Timely Integration of Protective Factors: Impacts on Children’s Health and Behavioral Outcomes among Families Investigated for Maltreatment

Child maltreatment and involvement in the child welfare system are linked to numerous adverse health and behavioral outcomes for children. However, there is some variability in children’s health, suggesting that protective factors may attenuate child maltreatment risks. Specific protective factors, such as social support networks and receipt of health services, may be important for children in the child welfare system. Further study is needed on how these protective factors can mitigate salient risks associated with child welfare involvement, including caregiver substance use, mental health, and physical health that are linked to children’s long-term health and behavioral outcomes. Using the National Survey for Child and Adolescent Well-Being II (NSCAW II) dataset ( N = 5872), this longitudinal study uses three successive step-wise multiple and ordered logistic regression models to investigate the relative effects of the timing of social supports and receipt of health services in the relationship between exposure to caregiver risk characteristics and children’s internalizing and externalizing problems, and health outcome among children investigated for maltreatment. Results revealed social support mitigated effects of poor physical and mental health on children’s internalizing and externalizing behaviors in wave 1 and mitigated poor physical health on internalizing behaviors at wave 3. Social support also mitigated effects of poor mental health on children’s health outcomes at wave 1. Results suggest the need for timely and responsive health services in the child welfare system. Highlights The results showed greatest mitigating effects of social supports on behavioral outcomes. The mitigating effects were most robust for protective factors integrated closest to risk and expected outcomes.