A Longitudinal Causal Analysis of Impact Made by Collaborative Engagement and Service Receipt on Likelihood of Substantiated Re-Report

In a temporal-ordering causal analysis, we explored impacts of parent’s receipt of services and caseworker–parent collaborative engagement on substantiated child maltreatment re-report. Our sample of 2,368 parents came from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being. Using generalized estimating equations, we found likelihood of substantiated re-report to drop significantly in association with collaborative engagement, length of current in-home spell, and family income. In turn, parental alcohol dependence, initial substantiated sexual maltreatment, and prior in-home spells were linked to increased likelihood. Practice implications are discussed.