NCJ Number
203217
Journal
Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume: 8 Issue: 6 Dated: November-December 2003 Pages: 563-585
Date Published
November 2003
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This article reviews assessment strategies for the detection of child neglect, and examples of such assessment are presented in cases of two neglectful families.
Abstract
This article suggests the use of a comprehensive assessment for child neglect that includes a variety of measures: self-report, rating scales, and direct observation; however, these measures have limitations. Self-report and rating measures should be interpreted with caution, since they are subject to bias, and research has yet to establish the predictive validity of these measures. Many assessments rely on data related to demographic variables such as unemployment or a low level of education. These factors do not inherently lead to child neglect. Any assessment must recognize that research has yet to identify characteristics that are present in all abusive families and that are absent in all nonabusive families. Nonetheless, self-report and rating measures are useful for assessing parental capacity, and many have some psychometric support with at-risk parents. Direct observations of parent-child interactions are obtrusive and require extensive training of observers. The competent use of this method requires the structuring of the activity being observed, the selection of relevant behaviors, and the interpretation of findings. Caseworkers and interventionists often rely on case reports and social service records to obtain information on family conditions. These sources of information also pose problems, since they are subject to bias and incomplete or incorrect information. The key to selecting the most appropriate assessment method is to choose the assessment measures that best evaluate each family's specific situation and needs and should focus on the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the parents in providing adequate parenting. Two examples are provided in which the selection of assessment measures was related to specific family situations. 85 references