Child Welfare Research Articles

Do foster youth face harsher juvenile justice outcomes? Reinvestigating child welfare bias in juvenile justice processing

Do foster youth face harsher juvenile justice outcomes? Reinvestigating child welfare bias in juvenile justice processing

Synergistic benefits of inclusive leadership to foster child welfare workers’ job self-efficacy: race matters

ABSTRACT With growing diversity in child welfare, inclusive leadership could improve child welfare workers’ performance with children and families. By analyzing survey data collected from 2469 public child welfare workers, we found that inclusive leadership was positively associated with job efficacy by increasing workers’ perceptions of an inclusive climate and empowerment. Furthermore, its positive effects were greater among workers of color than White workers. Findings suggest that inclusive leadership can function as an organizational mechanism to promote performance-related outcomes, especially among child welfare workers of color. This paper concludes with practical implications to encourage inclusive leadership and strengthen its synergistic benefits.

Legal protections for sexual and gender minority youth in foster care: A review of Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (Normalcy Standards)

The aim of this study was to investigate legal protections for sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth population who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex (LGBTQ+), or any nonheterosexual orientation, gender identity, or expression (SOGIE) within the context of the United States (US) publicly administered state child welfare foster care system through federal Public Law 113–183 (Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act – Prudent Parenting for short). SGM youth are identified in foster care 2.5 times higher than their heterosexual peers and often report worse outcomes. There are some federal recommendations for SGM youth, but it does not include normalcy or other activities that are federally supported. A state-by-state analysis of legislation, policy, implementation policy and youth bill of rights was conducted. While there was significant variance across the USA, many states provided levels of support in their legislation, policy implementation and youth bill of rights that could assist SGM youth impact normalcy efforts. More research is needed to investigate if SGM youth in foster care experience protections in the states that have legal protections.

Contact person intervention in Nordic countries: A comparative integrative review

In Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Denmark, the contact person intervention (CPI) is declared for children and youth in national legislation. The CPI is based on a relationship between the child and a volunteer adult who provides support to the child in need in different life situations. In this review, we summarise how the CPI within child welfare services has been studied and defined in four Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark). The aim is to present an overview of research-based knowledge on the intervention in the Nordic countries. A thorough integrative literature review for the period January 2010 to September 2022 produced 16 scientific publications. There were no academic publications available for Denmark during this period. The review focused on research carried out in Sweden (10 publications), Finland (5), and Norway (1). All studies on the CPI are descriptive and explorative and mainly focus on tracing the historical background of the intervention. The practice of working with contact persons would benefit from research looking at the content and effectiveness of the service. More systematic national and cross-national research is needed to strengthen the knowledge base of the intervention.

Does High Self-Control Accelerate Epigenetic Aging in Low-Income Adolescents?

PurposePersistent self-control in the context of upward mobility in low-income adolescents, especially those of color, may have physiological costs, such as greater risks of developing cardiometabolic diseases in young adulthood. One potential mechanism linking self-control to cardiometabolic health is epigenetic age acceleration (EAA). However, little is known regarding the association between high self-control and EAA, as well as what factors may play protective roles. Therefore, we evaluated (1) the association between self-control and EAA and if this association varies by race and ethnicity, and (2) whether neighborhood collective efficacy (NCE) and school connectedness moderate the association in low-income adolescents. MethodsThis study used data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study. Participants included 772 adolescents with a household income <300% of poverty level (mean age: 15.6 years). Self-control, NCE, and school connectedness were all self-reported. EAA was assessed in saliva and estimated using Horvath, Skin and Blood, and Pediatric-Buccal-Epigenetic clocks. Multiple linear regression and PROCESS analyses were employed. ResultsHigher self-control was positively associated with EAA estimated by the skin and blood clock in low-income adolescents of color. Further, the association of higher self-control with EAA was not significant among low-income adolescents of color with higher NCE. No significant association was found among low-income White adolescents. DiscussionThe results suggest that supportive resources like neighborhood collective efficacy could mitigate adverse associations of high self-control with health in low-income adolescents of color.

Neighborhood Social and Physical Environments and Sedentary Behaviors: Importance of Early Childhood in Shaping Health Behaviors.

This study aims to investigate the persistence of sedentary behaviors from early childhood to adolescence and the longitudinal association between neighborhood social and physical environments and childhood sedentary behaviors. Using the Future of Families & Child Wellbeing Study (N = 2716), we conducted a cross-lagged path analysis to examine the longitudinal association between neighborhood social and physical environments (neighborhood socioeconomic status, observed physical disorder, and crime rates) and sedentary behaviors at subsequent measurement points, after controlling for demographic factors and family socioeconomic status. We observed the continuity of sedentary behaviors in early childhood, extending throughout adolescence. Neighborhood socioeconomic status was significantly associated with sedentary behaviors at subsequent measurement points from early childhood to adolescence. Observation-based physical disorder and crime rates were associated with engagement in greater sedentary behaviors in adolescence but not in early and middle childhood. We also observed a partial mediation effect of neighborhood physical disorder and crime rates in the association between neighborhood socioeconomic status and sedentary behaviors in adolescence. Our results demonstrated the importance of early childhood in shaping healthy behaviors and highlighted the contribution of unfavorable environments to sedentary behaviors. These findings call for the need to support disadvantaged neighborhoods, particularly by addressing safety concerns and physical disorder, for promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviors among adolescents.

Health promotion intervention in at-risk South African primary schools

Background: Interventions to promote health have been implemented in some urban settings. However, school-based health promotion interventions in at-risk urban schools have not been thoroughly investigated. Objective: This article investigates teachers’ perceptions regarding health promotion interventions with the main goal of establishing social change in at-risk school communities. Design: The study used phenomenology as a theoretical lens supported by the use of a qualitative research approach. As a theoretical framework, the researchers utilised Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory. Setting: The investigation used a descriptive case study design to select 17 teachers from 2 at-risk urban primary schools in Pretoria. Methods: Visual data including participatory reflection action posters and photographs, and field notes were part of the data collection techniques. Findings: Teachers’ responses informed how school-based health promotion interventions can be developed in the foundation phase of education. Themes relevant to this included recognition of the importance of education in bringing about social change; involving the whole community in developing health promotion projects; working closely with parents; promoting physical activity; and advocating for nutritional literacy. Goals can best be achieved through a focus on nutritional needs, physical health and social needs of at-risk communities. Conclusion: Findings from this study can be used to inform at-risk communities about food consumption, optimum physical activities and positive socio-emotional actions. Beyond this, young professionals entering the field of education should be encouraged to develop awareness of how school-based health promotion programmes can benefit the health and well-being of children.

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL-BEING IN CHILDREN: THE PROTECTIVE ROLE OF RESILIENCE, SELF-ESTEEM, SELF-EFFICACY, AND PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP

Stressful and adverse events pose a challenge to children’s mental health and well-being, as they are associated with internalizing and externalizing problems. The present study examined how family and individual factors act protectively to enhance children’s mental health and well-being. The study involved 421 children aged 9 to 12 and their parents/guardians. Children and parents completed questionnaires concerning their mental resilience, children’s self-esteem and self-efficacy, children’s mental difficulties, and child-parent relationships. Research findings indicated that children with high self-esteem and self-efficacy display more significant levels of mental resilience. Furthermore, children develop fewer mental difficulties when parents and children have high resilience and engage in positive interaction practices. The study also highlighted that children's self-esteem predicts resilience through the mediating role of children's self-efficacy. Additionally, parents' resilience indirectly impacts children's mental health through children's resilience and parent-child closeness relationships. The findings underscore the importance of developing prevention programs to bolster children's resilience and well-being.

Parent conversations with young children: Implications for child well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parent-child conversations may minimize the impact of stressful situations on children's well-being. Parents were encouraged to talk with their children about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, yet research suggests that parent stress in response to the pandemic was associated with disruptions in parenting and increased child emotional distress. In the present study, 205 parents of children aged 3-6 years (50.7% girls, 56.6% White) reported on conversations about the pandemic and responded to measures of parent stress and child emotional distress in the fall of 2020. Qualitative analysis revealed that talk about mitigation strategies was frequent; most parents offered an explanation for pandemic changes, whereas fewer parents reported communicating support. Guided by the family stress model, we then examined whether different conversation types moderated the association between parent stress and child emotional distress. Only talk about pandemic changes and explanations that COVID-19 was dangerous acted as moderators, suggesting that these conversation types strengthened the association between parent stress and child emotional distress. A main effect of self-protective explanations being associated with lower child emotional distress was also found. We discuss the implications of these findings for future research on parent-child conversations about stressful situations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Within-couple comparison of maternal and paternal distress in an Italian birth cohort

ObjectiveThis study compared parental distress in 166 couples, using the Parenting Stress Index–Short Form (PSI-SF), in the Italian NASCITA cohort at the two-year well-child visits. The study explored the concordance of distress levels within couples (aim 1) and their correlation with child-related stressors (aim 2).BackgroundPrevious studies focused on maternal distress or considered maternal and paternal experiences separately, without addressing differences within couples.MethodData on parental distress were collected from the PSI-SF completed separately by parents. The total score was derived from three subscales, with high distress defined by a score above 85. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test compared the total PSI-SF scores of mothers and fathers. The prevalence of high distress was assessed using chi-square tests, and concordance between parents within the same couple was estimated using Cohen’s K statistic. Chi-square tests were also used to compare distress levels in parents exposed to potential child-related stressors versus those not exposed.ResultsA slightly higher total score (z = -2.45; p = 0.01) was observed in mothers versus fathers, although the prevalence of distress was similar (15.1% vs. 13.9%, respectively; p = 0.76). Nine children (5.4%) had both parents distressed. Agreement in the high level of distress was observed for 81.9% of the couples, with a fair agreement on the total score (Cohen’s K = 0.27).The percentage of children with both distressed parents was slightly higher in the group exposed to potential stressors (6.6% vs. 4%, p = 0.49).ConclusionsIt is essential to evaluate distress in parents exposed to potential stressors related to child characteristics early. This assessment should be part of the pediatric family practice to prevent adverse outcomes in both child and parental wellbeing.

Legal Certainty in the Division of Joint Property after Divorce

This study aims to analyze the legal certainty in the distribution of joint property after divorce, with an emphasis on the challenges faced in the implementation of the law in Indonesia. The division of joint property is a crucial issue in the context of divorce which often causes disputes between former spouses, where the principles of justice and equality should take precedence. In this study, a normative juridical approach is used to examine laws and regulations, legal doctrines, and court decisions related to the division of common property, with a focus on Law Number 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage and the Civil Code. The results show that despite the legal provisions governing the division of common property, its implementation is often hampered by various factors, including differences in interpretation among judges, the existence of cultural values that influence decisions, and technical obstacles in asset valuation. Variations in court decisions create legal uncertainty that not only harms one party, but also impacts the welfare of children involved in divorce. Uncertainty about the rights and obligations of each party has the potential to cause prolonged conflicts and harm all parties. As part of the analysis, the study also highlights the social and economic impact of legal uncertainty in the distribution of assets, especially for the financially weaker parties. To improve fairness and certainty in the division of common property, this study recommends the need for more detailed and uniform guidelines in court decision-making procedures, as well as harmonization between national and local regulations. Thus, it is hoped that the process of distributing joint property after divorce can be carried out in a fairer, more efficient, and transparent manner, so that the interests of all parties, especially children, can be well protected.

A Positive Psychological Group Intervention (PPI) in School for the Enhancement of Well-Being of Children whose Parents are Experiencing Psychological Economic Hardship

A Positive Psychological Group Intervention (PPI) in School for the Enhancement of Well-Being of Children whose Parents are Experiencing Psychological Economic Hardship

THE ORAL HEALTH IMPACTS OF CANCER AND ITS TREATMENT ON CHILDREN’S WELL-BEING: A QUALITATIVE PROTOCOL

Introduction While cancer treatments clearly improve cancer outcomes, they inadvertently damage healthy tissues and organs, including causing oral and dental complications. Oral health complications can lead to cognitive, psychological, and social impairments which can have a profound impact on children’s well-being. Current knowledge of these consequences comes from clinical studies focusing on caregivers' viewpoints. Though it is important to directly involve children in research to gain a firsthand understanding of their experiences. Objectives The aim of this study is to better understand how oral health effects of cancer and its treatment impact the well-being of children with, or who have survived, cancer from their own perspective. Methodology Participants will be recruited from a tertiary care pediatric hospital. We will use a participatory hermeneutic ethnographic methodology and a Childhood Ethics theoretical framework to center children’s perspectives. Data will be generated through document analysis, participant observation and semi-structured interviews. We will observe discussions among children, families, and healthcare professionals, and conduct interviews with stakeholders: children (n=10-15) who are undergoing or completed treatments; parents/caregivers (n=10-15); and healthcare professionals (n=8-10). Interviews will be audio-recorded and transcribed. Analysis will use SAMSSA methods to identify key aspects of children’s experiences related to their oral health and the impact it has on their well-being, as well as health and social factors that affect this experience. Significance: Through this study, we will gain insight into how cancer and treatment-induced oral health complications impact children’s well-being, results from which will be translated into clinical and policy recommendations

Retraction of "Home visiting impacts during the pandemic: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial of Child First" by Xia et al. (2023).

Reports the retraction of "Home visiting impacts during the pandemic: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial of child first" by Samantha Xia, Mervett Hefyan, Meghan P. McCormick, Maya Goldberg, Emily Swinth and Sharon Huang (Journal of Family Psychology, 2023[Aug], Vol 37[5], 569-580). This article is being retracted at the request of the publisher, and the editor and all authors of the original article consented. The MDRC study team identified two caregivers who were enrolled at baseline but were, themselves, minors. (The following abstract of the original article appeared in record 2023-81526-001.) Existing research has found that home visiting programs for families with young children can improve children's development and strengthen caregiver and family well-being. However, the pandemic created numerous challenges for home visiting programs, forcing them to deliver services online or in a hybrid format to respond to pandemic-related challenges. Questions remain about the impacts of these programs when delivered at-scale via a hybrid model, especially during this uniquely challenging time. The present study reports 12-month impacts from a randomized controlled trial of Child First-an evidence-based home visiting program that provides psychotherapeutic, parent-child intervention (children ages 0-5) embedded in a coordinated system of care-when implemented as a hybrid service. This study estimates impacts within four domains: families' receipt of services, caregiver psychological well-being and parenting, child behavior, and family economic well-being. After randomly assigning families (N = 226) to receive Child First or typical community services, the research team surveyed caregivers (N = 183) about a year after study enrollment. Results from regression models with site fixed effects revealed suggestive evidence that Child First reduced caregivers' job loss, residential mobility, and self-reported substance abuse, and increased receipt of virtual services during the pandemic. There were null impacts on caregivers' psychological well-being, families' involvement with the child welfare system, children's behaviors, and other indicators of economic well-being. Implications for future research and policy are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

The impact of violence prevention behaviour on threats and violence among child welfare social workers

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine whether Violence Prevention Behaviour (VPB) at coworker-, supervisor-, and top-management levels is related to risk of exposure to threats and violence among child welfare social workers. The study design was a two-wave prospective questionnaire survey data of child welfare workers in Norway with a time-lag of six months between baseline (N = 678) and follow-up (N = 424), Overall cohort response rate was 34 per cent. Mean exposure to threats and violence was 10.08 (SD = 14.83) events at baseline and 8.75 (SD = 13.61) events at follow-up. A zero-inflated negative binomial model showed that Top management level VPB was associated with a significantly lower risk of exposure to threats and violence (β = −.22, p < 0.01) at baseline, and follow-up (β = −.19, p < 0.01). VPB at the coworker level was associated with higher levels of threats and violence at baseline (β = .19, p < 0.01), but not at follow-up. Supervisor VPB was not associated with levels of threats or violence. Efforts from top management to prioritise safety in decisions, and clearly communicating these safety prioritisations to staff, will strengthen VPB and thereby be beneficial for reducing the occurrence of threats and violence among child welfare social workers.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning in social work practice

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) into social work practice is transforming the landscape of service delivery and decision-making. This paper explores how these technologies enhance case management, predictive analytics, and resource allocation in critical areas such as child welfare, mental health, and substance abuse treatment. Key trends highlighted include the use of AI-based predictive analytics to identify at-risk populations and facilitate early interventions, as well as the deployment of chatbots and virtual assistants for providing accessible mental health counselling and social support. Furthermore, the paper addresses ethical considerations and challenges associated with AI implementation, particularly the potential biases in algorithms that may affect the assessment of social needs. Additionally, the integration of AI tools into social work education and training is examined to prepare future professionals for a technology-driven environment. By analysing the current applications of Natural Language Processing (NLP) for client data analysis, AI-powered software for predictive risk assessments, and automated case management systems, this paper advocates for a balanced approach to AI adoption, ensuring that the core values of social work, such as equity and social justice, remain central to practice. Ultimately, this exploration underscores the potential of AI and ML to enhance social work outcomes while also emphasizing the necessity of ethical frameworks and ongoing training for practitioners.

Changes in care provision to older parents during COVID-19 and the well-being of adult children: The moderating roles of the child-parent relationship and pandemic-related measures

Objective: The study addresses the associations between changes in care provision to older parents since the pandemic and worsened depression and anxiety in adult children. It also explores whether pandemic-related control measures and child-parent relationships moderated these associations. Background: Changes in informal care during the pandemic, such as increased or decreased caregiving frequency, may have affected caregivers’ psychological well-being. Limited research exists on how stressors and resources shape the well-being of adult children caregivers. Method: Data from 740 respondents in the first SHARE Corona Survey (SCS) who provided care for their parents during the pandemic were analyzed. Changes in depression and anxiety were assessed using data from SCS and pre-pandemic Wave. Logistic regression analyses were conducted, with added interactions between the moderators - pandemic measures and child-parent relationship characteristics - and changes in care frequency. Results: Increased caregiving frequency during the pandemic was associated with worsened depression. Stricter pandemic measures intensified this effect but also reduced the likelihood of anxiety for those who provided care less often. A higher quality of relationship with the mother in childhood was marginally associated with lower depression among those increasing caregiving but worsened depression for those decreasing it. Conclusion: To address post-pandemic caregiving challenges, efforts should focus on reducing caregiver stress and considering the enduring influence of early child-parent relationships.

Effect of problem‐solving training for mothers of children with special needs: A randomised controlled study

AbstractThis study investigates the effect of problem‐solving training on the interpersonal problem‐solving skills of mothers of children with special needs. The parallel randomised controlled trial was conducted between August 2021 and March 2022. A priori power analysis was conducted, and 98 mothers who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. The analysis indicated that a sample size of 39 participants per group was required. Data were collected using a personal information form and the Interpersonal Problem Solving Inventory. The mothers were divided into control and experimental groups. The participants in the experimental group were given a problem‐solving training program, while the control group was not exposed to any intervention. There was no significant difference in the pre‐training test scores for any of the dimensions (p &gt; 0.05). However, the post‐training test scores in the experimental group were significantly higher than post‐training test scores in the control group (p &lt; 0.05). There were significant differences between the pre‐training and post‐training test scores in the experimental group (p &lt; 0.05). Interpersonal problem‐solving skills can be improved by providing problem‐solving training to the mothers of children with special needs. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that psychiatric nurses provide training to protect and improve the wellbeing of children with special needs and their families.

Children, Border(land)s and mixed economies of welfare

This special issue is a comprehensive exploration of the pivotal role of state borders in shaping child welfare in various European borderlands from the First World War to the present. The richly detailed articles present a diverse range of historical and social-scientific perspectives, offering a comprehensive understanding of the complex dynamics at play. Each case study sheds light on a unique aspect of the mixed economies of welfare in borderland areas, collectively proposing a framework for analysing the intricate influence of welfare providers on children’s well-being in the intermediary spaces.

Understanding caregivers' needs: supporting families of autistic children

Parenting a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) poses significant emotional, financial, and social challenges to caregivers. This paper examines the experiences of caregivers, highlighting their increased stress, burnout, and mental health concerns. The importance of accessible information resources, respite care services, emotional support networks, and financial assistance programs is emphasized. Effective strategies for supporting caregivers include educating them about ASD symptoms, treatments, and therapies, teaching coping mechanisms for managing challenging behaviors, and promoting collaboration between healthcare providers and caregivers. Policy implications are discussed, including advocating for legislative modifications that prioritize caregiver needs, promoting inclusionary practices within educational systems, and increasing funding for early intervention programs and caregiver support services. The implementation of parent training programs, collaborative relationships between educators and caregivers, and professional development opportunities for educators are also recommended. This study aims to inform policymakers, healthcare professionals, and educators about the critical role of caregiver support in improving outcomes for children with ASD. By addressing caregiver needs and providing comprehensive support, we can enhance the well-being of both caregivers and children with ASD.