title: The social service divide: service availability and accessibility in rural versus urban counties and impact on child welfare outcomes.
abstract: An empirical study of 75 counties in a state found that social services are more available and accessible in urban versus rural counties, signaling a need for public policy addressing service allocation. The study also found a relationship between the accessibility of intensive family preservation services and reentry into foster care, a child welfare outcome. Implications for achieving outcomes affecting safety, permanence, and well-being of children are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, Texas, USA. kbelanger@sfasu.edu
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Belanger
authors.forename: Warren
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Stone
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005581:Foster Home Care; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012947:Social Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*