Many maltreated young children have their first contact with Child Protective Services (CPS) through Emergency Shelter Care (ESC) in response to an immediate need for protection or to complete a case diagnosis and placement decision. However, little is known about the characteristics of young children at the entry point into ESC, such as risk and protective factors and, in particular, their family characteristics. The purpose of this study is to identify the profiles of families and young children who have been removed from their families and placed in ESC. We did so with a needs-led and evidence-based methodology, which can be incorporated into CPS practices to promote better-informed decisions in subsequent services and programs’ interventions. A sample of 100 young children admitted to a Portuguese ESC was analyzed based on their risk and protective factors, as well as risk thresholds in five dimensions: 1) living situation; 2) family relationships; 3) social behavior; 4) physical and psychological health; and 5) family education and employment. Four distinct needs profiles with different degrees of risk for young children’s development and well-being were identified. The existence of different patterns of needs requires specific and differentiated services’ interventions. The results and implications for practice are discussed.

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Emergency shelter care,Young children,Family,Needs profiles,Needs-led and evidence-based methodology,Risk and protective factors

• Health Sciences - Medical and Health Sciences
• Psychology - Social Sciences
• Sociology - Social Sciences
• Other Social Sciences - Social Sciences