Types and Frequency of Child Maltreatment by Family Foster Care Providers in an Urban Population

• NCJ Number: 150597
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 18 Issue: 7 Dated: (July 1994) Pages: 577- 585
• Author(s): M I Benedict; S Zuravin; D Brandt; H Abbey
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 9 pages
• Grant Number(s): 90-CA-1367
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Foster and nonfoster families in Baltimore were compared with respect to the types and frequency of reports of child abuse and neglect.

Abstract

Data on maltreatment incidents in foster homes came from records of child protective services investigations for 1984-88. These data were compared with community reports. Results indicated that foster families had more than a threefold increased frequency of maltreatment reports compared to nonfoster families. Overall, 20 percent of the foster-care reports were substantiated as compared to 35 percent of nonfoster-care reports. The distribution of types of reports differed in the two groups; physical abuse was the most frequent allegation in foster care, and neglect was the most common allegation in other families. These findings indicated that child abuse by foster care providers is an important issue and that prevention strategies specific to the foster care system are needed. Tables and 22 references (Author abstract modified)