1.52×
Less greenspace linked to higher odds of cases accepted for child protective services
Exact: 1.52 times the odds
Census blocks with <10% greenspace had 1.52× the odds of a case being accepted for CPS services compared to blocks with >30% greenspace
The same adjusted logistic regression model applied to Philadelphia CPS data (2008–2018) found that low-greenspace blocks (under 10%) had 1.52 times the odds of a case being accepted for CPS services compared to high-greenspace blocks (over 30%), with a 95% CI of 1.30–1.77 (p < 0.001). This finding held after controlling for education, employment, housing, and poverty via the area deprivation index, suggesting greenspace may be an independent protective factor against formal CPS involvement.
In the adjusted model, compared to blocks with >30 % greenspace, blocks with <10 % greenspace had 1.52 times the odds of a substantiated report (95 % CI 1.30-1.76, p < 0.001) and 1.52 times the odds of a case accepted for CPS services (95 % CI 1.30-1.77, p < 0.001).
Related findings
16.1%
nature exposure around schools offers the highest financial return of all interventions tested
Nature exposure achieved the highest return on investment at 16.1% with a 6.2-year payback period
Yingjie Li et al., 2026, SSRN Electronic Journal
-5.49%
combining lighting and mechanical retrofits with nature exposure reduces student absences
Combined lighting, pumps, motors, and drives retrofits with nature exposure were associated with 5.49% lower chronic absenteeism
Yingjie Li et al., 2026, SSRN Electronic Journal
-6.88%
more nature exposure around schools linked to fewer chronically absent students
Schools with greater nature exposure had 6.88% lower chronic absenteeism
Yingjie Li et al., 2026, SSRN Electronic Journal
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