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Published on: May 31, 2024
Child Maltreatment Among Children in Out-of-Home Care: Secondary Analysis of NCANDS and AFCARS Data
Amy Dworsky1, Svetlana Shpiegel2, Julie S McCrae1
1Chapin Hall, Chicago, IL, USA.
Insights
Children in out-of-home care (OOHC) face maltreatment risks, with disabled children being more vulnerable. Reports of maltreatment in OOHC are less likely to be substantiated, highlighting a critical need for improved child protection.
Area of Science:
- Child Welfare Research
- Pediatric Health
- Social Work Studies
Background:
- Children in out-of-home care (OOHC) are a vulnerable population with unique risks.
- Understanding maltreatment incidence and characteristics within OOHC is crucial for child protection.
- Existing data systems like NCANDS and AFCARS provide valuable insights into child welfare.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the incidence and nature of child maltreatment within OOHC.
- To investigate the relationship between OOHC maltreatment and child characteristics.
- To analyze the substantiation rates of maltreatment reports involving children in OOHC.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS).
- Employed data from the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS).
- Conducted statistical analysis on child characteristics, maltreatment types, and report sources.
Main Results:
- 6.5% of children in OOHC received a maltreatment report; 0.9% were substantiated victims.
- Children with disabilities experienced higher rates of maltreatment in OOHC.
- Maltreatment in OOHC was less likely to be substantiated compared to other cases.
Conclusions:
- Children in OOHC, particularly those with disabilities, face significant maltreatment risks.
- The lower substantiation rate for OOHC maltreatment warrants further investigation and intervention.
- Findings emphasize the need for enhanced protective measures for children in substitute care.
Abstract:
This study uses data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) and the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) to examine the incidence of maltreatment among children in out-of-home care (OOHC), the nature of that maltreatment (neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, or emotional maltreatment), the source of maltreatment reports, and the relationship between maltreatment in OOHC and child characteristics (i.e., age, gender, race, ethnicity, and disability). We found that 6.5% of children in OOHC in a given reporting year were the subject of a child maltreatment report and 0.9% were substantiated maltreatment victims. Children with disabilities were more likely to experience maltreatment in OOHC than children without disabilities. Children who were maltreated while in OOHC were less likely to experience neglect and emotional maltreatment and more likely to experience physical or sexual abuse than other children who were maltreated. Reports involving maltreatment of children in OOHC were less likely to be substantiated than reports involving other children regardless of the report source, maltreatment type, or child characteristics. The relevance of these findings for preventing further harm to children who have already been neglected or abused are discussed.
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