NCJ Number
209901
Journal
Aggression and Violent Behaviors Volume: 10 Issue: 4 Dated: May-June 2005 Pages: 491-512
Date Published
May 2005
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This article presents a review of standardized measures of child neglect and recommendations on the development of future assessment measures addressing current limitations.
Abstract
Despite the high prevalence of child neglect, and the potentially fatal consequences of the problem, no papers have been written that critique methods of assessing such a widespread problem. In order to provide a context in which to examine assessment methods and issues surrounding them, this paper begins by delineating child neglect, including its prevalence and characteristics. The review focuses on assessment measures that are pertinent to professional observation and interviewing methods of parents suspected of child neglect. The assessment measures examined include: child protection services (CPS) risk assessment models, measures that focus on the environment of the child, parent self-report measures, and clinical interviews and subscales of measures that do not primarily assess for neglect. CPA agencies are increasingly utilizing risk assessment tools to determine the likelihood a child will be maltreated at some future time. Recommendations for future directions for practice and research are presented and discussed. References