Geographically accessible immigration support and parenting services and child maltreatment

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study explores how the geographic proximity of immigration support and parenting services affect neighborhood rates of child maltreatment using administrative data from the U.S Census and child protective services. Spatial error regression results show that neighborhoods with proximal immigration support services have lower rates of child maltreatment, while neighborhoods with proximal parenting services have higher rates of child maltreatment. Additionally, neighborhoods with higher concentrations of Hispanic and poor residents have higher rates of child maltreatment, while neighborhoods with more White and Asian residents have lower rates of child maltreatment. This study suggests that immigration support services may be child maltreatment prevention resources.