ORCID
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6865-2054
Date of Award
Spring 5-15-2019
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Degree Type
Dissertation
Abstract
While children in the United States experience a number of adverse conditions that may impact behavioral health and child abuse and neglect (or child maltreatment) is one of the most prevalent. About one third of all children who receive a child welfare investigation or assessment following a report of maltreatment are under age five, making this a potential gateway to services for many vulnerable children. Researchers and advocates have pointed out that while early childhood is a time of great vulnerability, greater neuroplasticity makes this an ideal period for intervention to offset later risk of poor outcomes. Yet little is known about young children trajectories once engaged in treatment. There are unique developmental challenges to working with young children that require tailored strategies, such as a greater reliance on participation by a caregiver. Caregiver involvement may be a challenge for child welfare involved families due to the multiple challenges and system intervention. Yet, little is known about behavioral health engagement for this younger child population.
This dissertation used electronic case record data from a large, statewide behavioral health organization that serves children with behavioral health needs, including a large population of young and/or child welfare involved children. Analyses explored whether or not participation and termination reasons differed for younger (ages 2-4) compared to older children (age 5-7) by child welfare involvement and the presence of other childhood adverse experiences. Results indicated that among all children receiving behavioral health services both younger children and those children who were child welfare involved had better clinician reported closure reason. This persisted when analyses were limited to children with adverse childhood contextual indicators. Within the more limited sample, children diagnosed with Adjustment Disorder at baseline were more likely to have a negative case termination. Implications and recommendations for future research and program planning are discussed.
Language
English (en)
Chair and Committee
Melissa Jonson-Reid
Committee Members
F. Brett Drake, Tonya Edmond, Vanessa Fabbre, Joan Luby,
Recommended Citation
Wideman, Ellie Suzanne, "Case Termination Reasons by Case Characteristics and Child Welfare Involvement" (2019). Arts & Sciences Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1774.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/art_sci_etds/1774
Comments
Permanent URL: https://doi.org/10.7936/ah86-rz19