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Determinants of maltreatment substantiation in a sample of infants involved with the child welfare system

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  • Williams, Gabriela
  • Tonmyr, Lil
  • Jack, Susan M.
  • Fallon, Barbara
  • MacMillan, Harriet L.

Abstract

Children under one year of age are highly vulnerable to child maltreatment, which can lead to serious immediate and long-term physical and mental health consequences. Child welfare workers encounter unique challenges when assessing allegations of maltreatment involving infants. This study identifies correlates of maltreatment substantiation in a sample of 793 infants less than one year of age investigated by child welfare. It is based on data from the 2003 Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS-2003), a national study of reports of child maltreatment. The analysis consisted of two stages. First, bivariate analyses were conducted using unadjusted odds ratios and chi-square tests on variables known to be associated with substantiation. In the second stage, a logistic regression was performed to examine these associations in a multivariate model. Multivariate findings suggest that certain vulnerabilities present in the primary caregiver, such as substance abuse and few social supports, as well as the child's positive toxicology at birth are associated with substantiated infant maltreatment. Exposure to domestic violence, which is reported mostly by the police, and physical harm stemming from maltreatment are strongly associated with substantiation, whereas reports of physical abuse and neglect have an inverse relationship. The authors discuss these results and implications for policy and programs.

Suggested Citation

  • Williams, Gabriela & Tonmyr, Lil & Jack, Susan M. & Fallon, Barbara & MacMillan, Harriet L., 2011. "Determinants of maltreatment substantiation in a sample of infants involved with the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1345-1353, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:33:y:2011:i:8:p:1345-1353
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    Cited by:

    1. Vis, Svein Arild & Lauritzen, Camilla & Fluke, John, 2021. "Screening decisions for non-abuse concerns reported to child protection agencies- a structural equation model for referral content and decision outcome," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    2. Stoddart, J.K. & Fallon, B. & Trocmé, N. & Fluke, J., 2018. "Substantiated Child Maltreatment: Which factors do workers focus on when making this critical decision?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 1-8.
    3. Maria Manuela Calheiros & Sandra Ornelas & Eunice Magalhães & Margarida Vaz Garrido, 2022. "Profiles of Young Children Involved with Child Protection Services in Portugal," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 15(3), pages 933-958, June.
    4. Elizabeth Eggins & Sharon Dawe & David B. Wilson & Ned Chandler‐Mather & Joseph Betts, 2020. "PROTOCOL: Psychosocial, pharmacological and legal interventions for improving the psychosocial outcomes of children with substance misusing parents," Campbell Systematic Reviews, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 16(3), September.
    5. Simmel, Cassandra & Shpiegel, Svetlana, 2013. "Describing the context and nature of emotional maltreatment reports in children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(4), pages 626-633.
    6. Mortensen, Jennifer A. & Barnett, Melissa A., 2016. "The role of child care in supporting the emotion regulatory needs of maltreated infants and toddlers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 73-81.

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