An evaluation of welfare and child welfare system integration on rates of child maltreatment in Colorado

Natasha E. Latzman, Colby Lokey, Catherine A. Lesesne, Joanne Klevens, Karen Cheung, Susanne Condron and Lucas Godoy Garraza

Children and Youth Services Review, 2019, vol. 96, issue C, 386-395

Abstract: Policies that improve the socioeconomic conditions of families have been identified as one of the most promising strategies to prevent child maltreatment, particularly neglect. In this study, we examined the impact of integrated Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and child welfare (CW) systems on child maltreatment-related hospitalizations and Child Protective Services investigations and substantiations in nine counties in Colorado from 1996 to 2014. Regression analyses showed TANF-CW integration was associated with subsequent year, but not second-year, increases rates of substantiated child maltreatment overall and neglect specifically (that is, there was no longer a difference in the rate two years after the change in integration). Neither unemployment nor the one- or two-year lagged effect of integration were significant for investigations or child maltreatment-related hospitalizations. Increased opportunities to interact with a family in crisis using an integrated case management model may help explain these findings. Implications for future research are discussed.

Keywords: Child abuse, child neglect; TANF; Child welfare policy; Evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:96:y:2019:i:c:p:386-395

DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.12.009

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