Healthcare Utilization Patterns Among Children With a History of Child Protective Services Investigations

Abstract

PurposeExamine whether children with a prior child protective services (CPS) investigation had different healthcare utilization compared to children without a history of CPS investigations.MethodsThe Children's Health Assessment and Planning Survey assessed 6,492 primary caregivers of children ages 0–17 years residing in North Texas in 2015. Caregivers reported prior CPS investigations and child healthcare utilization (emergency department [ED] use, unmet medication needs, and unmet medical care needs).Principle FindingsA total of 408 (5%) caregivers reported their child had a CPS investigation. Children with CPS investigations had greater odds of visiting the ED (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.4, 2.5) and not receiving necessary medical care (OR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.4, 2.8) compared to children without a CPS investigation.ConclusionsPrior CPS investigation was associated with disparities in receipt of necessary medical care and ED utilization for children.