Keywords:
Child protection; Maternal intellectual disability; Maternal mental health; Maternal substance use; Out-of-home care
Abstract:
Children born to parents with intellectual disability (ID) have been shown as disproportionally represented in child protection services however with limited population-based research.
Background
Children born to parents with intellectual disability (ID) have been shown as more likely to be represented in child protection services however with limited population-based research. Concerns about the ability and capacity of parents with an ID to meet the needs of their children has resulted in the rights of parents being pitted against child welfare concerns. In Australia, Aboriginal families are over-represented in the child protection system with poverty, marginalisation, and historical policies of removal most likely impacting the resources and capacity of Aboriginal parents with ID.
What we did
This study aimed to investigate the extent of child protection involvement of children born to mothers with ID, including an examination by Aboriginality. We looked at whether risk is modified by age of the child, child intellectual disability status, or by other maternal risk factors including mental health issues and substance use.
What we found
Compared to children of mothers without ID, children born to mothers with ID had over 4 times increased risk of contact with child protection services even after taking into account factors that may increase risk for child protection involvement, such as socioeconomic status. Compared with mothers without ID, the risk was lower for Aboriginal children than non-Aboriginal children. The percentage of infants under one -year of age with child protection involvement was higher among those with mothers with ID than the comparison group.
What it means
Children of mothers with ID were found to be at increased risk of child protection involvement and entry into out-of home care. Many mothers with ID involved in child protection had cumulative adverse challenges such as high levels of poverty, mental health and substance-related issues. This points directly at the need to address the complexity of case management and planning for these mothers and their children to meet their support needs.