A Retrospective Examination of Child Protection Involvement Among Young Adults Accessing Homelessness Services. Issue 1 (15th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Putnam‐Hornstein, Emily; Lery, Bridgette; Hoonhout, Jonathan; Curry, Susanna
• Is Part Of: American journal of community psychology. Volume 60:Issue 1/2(2017)
• Page Start: 44
• Page End: 54
• Publication Date: 2017-09-15
• Subjects: Child maltreatment -- Child welfare services -- Homelessness -- Transition‐age youth; Community psychology -- Periodicals; Community mental health services -- Periodicals; Community psychiatry -- Periodicals; Community Mental Health Services -- Periodicals; Community Psychiatry -- Periodicals; 155.905
• DOI: 10.1002/ajcp.12172
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0091-0562

Abstract

Highlights: Administrative records were used to document child protection histories of homeless youth. Fully half of homeless young adults had been reported for abuse or neglect during childhood. The prevalence of maltreatment varied across demographic and child protection characteristics. Patterns of service use can be outlined for vulnerable populations through linked administrative data. Abstract: Childhood maltreatment is associated with a variety of young adult adversities including homelessness. This study used linked administrative records to develop a population‐level, epidemiological characterization of the child protection histories of young adults accessing homelessness services. The records of all 17‐ to 24‐year‐olds receiving homeless services between 2011 and 2014 in San Francisco County, California ( n = 2241) were probabilistically linked to statewide child protective service (CPS) records. Findings document that 50.0% of young adults had been reported for maltreatment at least once during childhood, yet the prevalence of past CPS involvement varied across demographic and child welfare characteristics. Homeless female youth were significantly more likely to have a CPS history than male youth (58.1% vs. 41.5%). Nearly twice as many Black clients accessing homelessness services had a CPS history as did White clients (59.8% vs. 31.8%). Roughly half (47.3%) of those with a childhood history of reported maltreatment had been last reported for maltreatment in another California county. Targeting services that address past trauma and instability among homeless young adults may be justified given the prevalence of CPS history in this population.