Caregiver Vulnerabilities Associated With the Perpetration of Substantiated Child Maltreatment in Canada: Examining the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS) 2008

2019 ◽  
pp. 088626051988994
Author(s):  
Tamara L. Taillieu ◽  
Kristene Cheung ◽  
Jitender Sareen ◽  
Laurence Y. Katz ◽  
Lil Tonmyr ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Domestic Violence ◽  
Child Abuse ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Incidence Study ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Child Welfare Agencies ◽  
Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Emotional Harm

Most of the research on caregiver vulnerabilities associated with the perpetration of child maltreatment (CM) focuses on perpetrators of child physical or sexual abuse. Less is known about the association of specific caregiver vulnerabilities and the risk of other CM types or how these vulnerabilities are related to child harm. The aim of the study was to examine the association of caregiver’s vulnerabilities with types of substantiated CM and child physical and mental/emotional harm as a result of maltreatment. Data were from the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect collected in 2008 (CIS-2008). The CIS-2008 consisted of investigations of children aged 15 years and younger from 112 child welfare sites across Canada ( N = 15,980). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to examine relationships between caregiver vulnerabilities and outcomes of interest. Caregiver vulnerabilities were prevalent among cases of CM substantiated by child welfare agencies across Canada. Low social support, domestic violence, mental health issues, and substance abuse problems were noted among a substantial proportion of abusive caregivers. Caregiver cognitive impairments and domestic violence perpetration were associated with increased odds of child physical harm, but only among children aged 0 to 4 years. Most individual types of caregiver vulnerabilities were associated with increased odds of child mental or emotional harm across all child age groups. Insight into caregiver vulnerabilities associated with the perpetration of CM may help inform intervention targets prior to a family’s involvement in the child welfare system.

Utilization of the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect by child welfare agencies in Ontario

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-37
Author(s):  
L Tonmyr ◽  
SM Jack ◽  
S Brooks ◽  
G Williams ◽  
A Campeau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Child Maltreatment ◽  
Incidence Study ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Surveillance Data ◽  
Multiple Perspectives ◽  
Abuse And Neglect

Introduction The purpose of this study was to analyze how child maltreatment surveillance data from the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS) is used by senior child welfare decision makers. Methods This triangulation mixed-methods study included quantitative and qualitative methods to facilitate an in-depth exploration from multiple perspectives. We interviewed Ontario child welfare decision makers to measure utilization of the CIS in policy development. Results The majority of respondents were aware of the CIS data. Decision makers reported using these data to determine resource allocation, understand reported maltreatment trends and validate findings at their own agencies. Urban agencies used the data more than did rural agencies. Conclusion This study is the first to triangulate data to understand and improve utilization of child maltreatment surveillance data. The study participants indicated considerable appreciation of the data and also provided ideas for improvements across the surveillance cycle.

Child Welfare Responses Linked to Subtypes of Exposure to Intimate Partner Violence: Evidence From the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect

2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (13-14) ◽  
pp. 2607-2623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Gonzalez ◽  
Harriet MacMillan ◽  
Masako Tanaka ◽  
Susan M. Jack ◽  
Lil Tonmyr
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Child Abuse ◽  
Child Welfare ◽  
Incidence Study ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Child Abuse And Neglect ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Welfare Services ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Abuse And Neglect

Children exposed to intimate partner violence (CE-IPV) are at increased risk for later health and social difficulties. To date, studies have primarily focused on CE-IPV as a unitary construct; this may lead to the mistaken assumption that all subtypes of CE-IPV (i.e., exposure to direct or indirect physical abuse, or exposure to emotional abuse) are equally harmful requiring similar responses from child welfare services. The purpose of this study was to examine child welfare responses by CE-IPV subtype in a large Canadian child welfare sample. Using data from the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect–2008 ( N = 2,184), we examined child welfare responses to CE-IPV subtypes or their co-occurrence. Information was obtained from child welfare workers’ reports. Cases with co-occurring subtypes of CE-IPV were more likely to be substantiated and involved multiple incidents compared with that with single CE-IPV subtypes. Cases with direct physical CE-IPV and co-occurring CE-IPV were also more likely to remain open and have an application considered or made to child welfare court. Exposure to emotional IPV was the least likely to warrant interventions by welfare services, including referrals to specialized services. These results suggest that within CE-IPV subtypes, there is evidence of different responses (recommendations and services) once a case has been opened by a worker. Future research is needed to examine the effectiveness of the responses and outcomes for children following child welfare interventions.

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