Ringeisen, H., Casanueva, C., Smith, K., and Dolan, M. – 2011
Data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II (NSCAW II) that describes the health, well-being, and services received among caregivers of children reported for maltreatment. Summarizes caregiver and household characteristics, noting that a majority are biological parents (mostly female) living with their children. Over 50% live below the federal poverty level. Levels of depression among this group of caregivers is higher than in the general population. Almost 10% of caregivers could be categorized as problem alcohol users. Use of the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST) shows that 20% of parents have some level of risk for a substance abuse problem. Over one third of female parents have experienced some form of intimate partner violence at some point in their lives. Over 30% of caregivers report having been arrested. The most common types of services received include public insurance, food, and child care. Child welfare-required services include peer support, parent skills training, child care, and substance abuse treatment. Many also receive federal support such as TANF, WIC, and food stamps. Less than 3% of parents report receiving substance abuse treatment services, however, nearly 30% can be classified as being in need of treatment services. A greater percentage of parents received needed mental health treatment services.
