicians and organizational leaders. Finally, the Organizational Social Context measure will be used to assess organizational culture and climate. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods data will be analyzed and interpreted at the case level as well as across cases in order to highlight meaningful similarities, differences, and site-specific experiences. Discussion: This study is designed to inform efforts to develop more effective implementation strategies by fully describing the implementation experiences of a sample of community-based organizations that provide mental health services to youth in one Midwestern city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether young adults with documented histories of child maltreatment had higher records of documented severe intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration than an income-matched control group. It also examined whether this association was mediated by juvenile violent delinquency, problematic substance use, or mental health problems. Study data came from one state’s administrative public sector records of child welfare, juvenile court, mental health, income maintenance, and birth records. The study employed a prospective longitudinal design to follow children for 16 years (N = 5,377). The IPV was measured by police arrests and temporary restraining order petitions. Multiple group path analysis was used to examine mediation hypotheses and determine whether they differed by gender. The study found that IPV perpetration rates were higher among maltreated than control participants and higher in maltreated men than in women. For men, maltreatment had both direct and mediated effects on IPV perpetration through violent delinquency. For women, maltreatment did not directly or indirectly predict IPV perpetration, though low power makes these findings tentative. The study highlights the importance of child maltreatment prevention as a way to reduce violence later in life and suggests that the juvenile justice system may also provide a point of intervention for the maltreated youth. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This qualitative study examines low-income African-American fathers' perceptions of their parenting role and the strategies they employ to bring up children in poor urban neighborhoods. Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted with 36 fathers who had contact with their children at least twice a month. Men in the study expressed conventional views of their fathering roles as provider, nurturer, and teacher, but placed the most emphasis on ‘being there’ for their children, as their financial circumstances limited other forms of involvement. Many fathers felt their circumstances to be exacerbated by a hostile child-support system. They desired to teach their children alternatives to the negative practices and values they saw in their urban neighborhoods and to have the skills to prosper in mainstream society. Overall, the findings suggest that many low-income urban fathers already desire to be responsible fathers but see themselves as limited by material and structural challenges. Services and policies that promote the economic stability of low-income fathers are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Weil-Being II, this article examines the impact of caregiver sub-stance abuse on children's exposure to violence in the home in a nationally representative sample of families in volved with child protective services. Logistic regression analyses indicate an increased risk of witnessing mild and severe violence in the home for children whose primary caregiver ivas abusing alcohol or drugs. However, analyses did not find statistically significant relationships between child report of direct victimization in the home by mild or severe violence and caregiver alcohol or drug abuse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To describe how child maltreatment chronicity is related to negative outcomes In later childhood and early adulthood. METHODS: The study included 5994 low-income children from St Louis, including 3521 with child maltreatment reports, who were followed from 1993-1994 through 2009. Children were 1.5 to 11 years of age at sampling. Data include administrative and treatment records indicating substance abuse, mental health treatment, brain injury, sexually transmitted disease, suicide attempts, and violent delinquency before age 18 and child maltreatment perpetration, mental health treatment, or substance abuse in adulthood. Multivariate analysis controlled for potential confounders. RESULTS: Child maltreatment chronicity predicted negative childhood outcomes in a linear fashion (eg, percentage with at least 1 negative outcome: no maltreatment = 29.7%, 1 report = 39.5%, 4 reports = 67.1%). Suicide attempts before age 18 showed the largest proportionate increase with repeated maltreatment (no report versus 4+ reports = +625%, P < .0001). The dose-response relationship was reduced once controls for other adverse child outcomes were added in multivariate models of child maltreatment perpetration and mental health issues. The relationship between adult substance abuse and maltreatment report history disappeared after controlling for adverse child outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Child maltreatment chronicity as measured by official reports is a robust indicator of future negative outcomes across a range of systems, but this relationship may desist for certain adult outcomes once childhood adverse events are controlled. Although primary and secondary prevention remain important approaches, this study suggests that enhanced tertiary prevention may pay high dividends across a range of medical and behavioral domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being, a national probability study of children and families investigated for child maltreatment, were analyzed to answer the question: Do substantiated and unsubstantiated cases differ in rates of recidivism over 36 months? Recidivism was classified as (a) any re-reports, (b) substantiated re-reports and (c) subsequent foster care placements. Bivariate (survivor functions estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method) and multivariate (Cox regression modeling) analyses were conducted. The results revealed that risk of recidivism was similar regardless of substantiation status of the index investigation. We suggest that the substantiation label be removed from field use. Instead, we suggest that agencies record service needs in the families they serve, and also record whether or not the family meets criteria for referral to the family court. These would be far more practical and meaningful ways to measure child welfare services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics associated with different levels of substance use in a national probability sample of maltreated 11- to 15-year-olds (n = 1,179). Bivariate (chi-square tests) and multivariate (logistic regression) analyses were used to examine the association of adolescent substance use with demographics, placement type, and youth and family characteristics. Seventy-one percent of youth reported no use, 20% reported low levels of substance use, and approximately 9% reported moderate to high levels of use. Youth substance use was similar across placement types. Conduct problems and low caregiver relatedness were more prevalent for youth reporting higher levels of substance use. High levels of conduct problems increased the odds of substance use, whereas high caregiver monitoring decreased the odds of substance use. Caregiver monitoring may be a key tactic in attempts to reduce the likelihood of substance use in maltreated youth, regardless of placement type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]