Transitions from AFDC to child welfare in California

Welfare recipients’ involvement with child protective services after welfare reform

“…African American recipients were less likely to be investigated and supervised by CPS than Whites when other factors were held constant. This finding is consistent with previous studies of welfare populations where African American welfare recipients are less likely to be involved with CPS than their White counterparts (Goerge & Lee, 2000;Needell et al, 1999;Slack et al, 2003). In addition to race, low income-to-needs ratio, cohabitation, childhood welfare receipt, or having a learning disability were significantly and positively related to one's chances of being reported to CPS.…”

“…In studies of the general population, the effect of race disappears after controlling for family income and other characteristics (Pelton, 1994;Sedlak & Broadhurst, 1996;Thomlison, 2004). However, in studies of welfare recipients, Whites are more likely to be involved with CPS than their minority counterparts even after controlling for other factors (Needell et al, 1999;Goerge & Lee, 2000;Slack et al, 2003). In addition to race, mothers' younger age; having a child at an early age; lower educational achievement; having a learning disability; mothers' experience with violence both during childhood and as an adult; poor physical health, psychiatric symptoms, substance abuse, emotional fragility; and involvement with the criminal justice system have been associated with CPS involvement (Black, Heyman, & Slep, 2001;Browne & Saqi, 1988;Courtney et al, 2001;Needell et al, 1999;Shook, 1999;Thomlison, 2004).…”

“…These studies have provided supporting evidence for a preventive effect of welfare benefits. Discontinuity of welfare receipt significantly increased one's risk of involvement in CPS among children in welfare recipient families (Needell, Cuccaro-Alamin, Brookhart, & Lee, 1999;Shook, 1999), while loss of welfare income after a child's foster the care placement delayed mother-child reunification in a sample of children who entered foster care system in the late 1990s .…”

“…Family risk factors include low family income, single parenthood, cohabitation with someone other than the children's biological father, and stressful family events (Barth & Blythe, 1983;Browne & Saqi, 1988;Needell et al, 1999;Pelton, 1994;Sedlak & Broadhurst, 1996;Shook, 1999;Thomlison, 2004). Among mother's characteristics, race has a different relationship with CPS involvement in the general and welfare population.…”

Welfare reforms, family resources, and child maltreatment

“…However, the existing evidence indicates some adverse effects. For example, several studies indicate that families that experienced reductions and interruptions in welfare benefits were more likely to become involved in the child welfare system (Needell et al, 1999;Shook, 1999), and that children were returned more slowly from foster care to families that had reduced AFDC benefits and increased work activity, as compared with other Ohio families on welfare (Wells and Guo, 2000). Another study found that welfare families who were randomly assigned to a program emphasizing rapid entry into employment had higher rates of sanctioning and case closure and also higher rates of neglect, but not of abuse, during portions of the 2-year follow-up period (Fein et al, 2001).…”