Innovative telephone survey research of parents, youth, and care givers in child protective services brings CPS families to the center of research and strategic planning efforts to improve outcomes

There is very little research across the United States which includes the perceptions of the families at the center of the child welfare system. Santa Cruz County California is one of the first counties to survey these populations to create a strategic plan to serve these families. In 2007, Applied Survey Research (ASR) designed and successfully completed telephone surveys with 114 parents who had a CPS case opened in 2005/2006, 124 youth ages 12-18 who had ever been in CPS, and 131 caregivers who cared for children in 2005/2006 (for a response rate from 35% to 39%). A focus group was held with former foster youth and a mail-in survey was completed with 64 Court Appointed Special Advocates.

Findings showed: 71% of parents had household incomes under $20,000 a year. The top two needs identified by parents at entry to CPS were alcohol and drug use and housing. Parents got services for alcohol and drug abuse but tended to not get services for their job/income and housing needs. Over one-third of youth ages 15-18 said they thought that they might have a problem with alcohol or drugs. The top challenge reported by youth over the last year was school followed by emotions. The top current need of former foster youth was housing. Parents were asked what “one” thing would have helped them the most in preventing entry into CPS, and the largest percentage of parents said substance abuse treatment and avoiding drugs/alcohol.