Effects of the Child Protection System on Parents

2026/04/08 by Marie-Pascale Grimon · 1 voice
Psychology · Social Sciences · #Child Abuse and Trauma #Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development #Psychosocial Factors Impacting Youth

paper · doi:10.3368/jhr.0424-13537r2

openalex publication_date 2026/04/08 · openalex created_date 2026/04/09 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31

Abstract

<h3>Abstract</h3> Child protective services investigate a third of child-homes for maltreatment, yet repercussions for parents remain unclear. I show that mothers face considerable adversity when referred for alleged child maltreatment. Using a novel strategy that combines event studies with variation in intervention tendency across investigators, I find that child protective services interventions increase mothers’ enrollment in mental health and substance abuse treatment services for a year, even when those services are not mandated. Earnings and employment are unaffected. Marginal interventions can lead to persistent involvement with social services for years.

Discussions

• #CPS interventions affect parents, especially mothers. Marie-Pascale Grimon found that, within a year following investigation, mothers are on average 5% and 11% more likely to use #MentalHealth and #S [bsky, 0 points, 0 comments]

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