IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v99y2019icp81-86.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Caseworker assessment of child risk and functioning and their relation to service use in the child welfare system

Author

Listed:
  • Connell, Christian M.
  • Bory, Christopher T.
  • Huang, Cindy Y.
  • Genovese, Maegan
  • Caron, Colleen
  • Tebes, Jacob Kraemer

Abstract

Children within the child welfare system are more likely to experience emotional and behavioral problems than children not involved with the system. Many states have adopted standardized risk and assessment measures to inform decision-making on appropriate levels of care related to placement or service intensity for children within the system. This study examined the relationship of caseworker ratings of risk across multiple domains to youth functioning and service use for a sample of children open to the child welfare system. The study identified a stratified random sample of youth who were between the ages of five and 21 and open to the child welfare system (n = 184). Stratification was based on current placement (i.e., in-home, foster home, congregate care, and juvenile justice placements). Administrative data was used to access caseworker ratings of risk across child, parent, and family domains using a standardized risk assessment tool. Children's caseworkers (n = 103) completed a standardized measure of child functioning and reported on youth utilization of services across multiple sectors including specialty mental health, school-based, juvenile justice, and medical settings. Regression analyses using variance-corrected estimation for clustered data (by caseworker) revealed higher levels of child risk were associated with poorer child functioning, which, in turn, were associated with higher rates of multi-sector service use. Recommendations and future directions are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Connell, Christian M. & Bory, Christopher T. & Huang, Cindy Y. & Genovese, Maegan & Caron, Colleen & Tebes, Jacob Kraemer, 2019. "Caseworker assessment of child risk and functioning and their relation to service use in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 81-86.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:99:y:2019:i:c:p:81-86
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.01.027
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740918308302
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2019.01.027?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Raghavan, Ramesh & Leibowitz, Arleen A. & Andersen, Ronald M. & Zima, Bonnie T. & Schuster, Mark A. & Landsverk, John, 2006. "Effects of Medicaid managed care policies on mental health service use among a national probability sample of children in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(12), pages 1482-1496, December.
    2. Fluke, John D. & Oppenheim, Elizabeth, 2010. "Getting a grip on systems of care and child welfare using opposable thumbs," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 41-44, February.
    3. Courtney, Mark E. & Yin-Ling Irene Wong, 1996. "Comparing the timing of exits from substitute care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 18(4-5), pages 307-334.
    4. Connell, Christian M. & Katz, Karol H. & Saunders, Leon & Tebes, Jacob Kraemer, 2006. "Leaving foster care--the influence of child and case characteristics on foster care exit rates," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(7), pages 780-798, July.
    5. Farmer, Elizabeth M.Z. & Mustillo, Sarah A. & Wagner, H. Ryan & Burns, Barbara J. & Kolko, David J. & Barth, Richard P. & Leslie, Laurel K., 2010. "Service use and multi-sector use for mental health problems by youth in contact with child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 815-821, June.
    6. Fong, Hiu-fai & French, Benjamin & Rubin, David & Wood, Joanne N., 2015. "Mental health services for children and caregivers remaining at home after suspected maltreatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 50-59.
    7. Tebes, Jacob Kraemer & Bowler, Susan M. & Shah, Seema & Connell, Christian M. & Ross, Ellen & Simmons, Reginald & Tate, David & Chinman, Matthew Jacob & Kaufman, Joy S., 2005. "Service access and service system development in a children's behavioral health system of care," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 151-160, May.
    8. Courtney, Mark E., 2000. "Managed care and child welfare services: What are the issues?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 87-91, February.
    9. Huang, Cindy Y. & Bory, Christopher T. & Caron, Colleen & Tebes, Jacob Kraemer & Connell, Christian M., 2014. "Relationship of risk assessment to placement characteristics in a statewide child welfare population," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 85-90.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Foster, E. Michael & Hillemeier, Marianne M. & Bai, Yu, 2011. "Explaining the disparity in placement instability among African-American and white children in child welfare: A Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 118-125, January.
    2. Lin, Ching-Hsuan, 2014. "Evaluating Services for Kinship Care Families: A Systematic Review," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 32-41.
    3. Akin, Becci A., 2011. "Predictors of foster care exits to permanency: A competing risks analysis of reunification, guardianship, and adoption," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 999-1011, June.
    4. Davidson, Ryan D. & Tomlinson, Claire S. & Beck, Connie J. & Bowen, Anne M., 2019. "The revolving door of families in the child welfare system: Risk and protective factors associated with families returning," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 468-479.
    5. Shipe, Stacey L. & Shaw, Terry V. & Betsinger, Sara & Farrell, Jill L., 2017. "Expanding the conceptualization of re-entry: The inter-play between child welfare and juvenile services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 256-262.
    6. Akin, Becci A. & Bryson, Stephanie A. & Testa, Mark F. & Blase, Karen A. & McDonald, Tom & Melz, Heidi, 2013. "Usability testing, initial implementation, and formative evaluation of an evidence-based intervention: Lessons from a demonstration project to reduce long-term foster care," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 19-30.
    7. Wulczyn, Fred & Gibbons, Robert & Snowden, Lonnie & Lery, Bridgette, 2013. "Poverty, social disadvantage, and the black/white placement gap," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 65-74.
    8. Elgin, Dallas J. & Sushinsky, Jonathan & Johnson, Andrew & Russo, Gretchen & Sewell, Tiffany, 2015. "Factors affecting permanency for legally free children & youth: A study of Colorado's legally free population across age groups, 2008–2014," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 60-67.
    9. Courtney, Mark E., 2000. "Research needed to improve the prospects for children in out-of-home placement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 22(9-10), pages 743-761.
    10. Lee, Daniel Hyung Jik & Huerta, Christina & Farmer, Elizabeth M.Z., 2021. "Kinship navigation: Facilitating permanency and equity for youth in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 131(C).
    11. Meezan, William & McBeath, Bowen, 2008. "Market-based disparities in foster care outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(4), pages 388-406, April.
    12. 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.
    13. Katz, Colleen C. & Lalayants, Marina & Phillips, Jon D., 2018. "The role of out-of-home caregivers in the achievement of child welfare permanency," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 65-71.
    14. Snowden, Jessica & Leon, Scott & Sieracki, Jeffrey, 2008. "Predictors of children in foster care being adopted: A classification tree analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(11), pages 1318-1327, November.
    15. Whitaker, Tia, 2011. "Administrative case reviews: Improving outcomes for children in out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1683-1708, September.
    16. van Santen, Eric, 2010. "Predictors of exit type and length of stay in non-kinship family foster care -- The German experience," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(10), pages 1211-1222, October.
    17. Pine, Barbara A. & Spath, Robin & Werrbach, Gail B. & Jenson, Cary E. & Kerman, Benjamin, 2009. "A better path to permanency for children in out-of-home care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(10), pages 1135-1143, October.
    18. Cheng, Tyrone C. & Lo, Celia C., 2018. "Racial disparities in the proportion of needed services maltreated children received," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 72-81.
    19. Huang, Cindy Y. & Bory, Christopher T. & Caron, Colleen & Tebes, Jacob Kraemer & Connell, Christian M., 2014. "Relationship of risk assessment to placement characteristics in a statewide child welfare population," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 85-90.
    20. Lin, Ching-Hsuan, 2012. "Children who run away from foster care: Who are the children and what are the risk factors?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 807-813.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:99:y:2019:i:c:p:81-86. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.