Service Needs and Referrals for Child Welfare Involved Families with and without Very Young Children

Background

This study examined service needs and referrals of child welfare involved families with and without children ages birth to five (0-5). The unique developmental needs of young children may influence families’ service needs and referrals. For example, behavioral health service need and referral are significantly lower for 0-5 child welfare involved children, as compared to older youth. However, research examining the broader service array that child welfare involved families may access is limited. This study identifies prevalent service needs and referrals for 0-5 and non 0-5 families. Additionally, alignment between service needs and referrals received is examined.

Methods

Child welfare case records (n=215) were used to describe service needs and referrals of child welfare involved families. Families with one or more children under 6 were categorized as 0-5 families (n=142), all others were categorized as non 0-5 families (n=73). Service needs and referrals were categorized and coded. Each need or referral variable was scored as 1 if the need or referral occurred. To identify service need and referral alignment, the needs and referral variables were compared. Alignment occurred if need matched the corresponding referral variable. Frequencies of service needs and referrals were obtained. Additionally, differences between 0-5 and non 0-5 families in service needs, referrals, and alignment were obtained using chi-square tests.

Results

Prevalent service needs for 0-5 families included alcohol/drug needs (56%), concrete needs (53%) including transportation or food, and legal needs (47%). For non 0-5 families, concrete needs (49%), child emotional needs (40%), and adult behavior needs (38%) were most prevalent. Significant differences in alcohol/drug and legal needs occurred, with 0-5 families having more needs. The most prevalent referrals for 0-5 families were for counseling (54%), substance abuse assessments (38%), and general clinical services (29%). For non 0-5 families, counseling (58%), general clinical services (36%), and parent education (25%) were most prevalent. Significant differences occurred for substance abuse assessment referrals, with 0-5 families receiving more referrals.

For 0-5 families, service need and referral alignment ranged from 35% for families with a concrete service need to 74% for families with an alcohol/drug related need. In non 0-5 families, service need and referral match ranged from 28% for families with a concrete service need to 83% for families with a child emotional need. No significant differences occurred between 0-5 and non 0-5 families on service need and referral match.

Conclusion

Findings suggest 0-5 families have different service needs and receive different referrals as compared to non 0-5 families. However, having a 0-5 child in the family does not appear to influence the alignment of service needs and subsequent referrals. The degree to which service needs match referrals ranges for both groups, with clinical services matching at a higher frequency overall than non-clinical services. Child welfare caseworkers should be aware of the varying needs families with 0-5 children may have. Further research that examines the differences between service needs and referrals is needed to explore why these differences occur.