Effect of Domestic Violence on the Risk of Out-of-Home Placement: A Propensity Score Analysis

Abstract

Increased attention is being given to domestic violence as a risk factor for out-of-home placement; however, no studies have longitudinally assessed this relationship. Further, the existing studies have yielded mixed findings, indicating a need for analyses that apply the most rigorous methods. This analysis uses data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being to examine the rate of out-of-home placement (i.e., time to out-of-home placement following a child welfare investigation of alleged child maltreatment) across time among a sample of 1,965 children with female caregivers. Among the caregivers, 657 reported domestic violence and 1,308 did not report domestic violence. To best determine whether domestic violence contributes to greater likelihood of out-of-home placement, we use propensity score analysis to statistically mimic a randomized clinical trial by balancing both groups of caregivers based on observed characteristics. Findings indicate children whose caregivers report domestic violence enter out-of-home care 37% faster (i.e., remain in the home fewer days) than children whose caregivers did not report domestic violence. The study findings highlight the importance of screening for domestic violence and providing intensive services for families affected by domestic violence as a critical element of increasing child safety and preventing out-of-home placement.