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Family structure, particularly when unstable, is associated with increased child maltreatment risk.¹Single parenthood more than doubles the risk of Child Protective Services (CPS) involvement, and one study found it to be the second largest predictor of child maltreatment, only after income.²Single parenthood contributes to financial stress, social isolation, and lack of social support, all increasing the likelihood of child maltreatment.³ Similarly, paternity status is associated with child maltreatment risk, and the presence of non-b

The annual Texas Fatherhood Summit hosted by Child and Family Research Partnership at The University of Texas at Austin LBJ School of Public Affairs and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Prevention and Early Intervention Division brings together public and

Prenatal care is key to preventing pregnancy complications and identifying intimate partner violence.^1,2,3 “Inadequate” prenatal care is associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery compared with women receiving “adequate” care.4 “Adequate” care significantly reduces risk for premature birth, low birth weight, and small-for-gestational-age status in drug-exposed infants.⁵Late entry to prenatal care has been associated with increased risk for neonatal death, infant death, and cumulative death within the first year of life.⁶

Over the past decade, child welfare research has demonstrated the value of involving family members and fictive kin (close family friends) in children’s lives while they are in foster care – not only to provide a place to stay, but to serve as a support system for the child during care and afterwards.¹ To increase family engagement in Texas, Texas Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) created the Collaborative Family Engagement (CFE) process in 2015 with funding from the 84^th Texas Legislature,