The Match Between Family Needs and Services for High-Risk Neglecting Families

Abstract

Child neglect is characterized by a complexity of family problems and needs. Whether families' needs are actually matched to the appropriate services is a critical area for study, although little empirical work exists. In this study, we examine the match between needs and services for a sample of high-risk neglecting families, using cluster analysis to identify clusters of services and previously identified need clusters. We examine need–service match from two perspectives: 1) how well services are allocated to family need, and 2) how well family needs are covered by available services. Some service clusters are well allocated to corresponding needs, such as intensive drug court and family preservation services to substance-abusing families; however, other service patterns are much less coherent. With regard to how well needs are covered by available services, although approximately one-third of substance-abusing families receive the intensive drug court intervention, another one-third receive the low-service cluster of services. Poor match is particularly evident for the mental health/economic need/domestic violence group, in which more than half are represented in the low-service cluster, and only one-fourth in the high-service/economic/domestic violence service cluster. Attention to need–service matching is an important feature of evidence-based practice from both the perspective of case planning with families and the design of services for subgroups of families. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.

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