1.6 Family economic supports
Families whose children are at risk of child abuse and neglect often face serious financial challenges. In 1996, children living in families with less than $15,000 in annual income were 22 times more likely to be abused or neglected than children in families with incomes of $30,000 or more. [i] Policies that increase family economic success can directly impact families’ capacity to help their children meet key physical, emotional, social and cognitive developmental milestones. A range of policies that help adult family members obtain family-wage jobs with benefits and accumulate assets are outlined in the Policy Matters publication, Improving the Economic Success of Families.
An estimated 70 to 90 percent of children who remain with their families while receiving child welfare services are members of families who qualify for and receive cash assistance. [ii] Special efforts are necessary to connect these families with financial success strategies and assistance. For example, the Effective Systems section of this report describes policies that support coordinated or integrated eligibility determination and application for benefits. In addition, comprehensive family assessments such as those conducted by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services identify financial factors that challenge parents’ capacity to care for their children, including parental unemployment and economic loss. The assessment provides information for tailoring a case plan that includes strategies for improving family economic well-being. [iii] (See Effective Systems, Policy 10.1. Individualized and comprehensive assessments and planning)
Other strategies for connecting families involved with the child welfare system with economic supports were institutionalized by the El Paso County, Colorado, Department of Human Services. The Department developed a range of strategies for removing barriers between the child welfare program and Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF), including ensuring that every family coming to the attention of the child welfare program is screened for participation in the TANF program. Both child welfare and TANF staff work with families to help them obtain financial assistance if needed and to strengthen family earning capacity.
Policy Options: States can authorize and fund family economic supports using 1, 2, 3 or 4 of the following approaches:
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Assess economic needs of families identified by the child welfare system,
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Use flex funds to provide concrete assistance when other sources of support are not available.
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Facilitate application for financial assistance,
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Connect families with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and other programs that can help them achieve economic success.
[i]
Sedlak, A.J., & Broadhurst, D. D. 1996. Third national incidence study of child abuse and neglect final report. Washington: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as cited by Hutson, R. 2003. A Vision for Eliminating Poverty and Family Violence: Transforming Child Welfare and TANF in El Paso County, Colorado. Washington: Center for Law and Social Policy
[ii]
Geen, R., Fender, L., Leos-Urbel, J., & Markowitz, T. 2001. Welfare reform’s effect on child welfare caseloads. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute; as cited by Hutson, R.
[iii]
Judge David L. Bazelon. Center for Mental Health.
An Evaluation of State EPSDT Screening Tools, Protecting Consumer Rights in Public Systems’ Managed Mental Health Care Policy.
Washington, D.C.: Bazelon Center for Mental Health. http://www.bazelon.org/issues/managedcare/moreresources/epsdtfactsheet.htm