Factors Associated with out of Home Placement and Safety Plan Implementation in Cases of Child Sexual Abuse

Background and Purpose:  Research has found that 15% of children who participate in a forensic interview at a Children’s Advocacy Center to discuss allegations of sexual abuse are removed from their homes (Cross et al., 2008) and that lack of maternal support significantly predicts a child’s removal (Everson, et al., 1989).  Furthermore, research also shows that children of color are significantly over-represented in the child protection system in the United States (Hill, 2006).  However, research has yet to examine a child’s race/ethnicity, along with level of family support and abuse related factors, as related to family living situation outcomes in cases of sexual abuse.  The purpose of this research was to evaluate whether child characteristics, abuse related factors, and level of family support significantly predicted child placement and safety plan implementation after disclosure of sexual abuse allegations in a forensic interview.  It was hypothesized that children of color, children who experienced more severe abuse, were related to the alleged perpetrator, and who had unsupportive families would be more likely to be removed from the home; and children with supportive families would be more likely to have a safety plan implemented in the home.

Methods:  This study evaluated family living situation outcomes in child protection cases through content analysis of 139 videotaped forensic interviews and case files where children were interviewed regarding sexual abuse allegations.  Data was collected from a convenience sample of existing case records at a Children’s Advocacy Center and within corresponding child protection cases.  Coded data included demographic information, relationship of child to the alleged perpetrator, type of abuse allegation, level of family support, and outcomes in child protection cases including out of home placement for the child and safety plan implementation in the home.  Data analysis included descriptive statistics and logistic regression.

Results:  Controlling for significant demographic variables, results of the logistic regression analyses show that African American children (OR=6.0, CI=1.39-42.13, p<0.05), Multi/Bi-racial children (OR=5.7, CI=1.09-43.75, p<0.05), children related to the alleged perpetrator (OR=3.4, CI=1.12-13.07, p<0.05) and children with unsupportive families (OR=5.2, CI=1.89-15.33, p<0.05) were significantly more likely to be removed from the home.   Hispanic/Latino children (OR=4.4, 1.21-17.56, p<0.05), children who experienced more severe abuse (OR=2.0, CI=1.31-3.12, p<001), and who were related to the alleged perpetrator (OR=10.1, CI=3.90-29.77, p<0.001) were more likely to have a safety plan implemented in the home.

Implications:  Results show that children of color, children who are abused by relatives, and children with unsupportive families were more likely to be removed from the home after disclosure of sexual abuse.  There were no significant findings related to the level of family support and safety plan implementation.  This is surprising given that a central component of ensuring a child’s safety rests upon the non-offending family member’s support and adherence to the plan.  The findings suggest a need for systematic evaluation of the decision making process in placement and safety plan outcomes in cases of child sexual abuse as well as an increased emphasis on culturally responsive, strength-based engagement with children and families.