Outcomes from early child maltreatment prevention program in child protective services

Abstract

Child abuse and neglect is a major public health problem. Early efforts to prevent maltreatment are much needed to avoid a number of serious and irrevocable negative consequences for children. Currently, most early prevention approaches utilize a variety of community based services while the public Child Protective Services (CPS) system has yet to settle on a clear paradigm for prevention. Accordingly, there is a need to better understand the potential of such services within the CPS. This study sought to determine whether the Parent Support Outreach (PSO) program, an early CPS response and service model to screened-out reports and other high-risk families in Minnesota's child welfare system, resulted in less subsequent CPS involvement, increased use of mental health and substance abuse services, and improvement of family's economic well-being. The study also examined whether these outcomes varied across population subgroups. Employing a quasi-experimental design with propensity score methods and using multiple administrative data sources, the study found that the PSO group experienced significantly fewer CPS reports and out of home placements and was more likely to receive adult mental health services than similar families in the Differential Response program. Additionally, there were a number of significant subgroup effects across multiple outcomes. Support for the PSO program offers new opportunities to jurisdictions considering offering early prevention services to families in need.