Profiling Changes in the Needs of Caregivers With Child Welfare Involvement: What Do They Tell Us About Risk for Maltreatment?

The present study examined profiles of service needs among caregivers with child welfare involvement. Participants were 589 caregivers of children 12–36 months old at baseline from the second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. Latent class analysis was used to profile unique characteristics of and changes in caregivers’ needs across an 18-month period. Four classes of caregiver needs were identified with differential risks for maltreatment. Compared to caregivers with “No Needs” (25%), caregivers with “Chronic Multi-Type” needs (25%) and “Parenting Only” needs (26%) were both significantly more likely to engage in psychological aggression, physical abuse, and neglect. Caregivers with “Changing Needs” (24%) were significantly more likely to engage in psychological aggression and neglect. Involvement with child welfare services represents a critical opportunity to offer support to families, especially among those with multiple chronic needs, needing parenting skills, and those with needs that are unstable over time.