Abstract: A Population Level Examination of the Prevalence and Risks of Child Protection System Allegations of Child Neglect (Society for Social Work and Research 26th Annual Conference - Social Work Science for Racial, Social, and Political Justice)

Schedule:

Friday, January 14, 2022

Independence BR C, ML 4 (Marriott Marquis Washington, DC)

* noted as presenting author

Lindsey Palmer, MSW, PhD Student, University of Southern California, CA

John Prindle, PhD, Research Faculty, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Rebecca Rebbe, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Emily Putnam-Hornstein, PhD, John A. Tate Distinguished Professor for Children in Need, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC

Background and Purpose: It is estimated that 37.4% of all children living in the United States are investigated for alleged child maltreatment by the Child Protection System (CPS) during their childhood. While studies have demonstrated that children investigated for allegations of maltreatment are distinct from children who are never investigated, less is understood about both the prevalence of specific types of maltreatment or the sociodemographic risks associated with these individual subtypes, including neglect. The purpose of this study is to (1) document lifetime risk of being reported to CPS for allegations of neglect, and 2) examine sociodemographic and birth characteristics that are associated with lifetime reports of neglect, abuse or combination of abuse and neglect.

Methods: This study uses population-based California vital birth records linked to CPS administrative records to prospectively follow children born in 2000 through age 18. Differences across birth and maternal characteristics of children who were (i) never been reported to CPS, (ii) were reported for allegations of neglect only, (iii) were reported for allegations of abuse only, and (iv) were reported for allegations of neglect and abuse were examined using chi square tests. Next, a multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify predictors of reports for abuse, neglect or both.

Results: Overall, 24% of CA children were reported to CPS for allegations of neglect during childhood. All children reported were more likely to have been born into socioeconomically disadvantaged environments (public health insurance coverage, no established paternity on the birth certificate, no maternal high school diploma), however, the degree to which each of these factors increased risk of report differed by maltreatment group. Children born to mothers with no high school diploma, born with public health insurance coverage and born with no established paternity were at greatest risk for reports of neglect.

Conclusions and Implications: Given that childhood neglect is the most frequently reported type of maltreatment and can have severe and long-lasting consequences to a child’s health and wellbeing, understanding the lifetime risk and sociodemographic predictors can aid our ability to identify the needs of these families before they come into contact with CPS.