The treatment histories and service involvement of physically and sexually abusive families: description, correspondence, and clinical correlates.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the treatment histories, and the service needs, concerns, and involvement of cases referred to Child Protective Services (CPS) following an allegation of child physical or sexual abuse in an effort to document their services experiences.

METHOD

Standardized clinical assessments were conducted with child victims and their caregivers at intake and at a second assessment following an initial service about 4 to 8 months later (M = 6 mos.). Group differences due to informant type and abuse allegation were examined at each assessment and across time.

RESULTS

Thirty percent of the caregivers and children had a past history of psychiatric hospitalization. Reports from both informants at intake identified a range of perceived service needs, treatment goals, and obstacles to service participation. At the post-service assessment, children and their caregivers reported high rates of family (54%, 51%) and parent counseling (50%, 51%), and lower rates for child treatment (13%, 18%). Some significant differences between the two abuse subgroups were found in their patterns of service involvement and in their ratings of service goals and obstacles. Four variables predicted overall family service use at intake: child is Caucasian, low child anxiety, high parental distress, and parental abuse history as a child.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings extend initial descriptions of the service involvement of CPS families and bear implications for both practice and research on the delivery of services in CPS.