NCJ Number
162128
Date Published
1993
Length
262 pages
Annotation
This study of high-risk child abuse and neglect groups was designed to identify groups which have been underserved or unserved by child abuse and neglect programs and to report the incidence of child abuse and neglect among such groups.
Abstract
Data from the Second National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS-2) were reanalyzed to identify characteristics of children and families that were empirically related to the risk of occurrence of abuse or neglect serious enough to fit the NIS-2 harm standard. The harm standard narrowed the focus to children who had already been harmed by abuse or neglect and it excluded children who may have been endangered but not harmed. The NIS-2 reanalysis addressed the issue of underserved/unserved children in two ways: (1) by identifying characteristics of abused or neglected children who fit the NIS-2 harm standard but who were not investigated by child protection services (CPS); and (2) by determining whether factors actually related to risk of abuse or neglect corresponded to definitions and indicators of high-risk used by CPS agencies. Data on abused or neglected children were obtained from a national sample of 29 counties. Principal achievements of the NIS-2 reanalysis effort involved several new findings. Seven child and family demographic characteristics were empirically related to the risk of occurrence of abuse or neglect. Thirteen characteristics of children, families, and maltreatment predicted the likelihood that CPS would investigate child maltreatment. Empirically identified risk factors for abuse or neglect were compared to high-risk indicators used by CPS agencies and points of noncorrespondence were identified. Finally, estimates of the national incidence of maltreated children were developed for groups identified as underserved or unserved. Risk factors for abuse or neglect are discussed, as well as characteristics of maltreated children. Appendixes provide additional information on methods used to identify predictors of CPS investigations, factors related to the incidence of maltreatment, and procedures for generating probabilities from final logistic models. 53 tables and 44 figures