Letter to the editor

Abstract

That parents with intellectual disabilities are noted to be involved with child protection systems at disproportionate rates is well documented. Drawing on national-level data from the United States' child protection system, this study examines the prevalence of substantiated child protection cases involving a parent with an intellectual disability as well as information about demographic characteristics, risk factors, child maltreatment types and services provided at the start of a child protection case. Cases involving parents with intellectual disabilities were more likely to involve psychological or emotional abuse, but not other types of abuse and neglect. Problematic disproportionalities in the provision of service types specific to identified risk factors were noted. Implications for casework in both the child protection and disability service systems are discussed.