A national probability study of problematic substance use and treatment receipt among Latino caregivers involved with child welfare: The influence of nativity and legal status

• Published in: Children and youth services review Vol. 71; pp. 61 - 67
• Main Authors: Finno-Velasquez, Megan, Seay, Kristen D., He, Amy S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2016; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adolescents; Caregivers; Child abuse & neglect; Child welfare; Children; Citizens; Comparative analysis; Drug abuse; Hispanic Americans; Immigrant; Immigrants; Latino; Legal services; Legal status; Medical treatment; Noncitizens; Parents & parenting; Polls & surveys; Problematic substance use; Regression analysis; Services; Substance abuse; Undocumented immigrants; Well being; United States > US; Child welfare; Services; Problematic substance use; Immigrant; Latino
• ISSN: 0190-7409; 1873-7765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.10.035

The goal of this study was to determine whether differences exist in problematic substance use and receipt of services by nativity (U.S. born, foreign born) and legal status (U.S. citizen, legal resident, undocumented) among Latino parents reported for child abuse and neglect. We used data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being II and weighted bivariate chi-square tests to compare rates of problematic substance use and services receipt by nativity and legal status. Weighted logistic regression models estimated the effect of immigrant status on the odds of service receipt. Rates of problematic substance use were not significantly different by nativity or legal status. Service receipt was significantly lower for foreign-born (2.1%) versus U.S.-born (9.4%) parents. Compared to U.S. citizens (8.1%) and legal residents (4.3%), services receipt was least likely for undocumented parents (0.3%). Adjusting for covariates, nativity did not affect services receipt but undocumented legal status reduced the odds of receiving services by 95%. Data indicate that disparities do exist in receipt of substance use services among immigrant parents, especially undocumented parents, compared to U.S. born parents. Findings also suggest that the protective effect of immigrant status on problematic substance use, i.e., the immigrant paradox, may not apply to child-welfare-involved families. •Problematic substance use among Latino child welfare-involved parents did not differ by nativity or legal status.•rvice receipt for problematic substance use was lower for foreign-born parents investigated by child welfare.•An undocumented legal status reduced the odds of receiving substance use services by 95%.•The protective effect of immigrant status on problematic substance use may not apply to child-welfare-involved families.