Predicting Child Protective Services (CPS) Involvement among Low-Income U.S. Families with Young Children Receiving Nutritional Assistance

Kristen S. Slack, Sarah Font, Kathryn Maguire-Jack and Lawrence M. Berger
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Kristen S. Slack: School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1350 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA
Sarah Font: Department of Sociology and Criminology, The Pennsylvania State University, 505 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA 16802, USA
Kathryn Maguire-Jack: The Ohio State University College of Social Work, 1947 N College Rd, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Lawrence M. Berger: School of Social Work, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1350 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53706, USA

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: This exploratory study examines combinations of income-tested welfare benefits and earnings, as they relate to the likelihood of child maltreatment investigations among low-income families with young children participating in a nutritional assistance program in one U.S. state (Wisconsin). Using a sample of 1065 parents who received the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) benefits in late 2010 and early 2011, we find that relying on either work in the absence of other means-tested welfare benefits, or a combination of work and welfare benefits, reduces the likelihood of CPS involvement compared to parents who rely on welfare benefits in the absence of work. Additionally, we find that housing instability increases the risk of CPS involvement in this population. The findings from this investigation may be useful to programs serving low-income families with young children, as they attempt to identify safety net resources for their clientele.

Keywords: child protection; child maltreatment; safety net; poverty; welfare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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