An elicitation analysis of parental perspectives regarding child neglect: Trauma of child protective system oversight

• In Event: Understanding trauma in vulnerable children and families: addressing the intersection of multiple systems' level risk factors

Abstract

Background: Child neglect has been widely documented as a public health and social problem and is generally understood as a persistent lack of attention to safe conditions suitable for the well-being of children. Federal legislation and state child welfare agencies define child neglect as the omission of vital and appropriate sustenance and oversight provisions, resulting in the failure to provide an acceptable level of care. This mixed methods research study elucidates mothers’ perceptions of neglectful behaviors in the context of their child welfare system involvement and assesses factors that influence neglectful behaviors through a unique elicitation study grounded in decision theory. Little is known about how mothers perceive or construe child neglect and the factors that influence behavior that leads to child neglect. Undergirding all of this is the trauma associated with being accused of child neglect or the removal of children for such charges.

Methods
To assess behavioral choices through an elicitation study of expectancies that influence the relationship between intentions and resulting parenting behaviors, Black Child Protective System (CPS)-impacted mothers were queried about a decision they would make based on a vignette highlighting a choice that could be considered supervisory neglect (i.e., asked them to decide to take an extra nightshift at work and leave a 13-year-old to supervise their toddler age sibling or decide to stay home and fall behind in rent payments.). The sample is 59 Black/African American identifying birth mothers of children who were at risk for or deemed neglected. Mothers were presented with a vignette and asked to make a decision, which then funneled them to a set of follow-up questions useful to ascertain how their supervisory oversight of their children aligned with their perceived expectations of CPS oversight staff. Responses were assessed for consistency of parental decisions and CPS expectations of appropriate behaviors.

Results
In response to the study vignette, roughly half of the mothers would have chosen to take the shift at the risk of CPS deeming the decision neglectful. Their reported decision-making processes varied from pressure to avoid further CPS involvement by staying current in rent and avoiding a shelter versus staying home and risk further financial challenges. Additionally, mothers reported about who among their networks of support would approve their decision. Voice recorded qualitative accounts in addition to quantitative responses to structured questions will be presented to provide context to the decision-making process of CPS-impacted Black birth mothers’ behaviors.

Discussion
Contextualized in historically systemic social inequities endured by certain populations of parents and acknowledgement of parent perceived oversight disparities and child rearing choices related to SES status disparities and parental challenges, findings give attention to parental choices and child rearing practices based on perceptions of systems’ involvement. The study highlights parenting behaviors traditionally characterized as neglectful that would be understood by appreciating the broader SES context and conditions in which those behaviors occur. What may seem to be neglectful behavior by others may be more nuanced from the perspective of the impacted and historically marginalized mothers.

Authors

• Darcey Merritt, New York University
  Presenting Author

• James Jaccard, NYU

• Rachel Ludeke, Thomas Jefferson University