Drivers of Inequalities among Families Involved with Child Welfare Services: A General Overview

Primary reasons for children being placed in OHC include problems that can be said to broadly reflect poor mental health (e.g., affective disorders, substance misuse, and self-harm) among the biological parents [7]. There is furthermore a complex interplay between socioeconomic disadvantages and mental health problems; for example, parental substance use accompanied by poverty is more likely to lead to involvement with child welfare services than substance use in a position of affluence [8]. [...]recent studies have shown that having a child taken into OHC can have severe negative consequences, including (worsening) mental health problems (e.g., grief, suicidality, depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, and substance use) and premature mortality [12,13,14]. Wall-Wieler, E.; Roos, L.L.; Bolton, J.; Brownell, M.; Nickel, N.C.; Chateau, D. Maternal Health and Social Outcomes after Having a Child Taken into Care: Population-Based Longitudinal Cohort Study Using Linkable Administrative Data.