August 14, 2009

Prevention and the Child Protection System

The nation's child protection system (CPS) historically focused on preventing youth maltreatment in high-risk families. But, as Jane Waldfogel explains in this report, CPS also began developing prevention procedures for children at lower risk - those who are referred to CPS but whose cases do not meet the criteria for ongoing services. Preventive services delivered by CPS to high-risk families typically include case management and supervision. The families may also receive more preventive services, including individual and family counseling, respite care, parenting education, housing assistance, substance abuse treatment, child care, and home visits. Researchers generally find little evidence, however, that these services reduce the risk of subsequent maltreatment. Many families receive few services beyond periodic visits and the received services are often poor quality. Preventive services for lower-risk families often focus on increasing parents' understanding of the developmental stages of childhood and on improving child-rearing competencies. Studies of home visiting provided some promising evidence. This report concludes that researchers have much more to learn about what services CPS agencies should expand to prevent more maltreatment. Some families, especially those with mental health, substance abuse, and domestic violence problems, are at especially high risk, which suggests that more effective treatment services for such parents could help. Although preventive services for the lower-risk cases not open for services with CPS are much more widespread today than in the past, analysts must explore what CPS agencies can do in this area to ensure that they deliver effective services.