This study examines the incidence of substantiated maltreatment among children with cognitive, physical, emotional or learning disabilities, with specific attention given to the relationship between maltreatment and disabilities. It also investigates the incidence of child abuse and neglect among children in substance abusing families, and the relationship between child abuse and familial substance abuse. The data were collected from a nationally representative group of 35 Child Protective Services (CPS) agencies, which were asked to provide information on all cases of substantiated maltreatment over a four to six week period in early 1991. The Archive distributes 5 data files for this study which provide information on a total of 1,249 substantiated maltreatment incidents. A case-level data file includes demographic information on the children and adults involved in each case, information on the timing, type, and reporting of maltreatment, data on the relationships between the individuals involved in each case, and case status. A second file contains caseworker assessments of children with suspected or known disabilities, as well as information on the sources and reliability of those assessments. An estimated 14.1 percent of the children in the study were identified by caseworkers as having one or more disabilities, using the definition found in the Americans with Disabilities Act (P.L. 101-336). A third data file contains substance abuse information for each adult in the study suspected of substance abuse. In addition to the three files mentioned above there are two files the which the Archive distributes which are restructured versions of the case-level file, in which the unit of analysis has been changed to represent an individual involved in a case. Investigators: Ratnofsky, A., & Crosse, S.

The purpose of this review was to assess the available research evidence on the effects of early family/parent training on child behavior problems including antisocial behavior and delinquency and to investigate in which settings and under what conditions it is most effective. Researchers used the following 7 search strategies to identify 55 studies meeting the inclusion criteria for this review: performed a keyword search on an array of online abstact databases; reviewed the bibliographies of previous reviews of early family/parent training programs; performed forward searches for works that have cited seminal studies in this area; performed hand searches of leading journals in the field; searched the publications of several research and professional agencies; contacted scholars in various disciplines who were knowledgeable in the specific area of early family/parent training; and consulted with an information specialists at the outset of the review and at points along the way in order to ensure that the appropriate search strategies were used. Both published and unpublished reports were considered in the searches. Searches were international in scope. All eligible studies were coded on a variety of criteria including: reference information, nature and description of selection of sample, outcomes, etc., nature and description of control group, methodological type, a description of the family/parent intervention, reports of statistical significance (if any), effect size/power (if any), and the conclusions drawn by the authors.

The ‘Predicting And Preventing Child Neglect In Teen Mothers’ project was designed to assess the impact of varying degrees and types of neglect and poor parenting on children’s development during the first 3 years of life, including changes in intelligence and behavior, language, social and emotional well-being, physical growth, and health status. This study included a broad array of assessments related to the construct of childhood neglect, and can be used to test the developmental associations among parenting characteristics, parenting behaviors and attitudes, and child development in multiple domains. Six hundred and eighty-two expectant mothers were recruited during pregnancy through primary care facilities in the communities of Birmingham, AL, Kansas City, KS, South Bend, IN, and Washington, D.C. Three different groups of first-time mothers were included in the sample: adolescents (n=396), low-ed adults (less than 2 years formal education beyond high school; n=169), and hi-ed adults (at least 2 years of formal education; n=117). The mothers’ ages at child birth ranged from 14.68 to 36.28, with an average of 17.49 for the adolescents, 25.48 for the low-ed adults, and 27.88 for the hi-ed adults. Approximately 65% of the sample were African-American, 19% were White/Non-Hispanic, 15% were Hispanic, 1% were multi-racial, and .5% were of an other race. The adolescent and low-ed adult samples were closely matched on race/ethnicity. Mothers were interviewed in their last trimester of pregnancy as well as when their children were 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36-months old. Interviews at the prenatal, 6, 12, 24, and 36-month visits primarily focused on risks for poor parenting, such as maternal depression (Beck II), parenting stress (Parenting Stress Index – Short Form), and lack of social support; parenting beliefs and practices; as well as other demographic information. The 4, 8, 18, and 30-month visits occurred in the home and included both interviews and observations of parenting practices (Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment, Supplement to the HOME for Impoverished Families, and Landry Naturalistic Observation). After each of the home visits, mothers were given a cellular phone and interviewed multiple times concerning their daily parenting practices (Parent-Child Activities Interview). At the 12, 24, and 36-months visits, the children were also tested for intellectual (Bayley II) and language abilities (Pre-School Language Scales – IV), rated on their behavior by both their mother (Infant Toddler Social and Emotional Assessment) and child tester (Bayely Behavioral Rating Scale II), and their height and weight were measured. Upon completing each assessment after the child’s birth, the interviewers also rated the child’s environment for risks of physical neglect. This study represents one of the first-ever prospective broad-based, multi-site investigations of child neglect among a diverse sample of adolescent mothers and will help to establish a foundation for future preventive interventions to reduce the incidence and impact of neglect and abuse on child development. This data set provides a broad range of risk and protective factors to better map the multiple and fluctuating social ecologies and life circumstances of teen mothers and their young children. This dataset contains data from pre-natal to 36-months. Please note: attachment codes, Parent-Child Activity interviews, short cell phone interviews are NOT included in this data collection. Investigators: John G. BorkowskiUniversity of Notre Dame Notre Dame, INJudy CartaUniversity of Kansas Kansas City, KSSteven F. WarrenUniversity of Kansas Lawrence, KSSharon L. RameyGeorgetown University NW Washington, DCCraig RameyGeorgetown University NW Washington, DCKristi GuestUniversity of Alabama - Birmingham Birmingham, ALBette KeltnerGeorgetown University NW Washington, DCRobin G. LanziGeorgetown University NW Washington, DCLorraine KlermanBrandeis University Wa

This longitudinal study of 1,206 families assembled during a 4-year NCCAN-funded research project focuses on recurrences of child maltreatment among families known to public Child Protective Services (CPS). Objectives are to (1) describe recurrence of types, severity, rates, distributions, and frequency of maltreatment over five years; (2) replicate and extend knowledge about predicting recurrence risk after an index incident; (3) initiate development of models to predict recurrence risk after termination of CPS services; and (4) determine (a) whether variables that discriminate between maltreating and non-maltreating families are correlates of recurrent maltreatment and (b) whether hypotheses from models formulated to explain why some parents maltreat also explain recurrences. Products will include risk assessment models. Investigators: DePanfilis, Diane

This pilot study was conducted in an attempt to better understand the jailed population in terms of the number of families at risk and the relationship between parental substance use and incarceration and its impact on the children of the incarcerated. The aim of the study was to describe the jailed population, their needs in relation to substance abuse and parenting issues, to explore children's risk factors resulting from having a parent with substance abuse and/or criminal justice involvement, and ultimately to offer a point of intervention for parents and children at risk. Participants included 229 men and 52 women aged 18 and older, who were in their first 48 hours of incarceration in the Santa Clara County Department of Corrections in August 2003 and who where voluntary participants in the National Institute of Justice's (NIJ) Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) Program (ARRESTEE DRUG ABUSE MONITORING (ADAM) PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES, 2003 [ICPSR 4020]). Male subjects were chosen through a random selection process, while female participants were taken from a convenience sample. The pilot study used a questionnaire completed as an addendum to the ADAM program main interview. Major types of variables included in this study are type and duration of alcohol/drug use, family history of incarceration, number and ages of children for whom the respondent was the primary caregiver, social consequences for the child due to the incarceration of the respondent, and if the child had any problems with drugs and/or alcohol.

"Child Neglect: Cross Sector Service Paths & Outcomes" was the first phase of a project that is part of a competitive renewal (scheduled to end in 2008). Using administrative data drawn from education, health, juvenile corrections and social service agencies, this study compared cross sector service paths and outcomes of children in families receiving AFDC and reported to child welfare agencies (1993-1994) compared to a group of children matched by birth year and county of residence in families receiving AFDC, but not reported to child welfare agencies. Children were born 1982 through 1994 and were all under the age of 12 at the study onset. The total number of children in the sample is 10,187. Of the total sample, 5,087 of the children were in the Maltreatment/AFDC group and 5,100 children were in the AFDC Only group. The first phase study AIMS compared maltreated to non-maltreated children according to: (1) Cross-sector service use (sequence, frequency, co-occurrence & duration); (2) The relationship of service patterns to child and adolescent outcomes (e.g. mortality, foster care entry, entry into Special Education, etc.); (3) The association between certain caretaker level outcomes (e.g., permanent exit from AFDC) and child and adolescent outcomes. The AIMS were also examined according to type of maltreatment within the maltreated sample group. Key findings indicate that a report of maltreatment does contribute to the risk of special education entry, death, and entry into juvenile corrections above and beyond poverty. Overall, low-income children who also had maltreatment reports had higher rates of service use and negative outcomes across systems. The children in the maltreated group also entered more service systems on average than the low-income only group. A caretaker's permanent exit from a first spell on AFDC was associated with lower risk of certain negative outcomes like juvenile court petitions. This relationship was stronger for the low-income only group. In general, first reports of neglect, physical abuse or mixed type maltreatment were equally likely to result in later poor outcomes. However, children reported for neglect and mixed type(majority includes neglect) maltreatment were more likely to have recurrent reports of maltreatment and recurrent reports were associated with more negative outcomes. Investigators: Jonson-Reid, M., & Drake, B.

"Child Neglect: Cross Sector Service Paths & Outcomes" was the first phase of a project that is part of a competitive renewal (scheduled to end in 2008). Using administrative data drawn from education, health, juvenile corrections and social service agencies, this study compared cross sector service paths and outcomes of children in families receiving AFDC and reported to child welfare agencies (1993-1994) compared to a group of children matched by birth year and county of residence in families receiving AFDC, but not reported to child welfare agencies. Children were born 1982 through 1994 and were all under the age of 12 at the study onset. The total number of children in the sample is 10,187. Of the total sample, 5,087 of the children were in the Maltreatment/AFDC group and 5,100 children were in the AFDC Only group. The first phase study AIMS compared maltreated to non-maltreated children according to: (1) Cross-sector service use (sequence, frequency, co-occurrence & duration); (2) The relationship of service patterns to child and adolescent outcomes (e.g. mortality, foster care entry, entry into Special Education, etc.); (3) The association between certain caretaker level outcomes (e.g., permanent exit from AFDC) and child and adolescent outcomes. The AIMS were also examined according to type of maltreatment within the maltreated sample group. Key findings indicate that a report of maltreatment does contribute to the risk of special education entry, death, and entry into juvenile corrections above and beyond poverty. Overall, low-income children who also had maltreatment reports had higher rates of service use and negative outcomes across systems. The children in the maltreated group also entered more service systems on average than the low-income only group. A caretaker's permanent exit from a first spell on AFDC was associated with lower risk of certain negative outcomes like juvenile court petitions. This relationship was stronger for the low-income only group. In general, first reports of neglect, physical abuse or mixed type maltreatment were equally likely to result in later poor outcomes. However, children reported for neglect and mixed type(majority includes neglect) maltreatment were more likely to have recurrent reports of maltreatment and recurrent reports were associated with more negative outcomes. Investigators: Jonson-Reid, M., & Drake, B.

The investigator also looked at the effects of race, chronicity of neglect, and personality factors. Study participants were recruited from the Georgia Department of Family and Children's Services by caseworkers who found them to meet NIS-2 definitions of neglect, were verified as neglectful upon investigation, and had at least one child between the ages of 5 and 18 living at home. Similarly situated families who had not been reported for neglect or abuse were selected from those same counties for a matched control group. Data collection efforts involved: caseworker interviews, home administered questionnaires, home interviews of 103 neglect and 102 control families, in-home videotaped interactions of 92 neglect and 95 control families, and follow-up interviews in some cases. Investigators: Gaudin, J. M. & Polansky, N.A.

Two complementary research components--structured interviews with and ethnographic studies of parents--will address the two primary issues of this study. The factors being examined are (1) the ways in which neighborhood characteristics are related to parental behaviors that increase or decrease the risk of child maltreatment and (2) the ways in which parental perceptions of the neighborhood affect child maltreatment. Neighborhoods categorized as at high risk, medium risk, and low risk for child abuse and neglect reports are included in the study. Investigators: Korbin, Jill

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the beliefs and investigative practices of psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers who had been appointed by a court to evaluate families in disputed custody cases when there were allegations of domestic violence. The research team conducted a Case Review study (Part 1) and administered an Evaluator Survey to corresponding case evaluators (Part 2) between August 2007 and December 2009. The case review study was implemented through four private non-profit legal services agencies in New York City that provide free legal representation to domestic violence victims in civil proceedings including custody and visitation litigation. A total of 69 cases involving custody or visitation issues that were litigated and resolved between 1997 and 2007 were identified for inclusion in the study. The case review study involved the development of a Coding Scale for Custody Evaluations with Domestic Violence (DV) Allegations in order to rate the characteristics of the custody evaluations and the court outcomes. Raters coded each of the 69 cases in the case review sample with the Evaluation Coding Scale. The research team administered the Evaluator Survey (Part 2) to 14 custody evaluators who had completed evaluation reports for the cases in the Part 1 case review study.