Childhood adversities and prior involvement with child protective services

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Shakira Suglia, Emory University; Erin R. Kulick, Brown University; Jocelyn Brown, Columbia University
• Language: English
• Date: 2019-12-09
• Publisher: SpringerOpen (part of Springer Nature)
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2019 The Author(s).
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40621-019-0224-9
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Injury Epidemiology
• ISSN: 2197-1714
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: 48
• End Page: 48
• Grant/Funding Information: This work was supported by the Center for Injury Science and Prevention at Columbia University.
• Keywords: Child protective services; Child maltreatment; Re-victimization; Adverse child experiences; Social stressors
• Research Categories: Sociology, Social Structure and Development; Health Sciences, Epidemiology

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to determine the relation between childhood adversities and prior involvement with Child Protective Services (CPS) history among children presenting for evaluation at a Child Advocacy Center. Study design: The study evaluated children presenting to a Child Advocacy Center (CAC) from 2009 to 2014. A five-item child adversity measure, based on mother's report, was characterized into a scale of none, one, or two or more adversities. Caseworkers at the CAC assessed whether families had a prior history of involvement with CPS. Results: Among the 727 children included in the analyses, 43% had a prior history of involvement with CPS. Twenty-six percent of the children experienced one childhood adversity while 29% experienced two or more. In regression analyses adjusting for socio-demographics, experiencing one (Prevalence Ratio (PR) 1.25 95%CI 1.0-1.5) or two or more adversities (PR1.67 95%CI 1.4, 2.0) was associated with higher prevalence of CPS history compared to those who reported none. Conclusions: Childhood adversities are associated with prior contact with CPS, suggesting there are missed opportunities to provide services to high-risk families. CACs may be in a unique position to advocate for families and prevent further victimization of children.