Abstract: Risk and Protective Factors for Adverse Outcomes of Child Maltreatment Reports, United States, 2006-2021 (Society for Social Work and Research 29th Annual Conference)

Schedule:

Friday, January 17, 2025

Aspen, Level 2 (Sheraton Grand Seattle)

* noted as presenting author

Hyunil Kim, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL

Dylan Jones, MSW, PhD Student, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, MO

Melissa Jonson-Reid, PhD, Professor, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO

Rebecca Orsi-Hunt, PhD, Associate Research Professor, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO

Dana Hollinshead, PhD, Associate Research Professor, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO

John Fluke, PhD, Professor, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO

Rachel Wilson, ME, Data Engineer, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO

Eunhye Ahn, PhD, Assistant Professor, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO

Brett Drake, MSW, PhD, Professor of Data Science for the Social Good in Practice, Washington University in Saint Louis, St. Louis, MO

Background/Purpose:

Longitudinal data merging national child maltreatment report (CMR) and foster care (FC) records can help identify risk/protective factors for adverse CMR outcomes (e.g., FC entry, repeat-CMR), informing large-scale prevention efforts. The Report And Placement Integrated Data System (RAPIDS) now integrates these records from 2006-2021 for the first time. This study leverages RAPIDS data to provide nationwide-generalizable findings on the relationships between various predictors and crucial CMR outcomes.

Methods:

We analyzed all US children aged ≤10 with CMRs in 2018 (N=2,371,119), tracking them in RAPIDS data (2006-2021) to evaluate predictors and CMR outcomes. Five outcomes were examined: two current (substantiation and immediate FC entry) and three future (repeat-CMR, substantiated repeat-CMR, and future FC entry within two years). Logit models incorporated a wide array of predictors derived from CMR and FC records (core RAPIDS features), in addition to siblings’ records, county-level census data, and state policy data (supplementary RAPIDS features).

Results:

Younger children showed increased risks across all outcomes, more evident for immediate and future FC entries (OR=1.14-1.18), and somewhat less so for repeat-CMR (OR=1.05). Black and Asian children had lower risks across all outcomes compared to White children (OR=0.51-0.95), while Native American and multiracial children faced higher risks (OR=1.07-1.75). Multiple-type and neglect cases had higher risks for all outcomes compared to physical/sexual abuse cases (OR=1.10-5.12). Reports from social services, medical personnel, legal/law enforcement, and alleged perpetrators showed higher risks of current outcomes (OR=1.98-3.83), with less variation in future outcomes (OR=0.95-1.56). Prior CMRs generally did not increase substantiation risks (OR=0.60-1.05) but raised risks for other outcomes (OR=1.29-5.32). Conversely, prior substantiated CMRs primarily heightened risks for substantiation and substantiated repeat-CMR (OR=1.27-4.50). Prior FC episodes increased risks of immediate and future FC entries (1.21-2.00), with minimal impact on other outcomes. Having siblings with recent CMRs or FC episodes reduced risks across most outcomes (OR=0.58-0.94), while having siblings with prior CMRs or FC episodes elevated risks (OR=1.04-3.71). Children in small urban and rural counties generally faced higher risks of all outcomes compared to those in large urban counties (OR=1.04-1.35). States with universal mandated reporting laws had lower risks of substantiations and immediate and future FC entries (OR=0.84-0.95) but higher risks of repeat-CMR and substantiated repeat-CMR (OR=1.04-1.16). States with higher substantiation evidence levels had lower risks of substantiation, repeat-CMR, and substantiated repeat-CMR (OR=0.68-0.92) but higher risks of immediate and future FC entries (OR=1.05-1.15).

Conclusions/Implications:

This study examined risk/protective factors for five major CMR outcomes, offering highly generalizable findings with comprehensive longitudinal and nationwide coverage facilitated by RAPIDS data. Consistent patterns were identified among certain predictors and outcomes, such as the higher risks exhibited by younger children and the lower risks experienced by Black children compared to White children across all outcomes. However, inconsistencies were noted among other predictors across outcomes, underscoring the necessity for further exploration into underlying mechanisms. These findings provide valuable insights for future research utilizing RAPIDS data and contribute to evidence-based strategies for federal and state initiatives aimed at preventing and addressing adverse CMR outcomes.