Understanding the Effect of the Opioid Epidemic on Child Maltreatment
Evidence | Publications

Understanding the Effect of the Opioid Epidemic on Child Maltreatment

OPRE report number: 2021-255
Published: Nov 30, 2021
Publisher: Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Human Services Family Support Child Welfare State and Local
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Associated Project

Child Maltreatment Incidence Data Linkages (CMI Data Linkages)

Time frame: 2017–2022

Prepared for:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation

Clients
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Authors

Joseph Mienko

Rebecca Rebbe

Key Findings
  • Controlling for other factors in Washington State resulted in no relationship between opioid overdose events and child maltreatment indicators, despite numerous news reports stating there is a relationship between the opioid epidemic and child maltreatment. CPS reports and maltreatment-related hospitalizations increased over time, whereas CPS substantiations and CPS removals decreased in the project time period.
  • As the rates of county opioid overdose events increased (as measured by hospitalizations and deaths), children were less likely to go to their birth home from their birth hospitalization. Similarly, opioid-exposed infants were more likely to go to out-of-home care (foster care) in counties with higher rates of opioid overdose events.

This report describes the project the Center for Social Sector Analytics and Technology (CSSAT) conducted as part of the Child Maltreatment Incidence Data Linkages (CMI Data Linkages) project. Concern has been raised that the current opioid epidemic is increasing the risk of child maltreatment and contributing to higher caseloads in child welfare systems (Brundage and Levine 2019). This project expanded knowledge about the validity of these concerns. Based on several sources of data on a state population, the CSSAT project used multiple indicators of child maltreatment and involvement with the child welfare system. Individual and community-level risk factors were included in the analysis, which can guide the use of prevention and intervention services.

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