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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.

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.

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.)

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., 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 [...]

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

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