The Relationship Between Child Welfare Involvement and Mental Health Outcomes of Young Children and Their Caregivers Receiving Services in System of Care Communities

Abstract

This study examined how young children entering mental health system of care services who were involved with the child welfare system compared to children with no such involvement in (a) descriptive characteristics and (b) selected outcomes 6 months after entry into such services. The characteristics of the two groups were similar, although children involved in child welfare were exposed to more factors that put them at risk for mental health problems. Children involved with child welfare were more anxious or depressed, which suggests the need for early trauma assessment and trauma-informed services. Surprisingly, children involved with child welfare were more likely to have improved behavior compared to children not involved with child welfare, after other factors were taken into account. One interpretation suggested is that caregivers involved with the child welfare system experienced more oversight, support, and services (they reported receiving case management and family preservation services more frequently).