NSCAW II Child Well-Being Spotlight: Caregivers of Children Who Remain In-home After a Maltreatment Investigation Need Services

Publication Date: November 26, 2012
Current as of:

Introduction

Children’s well-being depends on the capacity of their family to nurture and care for them. Caregivers facing multiple difficulties, including intimate partner violence, substance abuse, and poor mental health, are challenged to provide the quantity and quality of care that supports healthy child development and well-being. The vast majority (86%) of children who have received a report of child abuse or neglect remain in-home following a maltreatment investigation. However, data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Wellbeing (NSCAW) indicate that many in-home caregivers experience a range of problems that could affect their ability to care for their children effectively. Compared to adults nationally, in-home caregivers in NSCAW have much higher rates of substance abuse, intimate partner violence, and major depression. These data show that families may have a great need for services, even in cases where children are not removed from the home. Child protective services plays an important role as a gateway for referrals and receipt of services to caregivers of all families who come into contact with the child welfare system.