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. 2023 Apr:147:106832.
doi: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.106832. Epub 2023 Feb 4.

State-Level Variation in the Cumulative Prevalence of Child Welfare System Contact, 2015-2019

Youngmin Yi  1 , Frank Edwards  2 , Natalia Emanuel  3 , Hedwig Lee  4 , John M Leventhal  5 , Jane Waldfogel  6 , Christopher Wildeman  7
Affiliations

State-Level Variation in the Cumulative Prevalence of Child Welfare System Contact, 2015-2019

Youngmin Yi et al. Child Youth Serv Rev. 2023 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Prior estimates of the cumulative risks of child welfare system contact illustrate the prominence of this system in the lives of children in the United States (U.S.). However, these estimates report national data on a system administered at the state and local levels and are unable to detail potential simultaneous geographic and racial/ethnic variation in the prevalence of these events.

Methods: Using 2015-2019 data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System and Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System, we use synthetic cohort life tables to estimate cumulative state- and race/ethnicity-specific risks by age 18 of experiencing: (1) a child protective services investigation, (2) confirmed maltreatment, (3) foster care placement, and (4) termination of parental rights for children in the U.S.

Results: In the U.S., state-level investigation risks ranged from 14% to 63%, confirmed maltreatment risks from 3% to 27%, foster care placement risks from 2% to 18%, and risks of parental rights termination from 0% to 8%. Racial/ethnic disparities in these risks varied greatly across states, with larger disparities at higher levels of involvement. Whereas Black children had higher risks of all events than white children in nearly all states, Asian children had consistently lower risks. Finally, ratios comparing risks of child welfare events show these prevalences did not move in parallel, across states or racial/ethnic groups.

Contribution: This study provides new estimates of spatial and racial/ethnic variation in children's lifetime risks of maltreatment investigation, confirmed maltreatment, foster care placement, and termination of parental rights in the U.S., as well as relative risks of these events.

Keywords: child maltreatment; foster care; investigation; termination of parental rights.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Cumulative Risks of Maltreatment Investigation, 2015–2019 Notes: Analysis of data from the 2015–2020 NCANDS Child Files (NDACAN, 2020).
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Cumulative Risks of Confirmed Maltreatment, 2015–2019 Notes: Analysis of data from the 2015–2020 NCANDS Child Files (NDACAN, 2020).
Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.
Cumulative Risks of Foster Care Placement, 2015–2019 Notes: Analysis of data from the 2014–2019 AFCARS Foster Care Files (NDACAN, 2019).
Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.
Cumulative Risks of Parental Rights Termination, 2015–2019 Notes: Analysis of data from the 2014–2019 AFCARS Foster Care Files (NDACAN, 2019).
Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.
Racial/Ethnic Inequality in Maltreatment Investigation and Confirmed Maltreatment (Relative to White Children), 2015–2019 Notes: Analysis of data from the 2015–2020 NCANDS Child Files (NDACAN, 2020). The maps present estimated risk ratios of the cumulative risk of each event for children of each racial/ethnic group relative to the cumulative risk of that same event for white children.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 6.
Racial/Ethnic Inequality in Foster Care Placement and Termination of Parental Rights (Relative to White Children), 2015–2019 Notes: Analysis of data from the 2014–2019 AFCARS Foster Care Files (NDACAN, 2019). The maps present estimated risk ratios of the cumulative risk of each event for children of each racial/ethnic group relative to the cumulative risk of that same event for white children.
Fig. 7.
Fig. 7.
Ratio of Risk of Confirmed Maltreatment to Risk of Maltreatment Investigation, 2015–2019 Notes: Analysis of data from the 2015–2020 NCANDS Child Files (NDACAN, 2020).
Fig. 8.
Fig. 8.
Ratio of Risk of Foster Care Placement to Risk of Confirmed Maltreatment, 2015–2019 Notes: Analysis of data from the 2014–2019 AFCARS Foster Care Files (NDACAN, 2019) and 2015–2020 NCANDS Child Files (NDACAN, 2020).
Fig. 9.
Fig. 9.
Ratio of Risk of Termination of Parental Rights to Risk of Confirmed Maltreatment, 2015–2019 Notes: Analysis of data from the 2014–2019 AFCARS Foster Care Files (NDACAN, 2019) and 2015–2020 NCANDS Child Files (NDACAN, 2020).
Fig. 10.
Fig. 10.
Ratio of Risk of Termination of Parental Rights to Risk of Foster Care Placement, 2015–2019 Notes: Analysis of data from the 2014–2019 AFCARS Foster Care Files (NDACAN, 2019).
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