Reasonable Efforts? Child Maltreatment Investigations and Service Referrals of Parents With Ascribed Cognitive Impairments in Canada

Abstract

Parents with ascribed cognitive impairment (CI) are more likely than parents without CI to have their children removed by child protective services (CPS). Inequitable access to parenting and family supports and services is thought to be a contributing factor. Utilizing data on a 3-month sample of 15,980 child maltreatment investigations across Canada, including 1,244 cases featuring parents with CI, this study investigated service referrals and non-referrals. The results of this secondary data analysis suggest that, relative to need, parents with CI are less likely to be referred for matched services, including home based\reunification services post child removal. It is unclear whether disparate rates of referral are driven by a lack of inclusive services, and/or the conflation of parental CI with perceived parenting deficits. When perceived parenting deficits are attributed to parental CI, CPS may wrongly assume that these are irremediable. The findings highlight the need for building inter-sectoral service pathways in order to render appropriate assistance to parents with CI in the performance of their childrearing responsibilities.

Experiences of Interpersonal Trauma Among Parents With Intellectual Disabilities: A Systematic Review

“…The highest estimate was reported in the large clinical-sample study by Hellfritz (2018), which employed an operationalization that included both prolonged out-of-home placements and repeated moves between caregivers. Pacheco et al (2021) reported an almost identical estimate in their large court-based study, with just above 35% of parents with ID having childhood experiences of out-of-home placement, compared to 10% of the parents without ID. Gillberg and Geijer-Karlsson (1983) also reported a very similar estimate in a small clinical sample, with 34% of the mothers with ID having been partly or wholly raised in institutions.…”

“…Third, negative conceptions about the caregiving capacity of parents with ID are widespread (for a discussion, see e.g., Höglund et al, 2013), while the potential relevance of IPT for understanding their challenges is often overlooked (e.g., Mevissen et al, 2020). More solid knowledge about the role of IPT for caregiving-relevant and child outcomes in these families could contextualize caregiving difficulties and, thereby, counteract essentializing tendencies and discriminatory practices (Pacheco et al, 2021).…”

Accessibility of child protection investigations during pandemic: A qualitative analysis of court proceedings

“…were not referred to suitable parenting programs and either received instruction from the protection worker or were referred to a community-based program that was unlikely to be effective for parents with intellectual disabilities. This lack of knowledge regarding appropriate service referrals and lack of inclusive services, has also been demonstrated in previous research (Pacheco et al, 2022) and must be addressed to avoid future scenarios in which the fate of a family is at risk when specialised resources could allow the family to stay together (Adolfsson et al, 2021).…”

Expectant parents with intellectual disabilities in child protection: Risk factors for child safety

“…children have a prolonged involvement with CPS and have an increased risk of out-of-home placement (e.g., Buchan & Gunn, 2007;McConnell et al, 2011aMcConnell et al, , 2011bMcConnell et al, , 2021Pacheco et al, 2021;Willems et al, 2007).…”