NCJ Number
208453
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2002 Pages: 187-205
Date Published
February 2002
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study sought to identify child protective services (CPS) factors related to the recurrence of child maltreatment during the commission of protective services.
Abstract
Critics have charged that CPS should focus on preventing initial and subsequent maltreatment of children rather than on its current focus of reporting and investigation. In an effort to inform CPS responses, it is useful to understand whether certain services provided by CPS are more effective than others at reducing future maltreatment. The current study assessed the relationship between CPS responses and the recurrence of child maltreatment among a group of 434 families undergoing current CPS intervention following a confirmed index report of physical abuse or neglect. Data were collected from archival sources for 5 years following the index child abuse report; data were coded and analyzed using the Cox Proportional Regression Model. Results indicated several case-related factors predicted child abuse recurrence, including child vulnerability, family stress, partner abuse, and social support deficits. Only one CPS response-related variable was linked with recurrence of abuse: attendance at services was related to a 33-percent decrease in the likelihood of experiencing a recurrence of child maltreatment. These findings are consistent with previous findings that suggest engaging families in treatment and building a helping alliance may reduce the risk of future child maltreatment. Future research should focus on the nature of services offered to families and the relationship between service characteristics and recurrence of child maltreatment. Tables, references