Family Needs in Child Neglect Cases: A Cluster Analysis

Whereas research has identified risk factors for neglect, there has been little attention to examining subgroups of neglecting families. The purpose of this study was to see what types of parental, family, and poverty-related needs were present in child neglect cases and to determine if coherent clusters of needs could be identified. A case record review of 160 substantiated child neglect cases from a public child welfare agency were reviewed, and cluster analysis with step-down bivariate analyses was used to determine groupings. Results revealed three distinct subgroups of family needs: low needs, substance abuse, and economic/domestic violence/mental health. The need for integration of interventions for these subgroups, and potential directions for such integration, are discussed.