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The role of substance use in child welfare caseloads

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  • Ghertner, Robin
  • Waters, Annette
  • Radel, Laura
  • Crouse, Gilbert

Abstract

Anecdotal evidence suggests that recent rises in foster care caseloads are due to increasing parental substance use, particularly misuse of opioids. This study tests the association between child welfare caseloads and two measures of substance use prevalence, including drug overdose deaths and drug-related hospitalizations, for most counties in the United States over the 2011 to 2016 period. We use several statistical models to account for confounding factors, including models examining cross-county variation as well as within county variation. We find four primary findings. First, both measures positively associate with higher foster care entry rates, after accounting for various demographic, socioeconomic, and other local and state-level factors. Second, we find that the relationship is stronger in metropolitan counties than in non-metropolitan counties. Third, hospitalization rates due to different classes of substances, including opioids, have comparable relationships with foster care entry rates, though alcohol has the strongest relationship. Finally, higher substance use prevalence predicts more complex and severe cases of child maltreatment, with more children ending up in foster care in counties with higher overdose death and drug hospitalization rates.

Suggested Citation

  • Ghertner, Robin & Waters, Annette & Radel, Laura & Crouse, Gilbert, 2018. "The role of substance use in child welfare caseloads," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 83-93.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:90:y:2018:i:c:p:83-93
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.05.015
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lloyd, Margaret H. & Akin, Becci A. & Brook, Jody, 2017. "Parental drug use and permanency for young children in foster care: A competing risks analysis of reunification, guardianship, and adoption," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 177-187.
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    8. Versen, Elysia & Everson, Courtney L. & Hwang, Sunah S. & LeBoeuf, Whitney, 2024. "Risk and protective factors associated with child welfare involvement among maternal-infant dyads affected by prenatal substance use," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
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    12. Debra A. Strong & Alyson Burnett & Patricia Del Grosso & Mathew Stange, "undated". "Partnering to Reduce Substance Use and Child Maltreatment: 2014 Regional Partnership Grants Final Report," Mathematica Policy Research Reports 124298087de0448caf08cbf1f, Mathematica Policy Research.
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