Many families come to the attention of child welfare because of unmet basic needs, such as economic hardships, food instability, and other poverty-related challenges that weigh on family mental health and well-being. Child welfare and other researchers are increasingly recognizing that prevention efforts to improve child and family safety and well-being should begin with efforts to help families meet their basic needs. A recent report from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago outlines a framework for proactively supporting families and reducing overreliance on child protective services.
Meeting Family Needs: A Multi-System Policy Framework for Child and Family Well-Being begins by acknowledging a design flaw in the current child welfare system: many families who are referred to child protective services have unmet needs, but they never receive services because their report is screened out. In response, the framework proposes developing an “integrated and holistic family and child well-being system” that taps into the full spectrum of family-serving systems and can effectively meet family needs in a culturally responsive manner. To do so, it is essential to increase overlap and collaboration between systems and programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the Child Tax Credit, Medicaid, and title IV-E.