Mental health services receipt among caregivers in the child welfare system: A longitudinal analysis

Abstract

This study intended to identify factors associated with receipt of mental health services by caregivers substantiated for maltreatment. Longitudinal records for 1445 substantiated caregivers were extracted from a national data set. Generalized estimating equations yielded positive associations between receipt of the services by caregivers and 3 explanatory factors: need for mental health services, inclusion of mental health services in case plan, and second interview wave. The analysis results also yielded negative associations between receipt of the services and 11 explanatory factors: mental health, number of IPV episodes, refusal of services, number of caseworkers worked with, African American, Hispanic, physical maltreatment, sexual maltreatment, neglect, kinship care placement, and out-of-home placement. Mental health services receipt was not associated with substance use, caseworker engagement perceived by caregiver, socioeconomic factors, or other demographic factors. Implications for child welfare efforts include the need to identify mental health problems among caregivers; to ensure case plans state any need for mental health services; to address refusal of services by caregivers; and to ensure cultural competence within agencies serving caregivers of minority ethnicity.