TriMetrix Data Analyst Juan Nunez, along with Zach Gassoumis, recently published research examining how adverse climate events can affect child welfare systems and patterns of substantiated child maltreatment.
Titled “Climate shocks and child welfare systems: Analyzing the association between the 2021 Texas Freeze and substantiated maltreatment rates,” the paper examines the relationship between the 2021 Texas Freeze and changes in child maltreatment substantiation rates. The research was conducted as part of Juan’s ongoing Ph.D. program and represents a version of one of his preliminary examinations.
The study finds that adverse climate events are associated with disruptions in child welfare systems at all levels, reflected in changes in child maltreatment substantiation rates. The findings highlight how climate-related emergencies can affect the operation of child welfare systems and the communities they serve.
Click the button below to read the article on ScienceDirect. Access to the full article may require a subscription or institutional access.
Suggested citation:
Nunez, J.J., & Gassoumis, Z. (2026).Climate shocks and child welfare systems: Analyzing the association between the 2021 Texas Freeze and substantiated maltreatment rates. Child & Youth Care Forum, 189, 109206, ISSN 0190-7409. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2026.109206
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