NCJ Number
114551
Date Published
1988
Length
52 pages
Annotation
This study evaluated the effectiveness of child protective service intake information received through the Jefferson County Department of Social Services (Kentucky) child abuse and neglect hotline.
Abstract
Workers completed 1,500 intake screening forms for hotline calls between August 1985 and May 1986. Results indicate that while children make few hotline calls themselves, 23 percent of calls are based on information originating with child victims. An additional 22 percent are based on information from the child's caregivers or social work professionals. Reports originating from these three sources were substantiated in 65 to 67 percent of cases, while those originating from friends and neighbors were substantiated in only 38 percent of cases. Reports originating with relatives and medical and educational professionals were substantiated in 55 percent of cases. Calls by anonymous and hostile reporters were less likely to be substantiated than other types; and sexual abuse cases were more likely to be substantiated than physical abuse or neglect cases. Variations in percent of cases substantiated also were found as a function of number and gender of victims involved, ethnicity, and individual hotline worker. These findings were used to develop a hotline triage form for assessing the likelihood that a given report will be substantiated by investigation. Forms and instructions are appended. 2 figures, 8 tables, and 7 references.