Objective: The purpose of this study was to find if differences exist among 88 African American, Caucasian, and Latino families who received child welfare services. Method: A secondary data analysis of cross-sectional survey data employing standardized measures was used for this study. Family preservation (FP) services were received by 49 participants, and 39 participants were provided Family maintenance (FM) services. Results: Minority clients were likely to have more children, lower incomes, and receive public assistance, and 30% were monolingual Spanish speakers. African American and Latino parents reported more positive outcomes on children’s academic adjustment and symptomatic behavior than Caucasian parents when receiving FP services. Conclusion: When recommending child welfare services, workers need to take ethnicity into account as culturally sensitive and community-based programs, such as FP, may be more effective when serving ethnic or racial minority groups.
Bitonti, C. (2002). Formative evaluation in family preservation: Lessons from Nevada. Children and Youth Services Review, 24, 653-672.
2.
Blythe, B. J., Salley, M. P., & Jayaratne, S. (1994). A review of intensive family preservation services research. Social Worker Research, 18, 213-223.
3.
Cappelleri, J. C., Echkenrode, J., & Powers, J. L. (1993). The epidemiology of child abuse: Findings from the second national incidence and prevalence study of child abuse and neglect. American Journal of Public Health, 83, 1622-1624.
4.
Child Welfare League of America. (2002). Child protection: Facts and figures. Retrieved November 24, 2004, from http://www.cwla.org/programs/childprotection/childprotectionfaq.htm
5.
Coohey, C. (2001). The relationship between familism and child mal-treatment in Latino and Anglo families. Child Maltreatment, 6, 130-142.
6.
Courtney, M. E., & Barth, R. P. (1996). Race and child welfare services: Past research and future directions. Child Welfare, 75, 99-147.
7.
Davis, S. K. (1990). Chemical dependency in women: A description of its effects and outcome on adequate parenting. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 7, 225-232.
8.
Department of Children and Family Services. (2001a). Initial case plan (Reference #0080-502.10). Los Angeles: Author.
9.
Department of Children and Family Services. (2001b). Contact requirements and exceptions (Reference #0400-503.10). Los Angeles: Author.
10.
Falicov, C. J. (1996). Mexican families. In M. MacGoldrick, J. Giordano, & J. K. Pearce (Eds.), Ethnicity and Family Therapy (pp. 169-182). New York: Guildford.
11.
Feiring, C., Coates, D. L., & Taska, L. S. (2001). Ethnic status, stigmatization, support, and symptom development following sexual abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 16, 1307-1329.
12.
Ferrari, A. M. (2002). The impact of culture upon child rearing practices and definitions of maltreatment. Child Abuse and Neglect, 26, 793-813.
13.
Flanzer, J. P. (1990). Alcoholism and family violence: Then to nowwho ownsthe problem. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 1, 61-79.
14.
Fontes, L. A. (2002). Child discipline and physical abuse in immigrant Latino families: Reducing violence and misunderstandings. Journal of Counseling and Development, 80, 31-40.
15.
Fraser, M. W., Nelson, K. E., & Rivard, J. C. (1997). Effectiveness of family preservation services. Social Work Research, 21, 138-153.
16.
Garland, A. F., & Besinger, B. A. (1997). Racial/Ethnic differences in court referred pathways to mental health services for children in foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 19, 651-666.
17.
Gillham, B., Tanner, G., & Cheyne, B. (1998). Unemployment rates, single parent density, and indices of child poverty: Their relationship to different categories of child abuse and neglect. Child Abuse and Neglect, 22, 79-90.
18.
Hess, P. M., McGowan, B. G., & Botsko, M. (2000). A preventive services program model for preservation and supporting families over time. Child Welfare, 24, 227-265.
19.
Higgins, D. J., & McCabe, M. P. (2000). Relationships between different types of maltreatment during childhood and adjustment in adulthood. Child Maltreatment, 5, 261-272.
20.
Jones, E. D., & McCurdy, K. (1992). The links between types of mal-treatment and demographic characteristics of children. Child Abuse and Neglect, 16, 201-215.
21.
Jordan, K., Alvarado, J., Brailey, R., & Williams, L. (2001). Family preservation through home-based family therapy: An overview. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 12, 31-44.
22.
Kapp, S. A., & Vela, R. H. (1999). Measuring consumer satisfaction in family preservation services: Identifying instrument domains. Family Preservation Journal, 4, 19-37.
23.
Lee, C. D., & Ayón, C. (2004). Is the client social worker relationships a predictor of outcomes in child welfare outcomes?Research on Social Work Practice, 14, 351-357.
24.
Lindsey, D., Martin, S., & Doh, J. (2002). The failure of intensive casework services to reduce Foster care placements: An examination of FP studies. Children and Youth Service Review, 24, 743-775.
25.
Littell, J. H., & Schuerman, J. R. (2002). What works best for whom? A closer look at intensive family preservation services. Children and Youth Services Review, 24, 673-699.
26.
Magura, S., & Moses, B. (1986). Outcome measures for child welfare services: Theory and applications. Washington, DC: Child Welfare League of America.
27.
Medora, N. P., Wilson, S., & Larson, J. H. (2001). Attitudes toward parenting strategies, potential for child abuse and parental satisfaction of ethnically diverse low-income U.S. mothers. Journal of Social Psychology, 141, 335-149.
28.
Meezan, W., & McCroskey, J. (1996). Improving family functioning through family preservation services: Results of the Los Angeles experiment. Family Preservation, 9-29.
29.
Needell, B., Brookhard, M. A., & Lee, S. (2003). Black children and foster care placement in California. Children and Youth Services Review, 25, 393-408.
30.
Needell, B., Webster, D., Cuccaro-Alamin, S., Armijo, M., Lee, S., Brookhard, A., et al. (2002). Child Welfare Services Reports for California. Retrieved May 27, 2002, from http://cssr.berkeley.edu/CWSCMSreports/2
31.
Ronnau, J. P, & Marlow, C. R. (1993). Family preservation, poverty, and the value of diversity. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 74, 538-544.
32.
Rubin, A. (1997). The family preservation evaluation from hell: Implications for program evaluation fidelity. Children and Youth Services Review, 19, 77-99.
33.
Smith, M. K. (1995). Utilization-focused evaluation of a family preservation program. Family in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 76, 11-20.
34.
Solomon, B. J., & Lee, C. D. (2002). Evaluation of the Los Angeles county department of children and family services #8217: Family preservation program. Los Angeles: Department of Children and Family Services.
35.
Staudt, M. (1999). The strengths and limitations of case record reviews in examining family preservation outcomes formulation and treatment planning. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 8, 409-424.
36.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2002). What is child maltreatment? Retrieved November 16, 2003, from http://nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/pubs/factsheets/childmal.cfm
37.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children, Youth and Families. (2002). Child maltreatment 2000. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
38.
Zayas, L. H. (1992). Childrearing, social stress, and child abuse: Clinical considerations with Hispanic families. Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless, 1, 291-309.
39.
Zayas, L. H., & Solaris, F. (1994). Early childhood socialization in Hispanic families: Context, culture, and practice implications. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 25, 200-206.
40.
Zellman, G. L. (1992). The impact of case characteristics on child abuse reporting decisions. Child Abuse and Neglect, 16, 57-74.
