Predictors of client engagement and attrition in home-based child maltreatment prevention services

Abstract

High rates of program attrition in home-based family support and child maltreatment prevention services are common. Researchexamining factors related to family engagement (i.e., enrollment and completion rates) may help program developers increase theimpact of child abuse prevention services by reducing attrition. The present study examined the relative influence of provider,program, and individual factors from the Integrated Theory of Parent Involvement (ITPI) as well as maternal and family demo-graphic and risk variables in predicting service enrollment and completion in a home-based child maltreatment prevention service(SafeCareþ) and a standard community care program (Services as Usual [SAU]). Participants were 398 female caregivers ofchildren ages 5 and below. Support was found for the primary role of program and provider factors in client enrollment andcompletion of services. Specifically, participants in SafeCareþ were 4 times more likely to enroll in services and 8.5 times morelikely to complete services than those in SAU. Family risk variables including intimate partner psychological aggression, substanceabuse, and depression were also significant predictors. Recommended next steps include integration of risk-related factors in theITPI framework and disentangling specific provider and program factors related to service engagement.