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.