Untreated psychiatric and substance use disorders among caregivers with children reported to child protective services

Abstract

IMPORTANCE: Mental and substance use disorders can interfere with parents' ability to care for their children and are associated with a greater likelihood of child protective services involvement to address child maltreatment. Parent engagement in psychiatric and substance use disorder treatment can prevent child maltreatment and family separations.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether caregivers with psychiatric or substance use disorders whose children were referred to child protective services received Medicaid-funded psychiatric or substance use disorder treatment.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Caregivers listed on child welfare records were linked with their Medicaid records using 2017 to 2020 Medicaid and child welfare data from Florida and Kentucky. Medicaid claims were analyzed to determine if caregivers had a psychiatric or substance use disorder diagnosis and whether those caregivers received counseling or medications. The analysis was conducted in 2023.

EXPOSURE: Diagnosis of a psychiatric or substance use disorder in 2020.

MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURE: Receipt of psychiatric or substance use disorder counseling or medications.

RESULTS: Of the 58 551 caregivers, 65% were aged between 26 and 40 years; 69% were female and 31% were male. Overall, 78% identified as White, 20% identified as Black/African American, and less than 1% identified as American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander. In 2020, 59% of caregivers with Medicaid and children referred to child protective services had a mental health or substance use disorder diagnosis, compared with 33% of age- and sex-matched Medicaid beneficiaries without children referred to child protective services (P < .001). Among caregivers with a psychiatric disorder, 38% received counseling and 67% received psychiatric medication. Among those with a substance use disorder, 40% received counseling and 38% received a substance use disorder medication.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this case-control study, despite Medicaid coverage of an array of effective behavioral health treatments, large portions of caregivers with Medicaid coverage, who need treatment and whose children were referred to child protective services, were not receiving treatment. Medicaid and child welfare agencies should make a greater effort to connect caregivers to behavioral health services.