Receiving mandated therapeutic services: Experiences of parents involved in the child welfare system

BackgroundParents involved with child welfare services are often mandated to attend a variety of therapeutic services based on the stressors they face. Despite the need to understand how to best offer services to parents, there is limited research that examines parents' experiences with and barriers to accessing these services.PurposeThis study utilized a family-centered care framework to examine the experiences of parents related to the development of case plans and the provision of mandated therapeutic services as a result of being involved with the child welfare system.MethodsSemi-structured, in-depth, in-person qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 participants of a child welfare-related intensive therapeutic parenting program, including mothers, fathers and father-figures, and grandparents who acted as caregivers. The constant comparative method was used for coding and analysis.ResultsResults indicated that while the therapeutic services themselves often meet the needs of family members, parents are not empowered to influence the service plan; they face several important barriers to receiving services; and that case plans are not designed to take into account systemic family issues in addition to addressing the stressors of individual parents.ConclusionsIncreased attention to comprehensive family assessments and engaging parents in the design of their case plan may provide mechanisms for increasing family-centered services in child welfare.

► We examined parents' experiences with mandated therapeutic services.
► We focused on the development of case plans and provision of services.
► In-depth interviews were conducted with parents.
► Therapeutic services often meet the needs of parents, but they may face barriers.
► Parents are often not empowered to influence case plan.