Caregiver substance abuse among maltreated children placed in out-of-home care

Child protective services (CPS) case records of 639 children placed in out- of-home care due to maltreatment were reviewed, and substance abuse by the child's caregiver prior to the child's placement was evaluated systematical ly. Based on several different sources of information, 79% of the caregiver s were found to meet the criteria for caregiver substance abuse (CSP;). Chi ldren with and without evidence of CSA differed on age, ethnicity, family c omposition, and type of maltreatment. The importance of operational specifi city in defining CSA and implications for policy and service delivery are d iscussed.