Fuller, T., & Zhang, S. (2017). The impact of family engagement and child welfare services on maltreatment re-reports and substantiated re-reports. Child Maltreatment, 22(3), 183-193. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559517709996

Child welfare services have the potential to decrease the risk of child maltreatment re-occurrence. This study analyzed data from a statewide evaluation of child protective services (CPS). The purpose of the study was to investigate the associations between child welfare services, family engagement, and child maltreatment re-reports (incidents that were either substantiated or not) and substantiated re-reports (re-reports in which at least one allegation was verified). Results revealed that family engagement and child welfare services had an effect on preventing child maltreatment re-

https://doi.org/10.1177/1077559517709996

Child maltreatment
Children
Mental health
Physical health
Programming
Youth

Civilian

Childhood (birth - 12 yrs)
School age (6 - 12 yrs)
Adolescence (13 - 17 yrs)
Adulthood (18 yrs & older)

Quantitative Study

Fuller, Tamara, Zhang, Saijun

Despite decades of debate about the most effective ways to intervene with families reported to child protective services (CPS), little evidence exists regarding the types of services or approach that reduce children’s risk of additional maltreatment. The current study used data collected during a statewide experimental evaluation of CPS to examine the impact of numerous service variables, family engagement, and family characteristics on the risk of maltreatment re-reports and substantiated re-reports among families initially reported for neglect and risk of harm. The sample included 4,868 families with screened-in reports that were randomly assigned to receive either an investigation or an assessment. The results of the Cox regression analyses found that service duration, intensity, and breadth were unrelated to maltreatment re-report or substantiated re-reports, but caseworker ratings of the service-need match were associated with both. The provision of domestic violence services was related to decreased risk of maltreatment re-reports. Increased levels of family engagement were associated with lowered risk of both maltreatment re-reports and substantiated re-reports. Once the effects of services, engagement, and family characteristics were taken into account, CPS response pathway (investigation or assessment) had no relationship to maltreatment re-reports or substantiated re-reports.

SAGE Publications

Article
REACH Publication

1 Children and Family Research Center, School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, TF
1 Children and Family Research Center, School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, SZ