Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, family care plans and infants with prenatal substance exposure: Theoretical framework and directions for future research

Abstract

In May 2021, a reauthorization of the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) was introduced in the U.S. Senate. This reauthorization substantially amends provisions concerning infants affected by prenatal substance exposure (PSE) and decidedly shifts the policy from a child safety‐ to a public health‐focused approach to achieve the larger goals of healthy and safe child development and caregiver recovery from substance use disorder. Despite its honourable aspirations, no research has tested whether CAPTA “works.” To advance scholarship on this policy, we summarize the service needs for this population and clarify how the CAPTA reauthorization aims to address these needs. We then apply a health utilization theory to understanding the mechanisms of effect on maternal‐child outcomes. Based on this theoretical analysis, we discuss directions for future research.

Three-Year Custody Outcomes Among Infants Investigated by Child Protection Systems for Prenatal Substance Exposure in California

“…The high prevalence of investigatory responses may indicate that this discretionary reporting policy is effectively identifying high-risk families, although it is unknown whether the discretionary thresholds for reporting are consistently applied. In the context of shifting national child welfare policy, it is important that scholarship assess the circumstances of PSE identification and reporting and identify strategies to adopt a public health model of family preservation and treatment without compromising child safety (Lloyd Sieger et al, 2022 ; Madora et al, 2022 ).…”

Experiences of child welfare social workers in addressing substance use among maltreated young mothers to prevent child maltreatment

“…The inconsistent application may lead to more involvement with the child welfare system in states that do not employ the CAPTA guidelines as intended (Lloyd et al, 2019). Because of the gaps in implementation of safe care plans, there is very little outcome data or evaluations of efficacy (Deutsch et al, 2021; Lloyd Sieger et al, 2022).…”