Exploring the Relationship between Housing Instability and Child Protective Services Involvement

Background/Purpose: Housing instability is prevalent among U.S. low-income families. There is a growing body of literature demonstrating a close connection between housing instability and child protective services (CPS) involvement. For instance, children from homeless families are more likely to be placed in the foster care system and less likely to achieve reunification with their caregivers. However, there is scarce research on housing instability and its association with early CPS involvement, such as CPS investigations, and substantiations. In addition, housing instability was often operationalized as a form of material hardship. It is worth noting that housing instability is a distinct and severe form of material hardship compared to food or utility hardship. Moreover, very few studies draw samples from a more general population cohort and used the family stress model to explore the relationship between housing instability and CPS involvement. In order to address these limitations, this study aimed to examine the relationship between housing instability and CPS investigations using random sample of Temporary Assistance of Needy Families (TANF) recipients drawn from the Illinois welfare caseload. Additionally, this study examined whether this relationship is mediated by parental psychological distress and moderated by other types of material hardship.

Methods: The study sample was from the Illinois Family Study (IFS). This study used data from four waves of IFS survey data combined with administrative CPS involvement records. A transition model was utilized to examine the relationship between housing instability and CPS investigations. In order to examine whether psychological distress mediates the association between CPS investigation and housing instability, the approach from Tingley was followed. To examine whether material hardship moderates the relationship between housing instability and CPS investigation, the interaction term between housing instability and material hardship was added in the model.

Results: Our results from the transition model indicated that if families experience any housing instability, the risk of receiving CPS investigations increases (OR=1.49, p < .01). In addition, experiencing two or more types of housing instability (versus none) increases the odds of getting

CPS investigations (OR=1.53, p < .01). However, the relationship between housing instability and CPS investigations was not significantly mediated through psychological distress nor moderated by material hardship.

Conclusions/Implications: This study has made some unique contributions to the field of child welfare through employing a longitudinal design to explore the relationship between housing instability and CPS investigations. Based on the study results, increasing the accessibility of affordable housing is extremely important for housing unstable families and families who are at risk of experiencing housing instability. Receiving child welfare investigations could serve as an early warning sign that housing unstable families’ well-being is jeopardized. Thus, increased cross system collaboration is necessary to help these families access needed resources. Future policies and programs should focus on helping families to become financially stable and preventing adverse economic shocks.