Changes in Household Challenges Between Pre-Birth and Childhood Predict Subsequent Child Welfare Contact

Full Description: Household challenges, such as experiencing homelessness and limited monetary resources, can overburden parents, making it difficult for them to provide the best care and support for their children. A higher number of pre-birth household challenges is strongly predictive of the accumulation of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) for the child. However, households are dynamic in their challenges and needs. Our research group examined how changes to the number of household challenges from pre-birth to early childhood periods (when the child was 3 years old) affected child maltreatment, an important component of the ACE score. We found that transitioning from a high-challenges status during the pre-birth period to a low-challenges status during the early childhood period was predictive of a significant decrease in risk for child maltreatment. The estimated risk of child maltreatment was the highest for families who transitioned from low to high household challenges compared to all other transition groups, including families who reported experiencing high household challenges at both timepoints. Thus, targeting household challenges prenatally and during the first 3 years of the child’s life could limit or decrease the risk of negative outcomes for the children. It is important to provide supports (e.g., mental health care and financial resources) to birthing parents in high-challenge households to help prevent risk of child maltreatment and promote healthy growing environments for children. In addition, we must ensure birthing parents living in low-challenge households during the pre-birth period are aware of available resources so that they can easily access supports if challenges do arise during their child’s early childhood years. To facilitate this prevention effort and help shape the future of family wellness, our research team created a clinical screening and referral tool aimed at assisting obstetricians, pediatricians, and other health care providers to identify families at risk and connect them with mitigation resources/services. Feedback on this tool will be elicited from the audience during the presentation (or via electronic communication for virtual attendees).

Abbreviated Description: Household challenges can overburden parents, making it difficult for them to provide the best care and support for their children. Our research group examined how changes to the number of household challenges from pre-birth to early childhood affected child maltreatment. Transitioning from high pre-birth challenges to low early childhood challenges predicted a significant decrease in child maltreatment risk. Child maltreatment risk was highest for families who transitioned from low to high household challenges. Thus, targeting household challenges prenatally and during early childhood is important to decrease risk of child maltreatment. To help this prevention effort, we created a clinical screening and referral tool to identify families at risk and connect them with mitigation services.