Provide Child Welfare Research Articles

Growing up on the Street: Barriers to Educational Services Among Street Children in Malaysia

Educational services are part of the child welfare system and part of social services that are required for street-connected children to enhance their well-being. Negative street life and homelessness influence street-connected children to access educational services. This paper discusses the barriers to educational services encountered by street-connected children in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Understanding barriers to educational services is crucial to inform policymakers, child welfare providers, and the government to formulate relatable educational services for street-connected children. The researcher employed a quantitative research design to conduct the study. A total of 303 took part in this study. The influence factors of barriers to educational services were determined using multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed that undocumented issues, poverty issues, personality issues, involvement in antisocial behavior, behavior in school, and school social environment are among the barriers to educational services faced by street-connected children in Kuala Lumpur. Inputs provided in this study can be instrumental in improving the child welfare system related to educational needs and addressing the psycho-educational needs of street-connected children. Implementing and recommendations proposed in this study can make a positive impact to improve the overall well-being of street-connected children.

Neglecting to consider early emotional development after abuse and/or neglect: Insights and recommendations from child welfare providers

AbstractLaying a strong foundation for emotional development in children birth to 5 is of critical importance, but the extent to which this is considered following child abuse and/or neglect, foster care placement, reunification, and potential re‐entry into foster care remains unclear. Using a convergent mixed methods design, we investigated perceptions among child welfare professionals given the contributing role they could play in both initiating provider–parent dialogue and connecting families with timely resources to better support early emotional development post‐abuse/neglect. Fifty eight child welfare professionals in an urban, Northeastern County of the USA participated (73% response rate). Survey data and focus group insights shed light on satisfaction with and roadblocks to supporting foster and biological parents in promoting emotional development. A low proportion of respondents offered advice on emotional development, referred families to relevant parent education, or perceived biological or foster parents as extremely prepared. Self‐reported likelihood of providing advice to families was positively associated with access to information on emotional development, years employed, and job satisfaction. Multilevel roadblocks were identified. Results inform systems‐level, family‐centred initiatives and information sharing to better support emotional development post‐abuse and/or neglect.

Who makes the call? Examining the relationship between child maltreatment referral sources and case outcomes in the United States, 2008-2018

BackgroundResearch shows general increases in child maltreatment reports in the U.S. However, less is understood about how reporting varies across states and changes over time, from a perspective of referral sources. While recent studies during COVID-19 reported a reduction in maltreatment referrals, predominantly school referrals, little research has examined changes in maltreatment referrals by referral sources before the pandemic and how different referral sources are associated with case outcomes, particularly out-of-home placement. ObjectivesThis study examined 1) variations across states and changes over time in maltreatment reporting by referral source and 2) the relationship between referral sources type and two case outcomes: substantiated maltreatment and out-of-home placement. Participants and settingWe used 2008–2018 data (N = 24,349,293) from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. MethodsWe used descriptive trend analysis and pooled, fixed effects binary logistic regression. ResultsWe found gradual increases in reporting during 2008–2018, with substantial variations across states and referral sources. States rely differently on certain reporter types, while we see the largest increase in education referrals and a small decrease in social services referrals. Regression results showed that education referrals were less likely to result in out-of-home placement; law enforcement referrals were most likely to be substantiated, while social service referrals were most likely to result in out-of-home placement. ConclusionThis study makes unique contributions to literature by expanding our knowledge of referral sources and examining the likelihood of substantiation and out-of-home placement by referral source type. We provide child welfare policy and practice implications.

Self-Education for Elementary School Orphanage Children

Independence is the ability to direct and control one's feelings in thinking and acting, being responsible, having self-confidence, and discipline. Being able to control feelings includes the child's self-control and the child's conscience when performing independent behavior. Independence in children is realized if they use their minds in making various decisions, from choosing the learning equipment they want to use, and choosing playmates, to more complicated things. Similar roles and positions through the government and private institutions, one of which is LKSA (child social welfare institution) which was developed as a professional service institution and became the choice to provide child welfare services, that is one way to keep children in good care by accommodating children. The children are in an orphanage, to help improve the welfare of children by educating, caring for, guiding, directing, and providing skills as parents in a family should do to develop children's independence.

Developing and Initially Validating the Youth Mental Health Literacy Scale for Ages 11-14.

Despite rising rates of youth mental health disorders and suicides, most youth lack access to accurate, non-stigmatized mental health information. Instead, many describe people with mental illness as violent and incompetent. Mental health literacy aligns with resilience theory. It assumes that youth that have accurate mental health information will have less stigmatized views of mental illness and will be more likely to seek help earlier should mental health symptoms arise. Accurate, non-stigmatized mental health information is especially needed for Children of a Parent or other Family Member that has a mental illness (COPFMI) since they are more likely to acquire a mental illness than children who do not have a family member with a mental illness. COPFMI youth are in need of the same mental health information as general population youth but they can also benefit from knowing how to deal with a family member's mental health disorder. Based on many foundation studies and key stakeholder input from parents, educators, mental health providers, child welfare providers, and especially youth, an emerging Youth Mental Health Literacy (YMHL) scale was developed and validated for measuring the mental health literacy levels of youth ages 11–14. The scale provides a full scale score of youth mental health literacy. It has subscales of knowledge of mental illness and recovery; stigma, help seeking for self/others; coping with stress; and dealing with family mental health challenges. The validation study indicated support for a unidimensional structure for each of the refined subscales. The subscales showed suitable reliability as evaluated by several measures of internal consistency. While the scale needs further study with larger samples of youth, it is hoped that the scale can yield mental health literacy outcome data that can help mental health literacy programs to build evidence-based programs that may, in turn, help prevent, delay, or ameliorate mental health disorders among youth.

Righting adults’ wrongs: ‘Generationing’ on the battlefield. A decolonial approach

This paper analyses the empirical data of school occupations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during 2016 to discuss the production of novel generational orders around the good of public education. Using a decolonial standpoint from where to examine modernization in Brazil and its welfare provision for children, the paper advances the notions of intergenerational practices of co-generativity and politicized generativity as instances of how Southern realities can contribute to new theoretical insights in childhood studies.

Peer parent programs in child welfare: A systematic review

BackgroundMentoring, specifically peer mentoring, emerged in the child welfare setting in the early 2000s. Peer parent programs provide child welfare involved families a unique opportunity to connect with parents that have successfully navigated the child welfare system and who share similar lived experiences. No systematic review has been conducted to summarize findings associated with parental participation in peer parent programs and associated child welfare case outcomes. ObjectiveThis study systematically summarizes the effectiveness of peer parent programs in child welfare on case outcomes, specifically permanency, time-in-care, and re-entry post reunification. MethodsFour citations were identified for review from seven academic databases. A data template was utilized to extract the following information from each study: location, target of intervention, research design, setting of intervention, intervention description, peer parent criteria, inclusion and exclusion criteria for participants, sample size, statistical tests, outcomes assessed, and key findings. ResultsSeveral peer parent programs have been developed to support and empower child welfare involved families with the aim of improving case outcomes. All of the peer parent programs reviewed had a positive impact on reunification rates; that is, parents who participated in a peer mentor program were more likely to reunify with their child(ren) when compared to non-participants. Results regarding time-in-care and re-entry post reunification at 12 and 24 months were mixed. ConclusionsChild welfare agencies should consider developing peer parent programs as they appear to be a promising intervention to support parents and increase positive child welfare outcomes.

Organizational assessment to implement trauma-informed care for first responders, child welfare providers, and healthcare professionals.

Organizational assessment to implement trauma-informed care for first responders, child welfare providers, and healthcare professionals.

Shifting from receiver to provider: Aging out of semi-institutional child welfare settings with serious mental health diagnoses

Youth who age out of group homes and transitional living programs with serious mental health needs can abruptly lose critical supports, including housing and mental health treatment access. Little is known about how these particularly vulnerable youth navigate these large shifts in support. Twenty youth diagnosed with serious mental health conditions completed three in-depth interviews (within four-months of planned emancipation and at six- and 12-months post-emancipation). Brief monthly check-ins prevented attrition. Participants transitioned from a receiver/complier role in a mental health treatment context pre-emancipation to a provider/exchanger role in a poverty context post-emancipation. Independence was short-lived post-emancipation; temporary emancipation funds and disability benefits provided a brief cushion. Participants were unprepared for navigation of mutual social support exchanges. Child welfare providers who aim to prepare youth for independence post-emancipation must better understand the social context youth age into, as well as youth’s desired and required resource exchanges.

Using Evidence-Based Learning Theories to Guide the Development of Virtual Simulations.

Technology-enhanced training such as virtual simulations can be effective only to the extent evidence-based principles of learning are integrated into their training platforms. Assuming skill acquisition is the target of training, programs should include time and space for repeated practice opportunities structured through evidence-based learning theories (Amodeo et al. in Adm Soc Work 33:423–438, 2009). Essential learning attributes derived from Cognitive Load Theory (Sweller in Cognit Sci 12:257–285, 1988) and the Theory of Deliberate Practice (Ericsson et al. in Psychol Rev 100:363–406, 1993) can effectively integrate into virtual simulations intended to build expertise. Virtual Home Simulation (VHS) and Virtual Motivational Interviewing (VMI) are presented in this paper as an approach to develop virtual simulations that provide child welfare workers a means to deliberately practice essential skills toward competence before entering the workforce. This paper reviews the development process, specific design aspects, and lessons learned as a guide on how to integrate effective learning attributes. Implications for using virtual simulations, including cost-benefits, measuring performance over time, and addressing training complications due to Covid-19 or similar obstacles, are also provided.

Supplemental Material for Organizational Assessment to Implement Trauma-Informed Care for First Responders, Child Welfare Providers, and Healthcare Professionals

Supplemental Material for Organizational Assessment to Implement Trauma-Informed Care for First Responders, Child Welfare Providers, and Healthcare Professionals

Public-private interaction in child welfare: lessons for critical social work from Chile and the United States

This article discusses the public-private partnership that exists in Chile and in the United States to collaborate on issues of child welfare. By comparing both countries, we look at ideologies and economic issues that have historically shaped the contemporary perspective of public-private partnerships in child welfare. Additionally, we probe the role of social work in this area to see its current position within the public and private sectors in child welfare provision. Some conclusions are that neoliberalism and a residual worldview about childhood have shaped this public-private partnership. Also, social work has historically played a relevant role in advocacy and development of child policies and in both countries, private sector primarily implements child welfare policies and public sector funds them. Some of the lessons for critical social work include the importance of promoting a change in the way we address social phenomena in child welfare, and demanding an effective installation of the human rights approach to guide public-private partnerships on child welfare in both countries.

Implementing smartphone technology to support relational competence in foster youth: a service provider perspective

ABSTRACT The field of child welfare continues to search for effective ways to mitigate risks foster youth often encounter. Research discoveries about the importance of attachments and relational competence for foster youth support greater well-being. However, little is known about the use of smartphone technology and companion software in foster care as a method in promoting relational competence. This qualitative implementation study sought to explore the perceptions of child welfare providers and other stakeholders regarding how smartphone technology facilitated the ability of foster youth to become more connected with trusted adults. Research results reveal challenges associated with child welfare officials’ purposeful issuance and utilisation of smartphones. Stakeholders and providers viewed these challenges as learning opportunities. Three critical themes uncovered—relationship building, youth empowerment, and normalcy—provide direction for how smartphone technology might be more efficiently tapped relative to future child welfare initiatives.

Applying Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to LGBT foster youth: practice implications for child welfare professionals and those working in rural settings

ABSTRACT Providing safe and stable placements is a primary focus of the child welfare system in the United States. There are often challenges with finding successful placements for foster youth who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender for reasons related to lack of appropriate placements and resource availability and accessibility. For LGBT foster youth residing in rural placements these issues could be especially true and pose additional hardships. The purpose of this article is to provide child welfare practitioners a framework to assist in the service of LGBT foster youth and considers implications for rural placements. Challenges associated with LGBT foster youth are highlighted, followed by suggestions for future research, policy, and practice approaches to increase successful outcomes for these youth.

Prevalence of untreated dental caries in Latin American children in the Spanish child protection system

Introduction and objective: The study aimed to investigate the prevalence of untreated dental caries in Latin American immigrant children who enter into the child protection system in Aragon, Spain. We analyze if these are related to demographic factors, body mass index, or vulnerability circumstances. Methods: Cross-sectional observational study. We analyze the social and health records of every child between the age of 6 and 17 that required residential care in the period between 2000 and 2019. The Social Services Institute of Aragon who compiled their records and directed the protection measures assessed their vulnerability conditions. A standard anthropometric and oral evaluation by healthcare professionals, together with the recollection of their demographic data, was carried out as these children accessed the welfare system. Results: Two hundred and thirty-one children (55.8% female) with an average age (SD) of 13.6 (3.8) years were evaluated. The prevalence of untreated dental caries was 16.5%. These were associated to the age group 6-13 years-old (p<0.001), the second-generation (p=0.004) and the temporary or permanent parental inability to provide child welfare (p=0.009) due to death, incarceration, physical illness, mental illness, drug addiction, or causes of a similar nature, together with the absence of relatives taking care of the child. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was 32% and do not exhibited association with the presence of untreated dental caries. Conclusion: We observe either that, besides cariogenic dietary habits acquired in their native community or their foster one, socio-family vulnerability and deprivation play an essential role in the high prevalence of untreated dental caries.

Building home on a fault line: Aging out of child welfare with a serious mental health diagnosis

AbstractYouth aging out of foster care are at high risk for homelessness. This research explains how and why homelessness occurs among youth with serious mental health struggles after aging out of residential and transitional living programmes. Using a longitudinal constructivist grounded theory design, we analyse 20 in‐depth interviews exploring youth's transition experiences and perceptions of transition success within 4 months of emancipation and at 6 and 12 months postemancipation. Monthly 15‐min check‐ins prevented attrition. A three‐phase transition process was observed driven by participant desires and actions to cultivate psychological home through establishing physical home alone away from social networks. Pre‐emancipation, the promise of home was privacy and opportunity for self‐redefinition. Shortly after emancipation, home became a physical and social space to be, a valuable resource to share and a demonstration of personal transition success. However, later in the year postemancipation, maintaining physical home proves nearly impossible given the risk context. Findings speak to how and why youth aging out appear overly self‐reliant upon emancipation. Cultivating a psychological sense of home has practice implications for child welfare providers who aim to prepare youth to live independently postemancipation.

Exclusive Breastfeeding and Associated Factors among Mothers with Twins in the Tamale Metropolis.

Background Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first six months after birth has been recommended by the WHO as the best infant feeding strategy. Data on EBF rates among twin infants in Ghana remain limited and for that matter hypothesized to be low. Aim The study sought to measure the prevalence of EBF and identify associated factors among twins in the Tamale metropolis. Methods A cross-sectional survey involving 185 mother-twin pairs was conducted in four health facilities in the Tamale metropolis providing Child welfare Clinic (CWC) services. Socio-demographics data on both mother and twin were taken. Biomedical (e.g. perceived onset of lactation, confidence of producing enough milk, parity, delivery place, delivery type, time of breastfeeding initiation) and bio cultural factors (e.g. family cooperation for current infant feeding, breastfeeding counselling) were also obtained. In-depth interviews were also conducted with a sub sample of mothers (30) who were purposively selected to generate qualitative data on breastfeeding and associated cultural factors in twins as this data was necessary to aid in the explanation of the quantitative results. Results Only 17% of twin infants were exclusively breastfed for six months. Women who were not confident that they could produce enough breast milk were about 83% less likely to practice exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) compared to those who were confident that they could produce enough breast milk (AOR = 0.17; CI = 0.04, 0.73; p-value = 0.017). Moreover, mothers who had no access to radio were about 87% less likely to practice EBF (AOR = 0.13; CI = 0.02, 0.79; p-value = 0.017). Moreover, mothers who had no access to radio were about 87% less likely to practice EBF (AOR = 0.13; CI = 0.02, 0.79; Conclusions The study shows that, ownership of radio, confidence of producing enough breast milk and admission of the children into NICU were identified as the most important factors affecting exclusive breastfeeding of twins. Beyond Educating, encouraging and assuring twin mothers of their abilities to produce enough breast milk to satisfy their children, healthcare professionals should pay more attention on providing appropriate information on breastfeeding to mothers and caregivers.

Factors that predict child welfare caseworker referrals to an evidence-based parenting program

Background and purposeDespite the increasing number of evidence-based practices (EBPs) for children and families in child welfare, child welfare agencies continue to encounter barriers to implementation, including a lack of utilization that may be caused by a lack of caseworker referrals to EBPs. However, further research is needed to determine additional factors that impact caseworker referrals. ObjectiveThis study examined whether caseworker demographic factors, attitudes towards EBPs and organizational factors predict caseworker referrals. Relying upon tenets of the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study also examined whether intention to refer predicts caseworker referrals to an EBP. Participants and settingA convenience sample of 130 caseworkers and support staff was selected from two community-based agencies that provide child welfare services and were implementing an EBP, the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P). MethodsResearchers used survey data from participants and caseworker referral data collected three to six months after survey completion. Binary logistic regression was used to measure the relationship between predictor variables and caseworker referrals. ResultsResults showed that agency of employment (OR = 3.31), age (OR = 0.12), race/ethnicity (OR = −4.303), and openness to EBPs (OR = 1.77) significantly (p < .05) predicted whether or not a caseworker made a referral to Triple P. ConclusionsIntention to refer did not predict referral behavior, possibly due to intervening events that took precedence over parenting needs. Providing support to caseworkers in navigating well-being needs amidst emergent crises may mitigate this barrier. Findings underscore the need to explore organizational differences that may facilitate caseworker referrals including the impact of locating Triple P providers the same location as caseworkers and of differing agency referral norms.

Thinking out of the box

ABSTRACTNever has the phrase 'thinking out of the box' resonated more appropriately for the field of child welfare than now. With the passage of the Strengthening Families Act and the re-conceptionalization of child welfare by the Children's Bureau toward primary prevention, it is an exciting and propitious time for thinking more broadly and unconventionally about how to best provide child welfare services to children and families through a diverse, skilled, and committed workforce. Developing the workforce needed for a prevention based child welfare system for the future while addressing the workforce challenges of the present will be challenging but also presents another opportunity for 'out of the box' thinking.

Mobile resource referral technology for preventive child welfare services: Implementation and feasibility

As state and local jurisdictions in the United States prepare to implement the provisions of the 2018 Family First Preventive Services Act (FFPSA), they are faced with the large-scale challenge of making effective linkages between geographically dispersed clients and local preventive services. This pilot study applies a conceptual framework (Proctor et al., 2011) to describe implementation of a scalable, mobile community resource referral tool for use by child and family welfare caseworkers serving intact families with allegations of abuse or neglect. The study also demonstrates how data generated by use of the resource referral technology can be applied to visualize the geographic distribution of resource needs in relation to availability. Caseworkers from one urban agency were trained and given access to the mobile referral tool for a three-month observation period. Implementation data were obtained using mixed methods, including self-administered surveys, semi-structured focus group interviews with caseworkers, and metadata generated by the referral technology. Appropriateness, acceptability and feasibility outcomes were assessed. Findings establish that a mobile referral technology can be implemented with minimal training into caseworker workflows, and identify challenges that can be addressed in future iterations and implementations to reduce redundancy and prevent interruption in referral communication. Additionally, the use of mobile referral technology improved the ability of child welfare professionals to document referrals, and can provide child welfare systems with geographical information about need that will be essential for refining the preventive service continuum. Overall, the functionality of the tool and the data it generates will be important for optimizing resource referrals for preventive case management of child welfare-involved families.