IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v66y2016icp170-179.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Does changing mandated reporting laws improve child maltreatment reporting in large U.S. counties?

Author

Listed:
  • Palusci, Vincent J.
  • Vandervort, Frank E.
  • Lewis, Jessica M.

Abstract

The effects of changes in mandated child maltreatment reporting laws have not been systematically evaluated. To better understand the effects of these changes, the objectives of the present study are: (1) to assess the relationships between report rates and state universal and clergy reporting laws in 2010; (2) to compare the changes in total, confirmed, and maltreatment type report rates and with changes in reporting laws from 2000 to 2010, and (3) to examine whether there is any relationship with report rates and the nature of the mandated reporting law change. We used county-level data from the U.S. National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System for the years 2000 and 2010 to evaluate changes in reporting rates for total reports, confirmed reports, and confirmed maltreatment types while controlling for concurrent changes in child and community variables. We found that trends in 2010 for increased total and confirmed reports were similar to 2000 for counties with universal and/or clergy reporting requirements, which significantly contributed to report rates even after controlling for child and community factors. Universal reporting was associated with higher report rates for physical and sexual abuse, and clergy reporting requirements were associated with more sexual abuse, medical neglect and psychological maltreatment confirmed reports. However, while counties in states that changed their clergy reporting laws had higher increases in total reports, they had fewer confirmed physical and sexual abuse, neglect, and psychological maltreatment reports. More pronounced changes were noted in a state that made more pronounced changes in its clergy reporting laws. Policymakers should consider whether changing requirements for mandated reporting meaningfully improves child maltreatment identification.

Suggested Citation

  • Palusci, Vincent J. & Vandervort, Frank E. & Lewis, Jessica M., 2016. "Does changing mandated reporting laws improve child maltreatment reporting in large U.S. counties?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 170-179.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:66:y:2016:i:c:p:170-179
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.05.002
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740916301463
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.05.002?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Li, Fenfang & Godinet, Meripa T. & Arnsberger, Pam, 2011. "Protective factors among families with children at risk of maltreatment: Follow up to early school years," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 139-148, January.
    2. Palusci, Vincent J., 2011. "Risk factors and services for child maltreatment among infants and young children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1374-1382, August.
    3. Green, Beth L. & Ayoub, Catherine & Bartlett, Jessica Dym & Von Ende, Adam & Furrer, Carrie & Chazan-Cohen, Rachel & Vallotton, Claire & Klevens, Joanne, 2014. "The effect of Early Head Start on child welfare system involvement: A first look at longitudinal child maltreatment outcomes," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 127-135.
    4. Eldred, Lindsey M. & Gifford, Elizabeth J., 2016. "Empirical evidence on legal levers aimed at addressing child maltreatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 11-19.
    5. Millett, Lina & Lanier, Paul & Drake, Brett, 2011. "Are economic trends associated with child maltreatment? Preliminary results from the recent recession using state level data," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(7), pages 1280-1287, July.
    6. Wurtele, Sandy K., 2012. "Preventing the sexual exploitation of minors in youth-serving organizations," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(12), pages 2442-2453.
    7. Palusci, Vincent J. & Vandervort, Frank E., 2014. "Universal reporting laws and child maltreatment report rates in large U.S. counties," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 20-28.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Dan Brown & Elisabetta De Cao, 2017. "The Impact of Unemployment on Child Maltreatment in the United States," Economics Papers 2017-W04, Economics Group, Nuffield College, University of Oxford.
    2. LaBrenz, Catherine A. & Littleton, Tenesha & Shipe, Stacey L. & Bai, Rong & Stargel, Lauren, 2023. "State policies on child maltreatment and racial disproportionality," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    3. Elisabetta De Cao, 2017. "The Impact of Unemployment on Child Maltreatment in the United States," Economics Series Working Papers 837, University of Oxford, Department of Economics.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Palusci, Vincent J. & Vandervort, Frank E., 2014. "Universal reporting laws and child maltreatment report rates in large U.S. counties," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 20-28.
    2. Smith, Brenda D. & Kay, Emma Sophia & Womack, Bethany G., 2017. "How can county-level maltreatment report rates better inform child welfare practice?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 341-347.
    3. Schreier, Alayna & McCoy, Kelsey & Flood, Mary Fran & Wilcox, Brian L. & Hansen, David J., 2018. "Understanding perceptions of child maltreatment risk: A qualitative study of Early Head Start home visitors," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 416-425.
    4. Schreier, Alayna & McCoy, Kelsey & Flood, Mary Fran & Wilcox, Brian L. & Hansen, David J., 2020. "Early Head Start service use by families with court-substantiated maltreatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    5. Maguire-Jack, Kathryn & Hardi, Felicia & Stormer, Bri & Lee, Joyce Y. & Feely, Megan & Rostad, Whitney & Ford, Derek C. & Merrick, Melissa T. & Murphy, Catherine A. & Bart. Klika, J., 2022. "Early childhood education and care policies in the U.S. And their impact on family violence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    6. Gubbels, Jeanne & Assink, Mark & Ravesteijn, Bastian & Weeland, Joyce & Chhangur, Rabia R. & Bouwmeester-Landweer, Merian & van den Heijkant, Silvia & van der Put, Claudia E., 2023. "Long-term collateral effects of parent programs on child maltreatment proxies: Can administrative data provide useful insights?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    7. Kaye, Miranda P. & Faber, Aubrey & Davenport, Katie E. & Perkins, Daniel F., 2018. "Common components of evidence-informed home visitation programs for the prevention of child maltreatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 94-105.
    8. Esposito, Tonino & Chabot, Martin & Rothwell, David W. & Trocmé, Nico & Delaye, Ashleigh, 2017. "Out-of-home placement and regional variations in poverty and health and social services spending: A multilevel analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 34-43.
    9. Schenck-Fontaine, Anika & Gassman-Pines, Anna, 2020. "Income inequality and child maltreatment risk during economic recession," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    10. Chiang, Chien-Jen & Jonson-Reid, Melissa & Drake, Brett, 2020. "Caregiver physical health and child maltreatment reports and rereports," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    11. Krase, Kathryn S. & DeLong-Hamilton, Tobi A., 2015. "Comparing reports of suspected child maltreatment in states with and without Universal Mandated Reporting," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 96-100.
    12. 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.
    13. Klein, Sacha & Fries, Lauren & Emmons, Mary M., 2017. "Early care and education arrangements and young children's risk of foster placement: Findings from a National Child Welfare Sample," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 168-178.
    14. Jenkins, Brian Q. & Tilbury, Clare & Hayes, Hennessey & Mazerolle, Paul, 2019. "Do measures of child protection recurrence obscure the differences between reporting and substantiation?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 1-1.
    15. Luis Rajmil & María-José Fernandez De Sanmamed & Imti Choonara & Tomas Faresjö & Anders Hjern & Anita L. Kozyrskyj & Patricia J. Lucas & Hein Raat & Louise Séguin & Nick Spencer & David Taylor-Robinso, 2014. "Impact of the 2008 Economic and Financial Crisis on Child Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-19, June.
    16. Green, Beth L. & Ayoub, Catherine & Bartlett, Jessica Dym & Furrer, Carrie & Von Ende, Adam & Chazan-Cohen, Rachel & Klevens, Joanne & Nygren, Peggy, 2015. "It's not as simple as it sounds: Problems and solutions in accessing and using administrative child welfare data for evaluating the impact of early childhood interventions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 40-49.
    17. Green, Beth L. & Sanders, Mary Beth & Tarte, Jerod, 2017. "Using administrative data to evaluate the effectiveness of the Healthy Families Oregon home visiting program: 2-year impacts on child maltreatment & service utilization," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 77-86.
    18. Jeon, Lieny & Kwon, Kyong-Ah & Choi, Ji Young, 2018. "Family child care providers' responsiveness toward children: The role of professional support and perceived stress," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 500-510.
    19. Witte, Susanne, 2020. "Case file analyses in child protection research: Review of methodological challenges and development of a framework," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    20. Rajendran, Khushmand & Smith, Brenda D. & Videka, Lynn, 2015. "Association of caregiver social support with the safety, permanency, and well-being of children in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 150-158.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:66:y:2016:i:c:p:170-179. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.