The role of positive and negative social interactions in child custody outcomes: Voices of US women with serious mental illness

Abstract

In a given year, approximately 26 percent of persons in the United States 18 years and older suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. About six percent are diagnosed with a serious mental illness and 65 percent of these are mothers. Mothers with serious mental illness are at increased risk of losing custody of their children. This report represents findings from a qualitative study of the relationship between positive and negative social interactions as three such women went through the process of experiencing threats to their children's safety, relinquishing custody, and working to regain it (or to adjust to a permanent placement). Data collection involved semistructured interviews. A thematic analysis of data was conducted. Among three conceptual models of social interactions-additive, moderating, and domain specific, the domain-specific model was prominent. Findings are discussed as preliminary to future similar studies involving larger samples. Tentative implications for policy, practice, and research are discussed.

A delicate balance: intervention with mothers with dual diagnosis and their infants

“…For this sub-group of women, relinquishing care can be a positive step when aided by effective intervention (Hollingsworth et al, 2011). Additionally, the worker could support women to overcome challenges in reunification of children (Poole and Greaves, 2009).…”

“…While fear of infant removal is a frequently cited factor in women not asking for help from services (Gearing et al, 2012), what is often not understood is that mothers believe they are acting in the child's best interests when trying to avoid contact (Seneviratne et al, 2003), a strategy that did not spare the most vulnerable women in the present study from entering or re-entering the CP system. It was, as Hollingsworth et al (2011) note, negative social interactions, in this case, domestic violence, or homelessness associated with domestic violence, that initially brought most infants into the CP arena, rather than maternal substance use or mental health per se. In subsequent phases of the study, interactions with police triggered CP involvement.…”

“…Depending on jurisdiction, study time-frame and specific population details, this has been found to apply to between 26-68 per cent of mothers (Seeman, 2012). Women with serious mental illness are most likely to lose care of their children (Hollingsworth et al, 2011). Child removal is highest (50 per cent) among women with schizophrenia (Seeman, 2012).…”

“…Negative social interactions can be historic, such as the mother's own experience of early childhood trauma, or current threats to the child's safety by the mother or her partner, or they may include exposure to domestic violence. Lack of positive social support is also considered a negative social interaction (Hollingsworth et al, 2011). Many women lose the care of successive children (Harwin et al, 2013).…”

The Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) Model for Law Enforcement: Creative Considerations for Enhancing University Campus Police Response to Mental Health Crisis

“…Parental mental illness presents legal barriers to custody or visitation in family courts. (Hollingsworth, Swick, & Choi, 2013) Because of stigma within American family court systems, sometimes children are removed from a mentally ill parent's custody regardless of whether symptoms of the mental illness are adequately controlled. (Marsh, 2009) Obviously, incarcerated parents are separated from their children.…”