Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 14, 2025
Assessing the Coherence of Parents' Short Narratives Regarding their Child Using the Five-Minute Speech Sample Procedure
Published on: September 19, 2019
Maternal Reports to the Child Protection System: A Longitudinal Analysis of Multiple Children
Eunhye Ahn1, Julia Reddy2, Rebecca Rebbe3
1Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St Louis, MO, USA.
Insights
Child maltreatment reporting to child protection services (CPS) is more common in mothers with multiple children. Many mothers with two or more children first receive a CPS report after their second child
Area of Science:
- Child development
- Public health
- Social work
Background:
- Child maltreatment assessment often focuses on individual children, potentially missing family-wide dynamics.
- Understanding the patterns of child protection system (CPS) involvement across multiple births is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the prevalence, timing, and chronicity of maternal CPS reporting across multiple children.
- To provide a comprehensive view of child maltreatment dynamics within families using longitudinal data.
Main Methods:
- Utilized linked birth and CPS records from California over 20 years.
- Analyzed data from 194,514 first-time mothers, categorizing them by the number of live childbirths.
- Examined maternal CPS reporting rates based on birth order and family size.
Main Results:
- 33.0% of mothers were reported to CPS, with rates increasing significantly with more children (18.5% for one child to 63.1% for four or more).
- Over 70% of mothers with two or more children received their initial CPS report after the second child's birth.
- Maternal CPS reporting is chronic and increases with family size.
Conclusions:
- Child maltreatment reporting to CPS is more prevalent and persistent in larger families.
- Intervention strategies should be family-centered and long-lasting, recognizing patterns that emerge across multiple births.
- A family-focused approach is essential for a complete understanding of child maltreatment dynamics.
Abstract:
Child maltreatment can affect multiple children in a family, yet its occurrence and chronicity has been often assessed by focusing on a single child. Although this approach provides valuable insights, considering the experiences of all children in a family may provide a more complete understanding of maltreatment dynamics. Using linked birth and child protection system (CPS) records from California, we analyzed 20 years of data on 194,514 first-time mothers to document the prevalence, timing, and chronicity of maternal CPS reporting across multiple children. Mothers were categorized by the number of live childbirths: one (25.7%), two (36.2%), three (20.9%), and four or more (17.2%). Overall, 33.0% of mothers were reported to CPS, increasing from 18.5% for mothers with one child to 63.1% for those with four or more children. For mothers with two or more children, more than 70% experienced an initial CPS report only after the second child's birth. Our findings have implications for understanding the dynamics of maternal reports to CPS, emphasizing the need for lasting and family-focused interventions.
More Related Videos
05:04A Common Marmoset Model of Mother-Infant Intervention for Breastfeeding Disorders in the Presence of Paternal Inhibition and Maternal Neglect
Published on: September 22, 2023
07:36An Experimental Analysis of Children's Ability to Provide a False Report about a Crime
Published on: May 3, 2016
Related Concept Videos
02:20Longitudinal Research
01:27Parenting Styles
Authoritarian Parenting
This style is strict and controlling, with little room for open dialogue. Authoritarian parents demand obedience and often enforce rules with minimal warmth. Children raised this way may lack social skills and initiative, usually comparing themselves to others unfavorably.
Authoritative...
01:26Longitudinal Studies