Mothers with self-reported axis I diagnoses and child protection.
OBJECTIVE
To describe mothers with serious mental illness (SMI) and their children, who are involved with child protective services.


METHODS
A retrospective review was conducted of 122 files from a large metropolitan Department of Child and Family Services.


RESULTS
The most frequently occurring diagnoses in these mothers were polysubstance dependence (39.3%) and dual diagnoses (mental illness with substance abuse; 19.7%). There was an overrepresentation of African American mothers (60%) compared with the county population and a greater prevalence of child neglect (59.0%) compared with national prevalence. Most mothers and children had been exposed to domestic violence (62.6%). Mental health services were seldom utilized, and foster care was the most common placement (36.5%). Also, there was close spacing of the age of the children, with an average of 1.25 years between siblings.


CONCLUSIONS
Identifying common descriptive factors of mothers with mental illness can assist in responding to mothers with SMI and their children. There is a need to coordinate services of the Department of Child and Family Service and mental health providers that address parenting and the support of children.
Lewin
Linda
L
Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-4920, USA. linda.c.lewin@case
Abdrbo
Amany
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001721:Birth Intervals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002655:Child Custody / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult