Abortion access and child protective services involvement

Existing evidence has found that abortion restrictions result in fewer and delayed abortions. Such restrictions may indirectly affect child wellbeing both through changes in births and for existing children in the home through mechanisms including substantial financial strains, negative health consequences, and intra-household power dynamics. Following the Dobbs decision, state-level abortion decisions have led to significantly greater abortion restrictions. We investigate the effects of abortion access on child welfare involvement using data from the National Child Abuse & Neglect Data System (NCANDS). We utilize pre- and post-Dobbs data from 2017-2023, and estimate both difference-in-differences and event study methods, using both distance changes and policy changes. We find that increased distance to nearest abortion care is associated with higher rates of CPS referrals. Our findings provide critical insights into the broader social and health implications of abortion restrictions in post-Dobbs.