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Time to leave substantiation behind: findings from a national probability study
Patricia L Kohl1, Melissa Jonson-Reid, Brett Drake
1George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University, St Louis, MO 63130, USA.
Child Maltreatment
|October 31, 2008
Summary
Child maltreatment investigations show similar recidivism rates whether cases are substantiated or unsubstantiated. This suggests focusing on service needs and court referral criteria may be more effective than substantiation status for measuring child welfare outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Child Welfare Research
- Pediatric Social Medicine
- Family Studies
Background:
- Child maltreatment investigations involve substantiating or unsubstantiating allegations.
- Recidivism is a key outcome measure in child welfare services.
- The impact of substantiation status on long-term outcomes is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if substantiated and unsubstantiated child maltreatment cases differ in recidivism rates over 36 months.
- To evaluate the utility of the "substantiation" label in child welfare practice.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being.
- Bivariate analyses using Kaplan-Meier survival functions.
- Multivariate analyses using Cox regression modeling.
Main Results:
- Recidivism risk was comparable between substantiated and unsubstantiated child maltreatment investigations.
- No significant difference in re-reports, substantiated re-reports, or foster care placements based on initial substantiation status.
Conclusions:
- The substantiation status of an index child maltreatment investigation does not predict future recidivism.
- Child welfare agencies should consider alternative metrics, such as service needs and family court referral criteria, for assessing outcomes.
- Reforming current practices may lead to more practical and meaningful measurement of child welfare services.
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