Research suggests that caregivers’ financial instability likely increases the risk for child welfare involvement and maltreatment.

Poverty at the caregiver and community levels are risk factors for child maltreatment, but not all caregivers in poverty face allegations of neglect. There is a critical need for research to identify what puts some caregivers in contact with the child welfare system while others in seemingly similar situations do not have similar contact. The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab (CO Lab) is partnering with NORC to examine the potential role of income volatility in this problem and potential protective factors when income volatility is taking place, such as increased housing stability and TANF participation. The results of this study will help identify potential target populations for child maltreatment prevention programs that specifically address financial instability and neglect.

NORC and CO Lab are using a linked administrative dataset to conduct descriptive and longitudinal analysis of the relationship between financial instability and child welfare involvement.

In partnership with the CO Lab, NORC designed an evaluation plan to identify the relationship between financial instability—measured through wages, TANF, child support, and child care benefits—and involvement with the child welfare system. Leveraging a unique, linked administrative data set provided by the Linked Information Network of Colorado (LINC) at the CO Lab, the project team will conduct descriptive and longitudinal analyses to identify any increased risk in child welfare involvement as a result of significant financial instability. Emma Monahan is the primary investigator and will lead the research of the role of financial instability, as well as examine the role of protective factors, such as increased housing stability and TANF benefit receipt, in mitigating the impact of financial instability.

Analysis is currently ongoing, and results will be shared with the academic and policy community when available.  

Our work will result in a report with clear research and policy implications of the findings of this research. We will also pursue a peer-reviewed journal publication, contributing to the growing amount of research in the field of financial instability and child welfare involvement. The results of this work will also inform future research opportunities that NORC and CO Lab will continue to pursue.