Published online September 30, 2005
PEDIATRICS Vol. 116 No. 4 October 2005, pp. 891-900 (doi:10.1542/peds.2004-2135)
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow P3Rs: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when P3Rs are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow E-mail this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My File Cabinet
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (10)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Stahmer, A. C.
Right arrow Articles by Zhang, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Stahmer, A. C.
Right arrow Articles by Zhang, J.
Related Collections
Right arrow Office Practice

Developmental and Behavioral Needs and Service Use for Young Children in Child Welfare

Aubyn C. Stahmer, PhD*,{ddagger}, Laurel K. Leslie, MD*,{ddagger},||, Michael Hurlburt, PhD*, Richard P. Barth, PhD#, Mary Bruce Webb, PhD**, John Landsverk, PhD*,¶ and Jinjin Zhang, MsC, MA*

* Child and Adolescent Services Research Center, San Diego, California
{ddagger} Departments of Psychology
§ Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California
|| School of Public Health
Department of Social Work, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
# School of Social Work, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
** Administration for Children and Families, Washington, DC

Objective. To determine the level of developmental and behavioral need in young children entering child welfare (CW), estimate early intervention services use, and examine variation in need and service use based on age and level of involvement with CW by using a national probability sample in the United States.

Methods. As part of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being, data were collected on 2813 children <6 years old for whom possible abuse or neglect was investigated by CW agencies. Analyses used descriptive statistics to determine developmental and behavioral needs across 5 domains (cognition, behavior, communication, social, and adaptive functioning) and service use. Logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between independent variables (age, gender, race-ethnicity, maltreatment history, level of CW involvement, and developmental or behavior problems) and service use.

Results. Results indicate that age and level of CW involvement predict service use when controlling for need. Both toddlers (41.8%) and preschoolers (68.1%) in CW have high developmental and behavioral needs; however, few children are receiving services for these issues (22.7% overall). Children that remain with their biological parents have similar needs to those in out-of-home care but are less likely to use services. Children <3 years of age are least likely to use services.

Conclusions. Children referred to CW have high developmental and behavioral need regardless of the level of CW involvement. Both age and level of involvement influence service use when controlling for need. Mechanisms need to be developed to address disparities in access to intervention.

Key Words: child welfare • foster care • developmental services • developmental need • child abuse

Abbreviations: CW, child welfare • NSCAW, National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being • K-BIT, Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test • BDI, Battelle Developmental Inventory • PLS-3, Preschool Language Scales-3 • CBCL, Child Behavior Checklist • SSRS, Social Skills Rating Scale

Accepted Jan 7, 2005.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Topics in Early Childhood Special EducationHome page
T. M. Derrington and J. A. Lippitt
State-Level Impact of Mandated Referrals From Child Welfare to Part C Early Intervention
Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, August 1, 2008; 28(2): 90 - 98.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Topics in Early Childhood Special EducationHome page
S. A. Rosenberg and E. G. Smith
Rates of Part C Eligibility for Young Children Investigated by Child Welfare
Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, August 1, 2008; 28(2): 68 - 74.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Topics in Early Childhood Special EducationHome page
A. A. Scarborough and J. S. McCrae
Maltreated Infants: Reported Eligibility for Part C and Later School-Age Special Education Services
Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, August 1, 2008; 28(2): 75 - 89.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Topics in Early Childhood Special EducationHome page
A. C. Stahmer, D. Thorp Sutton, L. Fox, and L. K. Leslie
State Part C Agency Practices and the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA)
Topics in Early Childhood Special Education, August 1, 2008; 28(2): 99 - 108.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Child MaltreatHome page
C. E. Casanueva, T. P. Cross, and H. Ringeisen
Developmental Needs and Individualized Family Service Plans Among Infants and Toddlers in the Child Welfare System
Child Maltreat, August 1, 2008; 13(3): 245 - 258.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
H. Ringeisen, C. Casanueva, M. Urato, and T. Cross
Special Health Care Needs Among Children in the Child Welfare System
Pediatrics, July 1, 2008; 122(1): e232 - e241.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Public HealthHome page
R. Raghavan, G. A. Aarons, S. C. Roesch, and L. K. Leslie
Longitudinal Patterns of Health Insurance Coverage Among a National Sample of Children in the Child Welfare System
Am J Public Health, March 1, 2008; 98(3): 478 - 484.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Journal of Family NursingHome page
L. S. Lauver
Parenting Foster Children With Chronic Illness and Complex Medical Needs
Journal of Family Nursing, February 1, 2008; 14(1): 74 - 96.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J Am Psychiatr Nurses AssocHome page
T. M. McGuinness and K. Schneider
Poverty, Child Maltreatment, and Foster Care
Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, November 1, 2007; 13(5): 296 - 303.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 PediatricsHome page
E. L. Schor
Developmental and behavioral services and child welfare.
Pediatrics, February 1, 2006; 117(2): 591 - 591.
[Full Text] [PDF]