Parents with ascribed cognitive impairment (CI) are more likely than parents without CI to have their children removed by child protective services (CPS). Inequitable access to parenting and family supports and services is thought to be a contributing factor. Utilizing data on a 3-month sample of 15,980 child maltreatment investigations across Canada, including 1,244 cases featuring parents with CI, this study investigated service referrals and non-referrals. The results of this secondary data analysis suggest that, relative to need, parents with CI are less likely to be referred for matched services, including home based\reunification services post child removal. It is unclear whether disparate rates of referral are driven by a lack of inclusive services, and/or the conflation of parental CI with perceived parenting deficits. When perceived parenting deficits are attributed to parental CI, CPS may wrongly assume that these are irremediable. The findings highlight the need for building inter-sectoral service pathways in order to render appropriate assistance to parents with CI in the performance of their childrearing responsibilities.

与没有 CI 的父母相比，有归因认知障碍 (CI) 的父母更有可能让他们的孩子被儿童保护服务 (CPS) 带走。获得育儿和家庭支持和服务的不公平被认为是一个促成因素。本研究利用加拿大 15,980 次虐待儿童调查的 3 个月样本数据，其中包括 1,244 例以父母患有 CI 的案例，调查了服务转诊和非转诊。该次要数据分析的结果表明，相对于需求，患有 CI 的父母不太可能被转介以获得匹配的服务，包括儿童搬家后的家庭/团聚服务。目前尚不清楚转诊率不同是否是由于缺乏包容性服务和/或父母 CI 与感知的养育缺陷混为一谈。当感知到的养育缺陷归因于父母 CI 时，CPS 可能错误地认为这些是无法弥补的。调查结果强调了建立跨部门服务途径的必要性，以便在履行育儿责任时为患有 CI 的父母提供适当的帮助。