Understanding Changes in Child Welfare Service Needs in the United States: A Quarter-Century Perspective.

Abstract

This study examined how caregivers and child welfare professionals reported service needs over 25 years, focusing on housing, legal, mental health, and substance use supports. Using three cohorts of the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (1999-2024; N = 6,102), we estimated longitudinal multilevel logistic regression models to assess trends in reported service needs and associations with child, caregiver, and child welfare professional characteristics. Reported housing and legal needs declined modestly, while reported mental health and substance use needs increased. Caregivers consistently reported fewer needs than professionals, and service need trajectories differed between caregivers and child welfare professionals. Racial/ethnic differences persisted, with Black and Hispanic caregivers more likely to report housing needs and less likely to report behavioral health needs relative to White caregivers. Findings highlight evolving perceptions of caregiver service needs and underscore the importance of multi-informant, equity-focused assessment practices within child welfare systems.