The efficacy of a voluntary, community-based program in preventing recurrence of child maltreatment: Community Support for Families

Abstract

ABSTRACT Community-based, voluntary child maltreatment prevention programs are a critical, yet under-studied, element of child maltreatment prevention and are particularly vital to the success of differential response (DR) programs. This study describes the 25% of families who are referred from Connecticut’s Department of Children and Families DR to a voluntary post-DR community program (Community Support for Families (CSF)), assesses the safety outcomes of subsequent reports and substantiated subsequent reports within 18 months of their initial report, and analyzes the family and case characteristics associated with the outcomes. CSF engages families, works with them to strengthen natural and community-based supports, and connect families to needed services. A higher percentage of Black and Latino families were referred to the CSF than white families, likely driven by higher poverty rates. Forty percent of families had a subsequent report and 11% had a substantiated subsequent report. Program participation was associated with lower odds of a substantiated subsequent report compared to families who were referred but did not participate. Program participation was not associated with preventing a subsequent report. This study adds to the scant literature on community maltreatment prevention programs.