Psychosocial Interventions After CPS Investigation Make a Difference

Objective: To describe the longitudinal experiences of children remaining in the home following a first Child Protective Services (CPS) investigation and the effect of targeted referrals on several psychosocial problems. Methods: The authors sampled from a national cohort 2017 children aged ≤14 years followed up prospectively after a first CPS investigation and who remained at home after the investigation. Caregivers were interviewed at 2 to 6 months, 18 months, and 36 months after case closure. Poverty, social support, caregiver depression, drug dependence, intimate partner violence (IPV), corporal punishment, children's internalizing mental health problems, and children's externalizing mental health problems were analyzed for association with targeted referrals. Results: Child neglect was the most common indication for CPS investigation (47%), followed by physical abuse (29%) and sexual abuse (10%). Abuse or neglect was substantiated in 28% of cases. Referrals for targeted social s more...