This study examines the educational experiences of children living in Charitable Children's Institutions (CCIs) in Kenya, within the context of national care reform. While institutional care is often framed as a protective response for orphaned and vulnerable children, in practice it often fills gaps left by inadequate education and other kinds of service provision in contexts with high levels of poverty.
Drawing on eleven semi-structured interviews with practitioners, policy actors, and care-experienced advocates, the research explores how key stakeholders perceive and respond to systemic challenges affecting children's access to and participation in education. Particular attention is given to barriers related to education costs, curriculum implementation, school inclusion, and safeguarding.
Findings show that institutional care can create new risks while failing to address the root causes of educational exclusion. Children in CCIs often face marginalisation in schools and experience stigma, violence, and disrupted learning. However, the study also identifies promising levers for change, including cross-sector partnerships, safeguarding training, and the potential for CCIs to transition into community-based support providers within the national care reform process.
The paper contributes to the emerging evidence on education in alternative care settings in low- and middle-income countries. It offers insights to inform policy and practice that aims to support inclusive services, enable family-based care, and reduce reliance on institutional care for children.
{"title":"Exploring the education experiences of children in alternative care in Kenya: Challenges and opportunities","authors":"Justin Rogers , Gidraph Wairire , Jen Dixon , Lizzi Milligan","doi":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100247","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100247","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines the educational experiences of children living in Charitable Children's Institutions (CCIs) in Kenya, within the context of national care reform. While institutional care is often framed as a protective response for orphaned and vulnerable children, in practice it often fills gaps left by inadequate education and other kinds of service provision in contexts with high levels of poverty.</div><div>Drawing on eleven semi-structured interviews with practitioners, policy actors, and care-experienced advocates, the research explores how key stakeholders perceive and respond to systemic challenges affecting children's access to and participation in education. Particular attention is given to barriers related to education costs, curriculum implementation, school inclusion, and safeguarding.</div><div>Findings show that institutional care can create new risks while failing to address the root causes of educational exclusion. Children in CCIs often face marginalisation in schools and experience stigma, violence, and disrupted learning. However, the study also identifies promising levers for change, including cross-sector partnerships, safeguarding training, and the potential for CCIs to transition into community-based support providers within the national care reform process.</div><div>The paper contributes to the emerging evidence on education in alternative care settings in low- and middle-income countries. It offers insights to inform policy and practice that aims to support inclusive services, enable family-based care, and reduce reliance on institutional care for children.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100237,"journal":{"name":"Child Protection and Practice","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100247"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145321235","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-04DOI: 10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100248
Jennifer Montgomery , Ema Tokolahi , Clive Aspin
New Zealand relies heavily on secure residential care compared to international standards. Young people in residential care experience disproportionately high rates of trauma and often present with complex mental health needs. Māori, the Indigenous people of New Zealand, represent over half of all young people in State care, reflecting enduring systemic inequities and the intergenerational impacts of colonization. This practice perspective examines the extent to which trauma-informed care is implemented in policies, models of care, and practice within State care and protection residences and supervised group homes in New Zealand. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we engaged with care-experienced youth (aged 18–25 years) and practice-experienced key informants to inform the study. We identified four themes: disconnection from identity, family, community, and culture; containment and punishment within care; disconnection to reconnection through safe and continuous relationships; and the transformational changes needed in the care system. There is little evidence that a trauma-informed model of care is being implemented in practice within State care settings. Exposure to State care residences created cumulative trauma for Māori youth, demonstrating the urgent need to implement a culturally safe trauma-informed model of care to meet the needs of youth in State care.
This study highlights the urgent need to implement a culturally safe, trauma-informed model of care that responds to the complex needs of youth in State care. It also identifies the need for a whole-of-government and community approach to transform the wider State care system.
{"title":"Culturally safe trauma-informed care for youth in residential care: Addressing systemic trauma in New Zealand","authors":"Jennifer Montgomery , Ema Tokolahi , Clive Aspin","doi":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100248","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100248","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>New Zealand relies heavily on secure residential care compared to international standards. Young people in residential care experience disproportionately high rates of trauma and often present with complex mental health needs. Māori, the Indigenous people of New Zealand, represent over half of all young people in State care, reflecting enduring systemic inequities and the intergenerational impacts of colonization. This practice perspective examines the extent to which trauma-informed care is implemented in policies, models of care, and practice within State care and protection residences and supervised group homes in New Zealand. Using a community-based participatory research approach, we engaged with care-experienced youth (aged 18–25 years) and practice-experienced key informants to inform the study. We identified four themes: disconnection from identity, family, community, and culture; containment and punishment within care; disconnection to reconnection through safe and continuous relationships; and the transformational changes needed in the care system. There is little evidence that a trauma-informed model of care is being implemented in practice within State care settings. Exposure to State care residences created cumulative trauma for Māori youth, demonstrating the urgent need to implement a culturally safe trauma-informed model of care to meet the needs of youth in State care.</div><div>This study highlights the urgent need to implement a culturally safe, trauma-informed model of care that responds to the complex needs of youth in State care. It also identifies the need for a whole-of-government and community approach to transform the wider State care system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100237,"journal":{"name":"Child Protection and Practice","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100248"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145268965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-03DOI: 10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100249
Camilla Armstrong Gjedde , Christina Klitbjerg-Nielsen
Background
Emotions play a crucial role in social work, yet they are often perceived as inappropriate. This perception creates confusion about how social workers’ emotions should be integrated into professional practice. Working in child protection (CP) is particularly emotionally complex. However, there is a lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding the emotions experienced by social workers in this specific field.
Objective
This article examines how the emotions of CP social workers influence their judgments and actions. It also discusses how these emotions can act as both a resource and a challenge within the framework of New Public Management.
Participants and setting
We focus on statutory CP social workers in Western countries.
Methods
The study is a systematic scoping review of literature published from the year 2000 onwards and identified through searches in PsychINFO, SocIndex, Academic Search Premier, Scopus, and Google Scholar. We include empirical, peer-reviewed articles that utilize qualitative methods.
Findings
The findings from 19 publications suggest that emotions, particularly negative ones like anger and anxiety, are prevalent in CP practice. Additionally, emotions play at least five distinct roles at various organizational levels: as a relationship builder, a motivating force, a guiding compass, a blind spot, and a burden.
Conclusion
To ensure quality in child protection, it is essential to cultivate emotionally intelligent workplace cultures that encourage reflection on emotions and their impact on practice. Training, continuing education, and emotion-focused supervision for social workers and managers—along with providing adequate time and space—is vital for supporting this development.
{"title":"Mapping the roles of social workers' emotions in child protection in Western Countries: A systematic scoping review","authors":"Camilla Armstrong Gjedde , Christina Klitbjerg-Nielsen","doi":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100249","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100249","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Emotions play a crucial role in social work, yet they are often perceived as inappropriate. This perception creates confusion about how social workers’ emotions should be integrated into professional practice. Working in child protection (CP) is particularly emotionally complex. However, there is a lack of comprehensive knowledge regarding the emotions experienced by social workers in this specific field.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This article examines how the emotions of CP social workers influence their judgments and actions. It also discusses how these emotions can act as both a resource and a challenge within the framework of New Public Management.</div></div><div><h3>Participants and setting</h3><div>We focus on statutory CP social workers in Western countries.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study is a systematic scoping review of literature published from the year 2000 onwards and identified through searches in PsychINFO, SocIndex, Academic Search Premier, Scopus, and Google Scholar. We include empirical, peer-reviewed articles that utilize qualitative methods.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>The findings from 19 publications suggest that emotions, particularly negative ones like anger and anxiety, are prevalent in CP practice. Additionally, emotions play at least five distinct roles at various organizational levels: as a relationship builder, a motivating force, a guiding compass, a blind spot, and a burden.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>To ensure quality in child protection, it is essential to cultivate emotionally intelligent workplace cultures that encourage reflection on emotions and their impact on practice. Training, continuing education, and emotion-focused supervision for social workers and managers—along with providing adequate time and space—is vital for supporting this development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100237,"journal":{"name":"Child Protection and Practice","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100249"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145321285","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Few recent studies in Zimbabwe focus on disclosure and reporting of violence against children. Qualitative studies grounded in children's experiences are particularly lacking. Understanding children's perspectives on why they choose to report violence or not, as well as adult perspectives, can encourage disclosure and ensure provision of services to children who experience violence.
Objective
We aimed to explore Zimbabwean primary-aged children's perspectives on factors affecting informal disclosure and formal reporting of school violence, and the barriers and enablers children face, alongside key perspectives from adults.
Participants
and Setting: This study took place among children aged 8–12, parents, teachers and other key stakeholders in two Catholic primary schools within Harare (n = 94).
Methods
Qualitative data was collected in May 2022. Our methods included focus group discussions, interviews, observations and round robin workshops. We analysed transcripts thematically using Nvivo.
Results
We find children are active agents in deciding about how, when and to whom they will informally disclose or formally report violence to, in some cases even choosing to protect those who receive disclosures. We find that not disclosing can also be an active choice. We also find there is heterogeneity in conceptualising disclosure and reporting, with children having different ideas about what merits reporting, and who violence should be reported to. The severity and frequency of violence may affect how they view certain types of violence being more worthy of reporting than others. Interestingly, boys’ views that girls enjoy certain abuses may also affect willingness to report or intervene.
Discussion
Our findings suggest the need for greater recognition of children's agency in deciding to report or not. More work should be done to understand and strengthen peer support, and train parents and others who receive disclosures. To increase disclosure, children's perceptions regarding which forms of violence warrant formal reporting should be challenged.
{"title":"Perspectives on factors affecting disclosure and reporting of school violence in Zimbabwe","authors":"Michelle Lokot , Salome Manyau , Emily Eldred , Dorcas Mgugu , Annah Theresa Nyadombo , Robert Nyakuwa , Tendai Nhenga , Charles Nherera Muchemwa , Progress R. Nangati , Karen Devries","doi":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100246","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100246","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Few recent studies in Zimbabwe focus on disclosure and reporting of violence against children. Qualitative studies grounded in children's experiences are particularly lacking. Understanding children's perspectives on why they choose to report violence or not, as well as adult perspectives, can encourage disclosure and ensure provision of services to children who experience violence.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>We aimed to explore Zimbabwean primary-aged children's perspectives on factors affecting informal disclosure and formal reporting of school violence, and the barriers and enablers children face, alongside key perspectives from adults.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div>and Setting: This study took place among children aged 8–12, parents, teachers and other key stakeholders in two Catholic primary schools within Harare (n = 94).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Qualitative data was collected in May 2022. Our methods included focus group discussions, interviews, observations and round robin workshops. We analysed transcripts thematically using Nvivo.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We find children are active agents in deciding about how, when and to whom they will informally disclose or formally report violence to, in some cases even choosing to protect those who receive disclosures. We find that not disclosing can also be an active choice. We also find there is heterogeneity in conceptualising disclosure and reporting, with children having different ideas about what merits reporting, and who violence should be reported to. The severity and frequency of violence may affect how they view certain types of violence being more worthy of reporting than others. Interestingly, boys’ views that girls enjoy certain abuses may also affect willingness to report or intervene.</div></div><div><h3>Discussion</h3><div>Our findings suggest the need for greater recognition of children's agency in deciding to report or not. More work should be done to understand and strengthen peer support, and train parents and others who receive disclosures. To increase disclosure, children's perceptions regarding which forms of violence warrant formal reporting should be challenged.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100237,"journal":{"name":"Child Protection and Practice","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100246"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145220911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-10-01DOI: 10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100245
Lennart Bayer, Maike Cigelski, Justine Eilfgang, Frieda Mensing, Harriet Sewald, Isabelle von Seeler, Simone Pülschen
Background
School professionals can play an important role in ensuring child protection and conducting child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention in schools. These efforts are currently pushed forward.
Objective
It is necessary to determine the preparedness of school professionals for these tasks to address educational needs specifically. Therefore, this study aims at collection self-assessment and external assessment of the needs from school professionals in regards to child protection and CSA prevention.
Participants
and Setting: Semi-structured expert interviews were conducted with N = 50 professionals from schools, child protection and law enforcement. Professionals from school were chosen because of their expertise in the school setting. Including child protection and law enforcement professionals in the study was deemed necessary due to the limited expertise in CSA shown by school professionals.
Methods
The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis to identify common themes and differences in the perceptions of educational needs of school professionals for themselves and in comparison to professionals who deal with CSA more frequently.
Results
All interviewees see responsibility for child protection with school professionals and state that more training about child protection is necessary. Most professionals view schools as an optimal place to conduct CSA prevention and underscore the need to train school professionals to conduct CSA prevention.
Conclusions
Our study gives detailed insights in the self-assessment and external assessment of school professionals in regards to their knowledge about CSA prevention and child protection. The expressed educational needs should be used to develop tailored training programs to prepare school professionals to implement CSA prevention and child protection in schools.
{"title":"Child protection and child sexual abuse prevention in schools: Self-assessment and external assessment of school professionals’ educational needs","authors":"Lennart Bayer, Maike Cigelski, Justine Eilfgang, Frieda Mensing, Harriet Sewald, Isabelle von Seeler, Simone Pülschen","doi":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100245","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100245","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>School professionals can play an important role in ensuring child protection and conducting child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention in schools. These efforts are currently pushed forward.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>It is necessary to determine the preparedness of school professionals for these tasks to address educational needs specifically. Therefore, this study aims at collection self-assessment and external assessment of the needs from school professionals in regards to child protection and CSA prevention.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div>and Setting: Semi-structured expert interviews were conducted with N = 50 professionals from schools, child protection and law enforcement. Professionals from school were chosen because of their expertise in the school setting. Including child protection and law enforcement professionals in the study was deemed necessary due to the limited expertise in CSA shown by school professionals.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis to identify common themes and differences in the perceptions of educational needs of school professionals for themselves and in comparison to professionals who deal with CSA more frequently.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>All interviewees see responsibility for child protection with school professionals and state that more training about child protection is necessary. Most professionals view schools as an optimal place to conduct CSA prevention and underscore the need to train school professionals to conduct CSA prevention.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our study gives detailed insights in the self-assessment and external assessment of school professionals in regards to their knowledge about CSA prevention and child protection. The expressed educational needs should be used to develop tailored training programs to prepare school professionals to implement CSA prevention and child protection in schools.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100237,"journal":{"name":"Child Protection and Practice","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100245"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145220912","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-24DOI: 10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100243
Stephen Okumu Ombere
Background
Child abuse is a global menace. Violence against children is a serious and pervasive public health, development, and human rights issue affecting an estimated one billion children aged 2–17 each year. Studies usually focus on single forms of violence and one single type of location or perpetrator. Although there exists empirical work addressing the consequences and impact of specific forms of childhood victimization (such as physical, sexual, or emotional abuse), researchers increasingly recognize the prevalence of polyvictimization or exposure to multiple types of victimization. However, there is paucity of information on local descriptions and perspectives of polyvictimization especially in hard-to-reach areas such as the islands.
Objective
This study explored the local perspectives of polyvictimization based on local narratives of untold stories. Some narratives appeared normal to the locals, though they formed part of polyvictimization.
Participants
and setting: The study was conducted in Mageta Island, western Kenya. Participants were key community gatekeepers selected purposively. They included: one chief, three community health promoters, two police officers, and four beach leaders on the island.
Methods
The study was qualitative in nature and adopted a cross-sectional design. In-depth interviews and informal conversations were utilized to capture the narratives.
Results
Through the gatekeepers' narratives, this study shows that there exists polyvictimization on the Island. In the Island, polyvictimization is presented in various forms: it is unknowingly committed by the perpetrators, there exists transgenerationality of violence, where when children are abused, and they tend to carry the behaviour to adulthood. Polyvictimization is also presented through the socio-economic determinants of violence. Narratives of engaging children in economic activities such as fishing and other forms of child labour were mentioned as some of the determinants. Additionally, figures of child violence and lack of disclosure also emerged as narratives for polyvictimization on the Island.
Conclusion
Multiple child abuse cases are still rampant in Mageta Island. Some of the abuses are due to a lack of knowledge of the repercussions of such abuse on children. Though there has been local sensitization through the office of the chief, there is a need for more grassroots sensitization through the community gatekeepers and other actors interested in children's rights. Such sensitizations should target parents and guardians to minimize more cases of polyvictimization on the island. Moreover, a multi-agency approach could be appropriate in sensitizing the communities on the island.
{"title":"A qualitative study exploring the untold local narratives: Gatekeepers’ perspectives on child polyvictimization in Mageta island of western Kenya","authors":"Stephen Okumu Ombere","doi":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100243","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100243","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Child abuse is a global menace. Violence against children is a serious and pervasive public health, development, and human rights issue affecting an estimated one billion children aged 2–17 each year. Studies usually focus on single forms of violence and one single type of location or perpetrator. Although there exists empirical work addressing the consequences and impact of specific forms of childhood victimization (such as physical, sexual, or emotional abuse), researchers increasingly recognize the prevalence of polyvictimization or exposure to multiple types of victimization. However, there is paucity of information on local descriptions and perspectives of polyvictimization especially in hard-to-reach areas such as the islands.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study explored the local perspectives of polyvictimization based on local narratives of untold stories. Some narratives appeared normal to the locals, though they formed part of polyvictimization.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div><em>and setting</em>: The study was conducted in Mageta Island, western Kenya. Participants were key community gatekeepers selected purposively. They included: one chief, three community health promoters, two police officers, and four beach leaders on the island.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study was qualitative in nature and adopted a cross-sectional design. In-depth interviews and informal conversations were utilized to capture the narratives.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Through the gatekeepers' narratives, this study shows that there exists polyvictimization on the Island. In the Island, polyvictimization is presented in various forms: it is unknowingly committed by the perpetrators, there exists transgenerationality of violence, where when children are abused, and they tend to carry the behaviour to adulthood. Polyvictimization is also presented through the socio-economic determinants of violence. Narratives of engaging children in economic activities such as fishing and other forms of child labour were mentioned as some of the determinants. Additionally, figures of child violence and lack of disclosure also emerged as narratives for polyvictimization on the Island.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Multiple child abuse cases are still rampant in Mageta Island. Some of the abuses are due to a lack of knowledge of the repercussions of such abuse on children. Though there has been local sensitization through the office of the chief, there is a need for more grassroots sensitization through the community gatekeepers and other actors interested in children's rights. Such sensitizations should target parents and guardians to minimize more cases of polyvictimization on the island. Moreover, a multi-agency approach could be appropriate in sensitizing the communities on the island.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100237,"journal":{"name":"Child Protection and Practice","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100243"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145268964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-22DOI: 10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100244
Theresa M. Petrenchik
Background
Early maltreatment negatively impacts interoceptive awareness (IA), the attention to internal states and bodily sensations in daily life. Body trust, the belief that one can rely on internal bodily sensations as safe and accurate cues for needs, emotions, and states of arousal, is especially compromised. Although this has significant implications for for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and treatment limited research has examined IA in clinical samples of maltreated youth.
Objective
The purpose of this study was to examine age and sex related differences in interoceptive awareness in a clinical sample of youth receiving treatment for complex trauma. A second aim was to examine the relationship between substantiated child sexual abuse (CSA) and body trust.
Participants and setting
Data are from a clinical sample of 131 maltreated youth (ages 7–17) receiving therapeutic services for abuse and neglect. Mean age of 12 years, with 54 % female and 80 % in adoptive or guardian care.
Methods
The study involved a secondary analysis of Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness-Youth (MAIA-Y) cross-sectional data. Two-way ANOVAs examined main and interaction effects for age and sex on five MAIA-Y scales. Linear regression analyzed the relationship between CSA and body trust.
Results
Attention Regulation (p = .03, η2p = .04) was significantly higher in the older age group (11–17). Significant age by sex interactions emerged for Attention Regulation (p = .025, η2p = .04), Self-Regulation (p = .02, η2p = .04), and Trusting (p < .001, η2p = .11). Adolescent females (11–17) scored significantly lower than males and younger females on all three measures. CSA uniquely explained a proportion of low body trust scores (p = .005, R2 = .07).
Conclusions
Adolescent females with early maltreatment demonstrate unique vulnerabilities in self-regulatory aspects of interoceptive awareness. These findings underscore the need for developmentally sensitive, gender-specific interventions that prioritize restoration of body trust and self-regulatory aspects of interoceptive awareness in trauma treatment.
{"title":"Early maltreatment and interoceptive awareness in youth: Associations among age, sex and child sexual abuse","authors":"Theresa M. Petrenchik","doi":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100244","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100244","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Early maltreatment negatively impacts interoceptive awareness (IA), the attention to internal states and bodily sensations in daily life. Body trust, the belief that one can rely on internal bodily sensations as safe and accurate cues for needs, emotions, and states of arousal, is especially compromised. Although this has significant implications for for emotional regulation, self-awareness, and treatment limited research has examined IA in clinical samples of maltreated youth.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The purpose of this study was to examine age and sex related differences in interoceptive awareness in a clinical sample of youth receiving treatment for complex trauma. A second aim was to examine the relationship between substantiated child sexual abuse (CSA) and body trust.</div></div><div><h3>Participants and setting</h3><div>Data are from a clinical sample of 131 maltreated youth (ages 7–17) receiving therapeutic services for abuse and neglect. Mean age of 12 years, with 54 % female and 80 % in adoptive or guardian care.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study involved a secondary analysis of Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness-Youth (MAIA-Y) cross-sectional data. Two-way ANOVAs examined main and interaction effects for age and sex on five MAIA-Y scales. Linear regression analyzed the relationship between CSA and body trust.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Attention Regulation (p = .03, η<sup>2</sup>p = .04) was significantly higher in the older age group (11–17). Significant age by sex interactions emerged for Attention Regulation (p = .025, η<sup>2</sup>p = .04), Self-Regulation (p = .02, η<sup>2</sup>p = .04), and Trusting (p < .001, η<sup>2</sup>p = .11). Adolescent females (11–17) scored significantly lower than males and younger females on all three measures. CSA uniquely explained a proportion of low body trust scores (p = .005, R<sup>2</sup> = .07).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Adolescent females with early maltreatment demonstrate unique vulnerabilities in self-regulatory aspects of interoceptive awareness. These findings underscore the need for developmentally sensitive, gender-specific interventions that prioritize restoration of body trust and self-regulatory aspects of interoceptive awareness in trauma treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100237,"journal":{"name":"Child Protection and Practice","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100244"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-19DOI: 10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100242
Patrick Hewes , Varun Manohara , Christian Brown , Bridgette Maryman , Kenneth W. Feldman
Background
About half bruised pre-mobile infants have concurrent, often occult abuse. Others had legitimate accidents, birth injuries, bleeding disorders, and/or abuse without additional abuse findings or incomplete evaluations.
Washington State's recent legal and judicial changes cause fewer infants to be determined abused, and those to not be consistently protected. State law requires “Imminent danger” for protection, yet no literature documents subsequent abuse rates. Our goal was to determine how often subsequent abuse occurs.
Participants and setting
Since 2016, emergency department (ED) triage nurses screened children less than 4-years-old for high-risk bruising. Since 2018, our electric record included a pop-up for positive nurse screens, requiring physicians to confirm bruising and its evaluation.
Methods
We reviewed positive screens for less than 6-month-olds between 12/30/2018-12/30/2021. Hospital records were reviewed for initial evaluations and subsequent abuse. The County Prosecutor's Office reviewed subsequent felony referrals.
Findings
Of 100 positive nurse screens, 40 had physician confirmed bruising. Ten (25.0 %) were confirmed accidents, 3 (7.5 %) birth related, 3 (7.5 %) bleeding disorders, 20 (50.0 %) abuse, and 4 (20.0 %) unknown. Seventy-nine percent of abused and unknown infants were discharged with protection. Before 2-years-old, two (5.0 %) children (1 abused, 1 unknown) had subsequent abuse.
Conclusion
Only 0.14 % of ED infants less than 6-months-old had bruises. ED evaluations found abuse in half. Lack of Protective Services records precluded knowing how many children remained with or were returned to caretakers or had subsequent referrals. Subsequent abuse was infrequent, but clinically important for future risk.
{"title":"How often do bruised pre-mobile infants subsequently sustain abuse?","authors":"Patrick Hewes , Varun Manohara , Christian Brown , Bridgette Maryman , Kenneth W. Feldman","doi":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100242","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100242","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>About half bruised pre-mobile infants have concurrent, often occult abuse. Others had legitimate accidents, birth injuries, bleeding disorders, and/or abuse without additional abuse findings or incomplete evaluations.</div><div>Washington State's recent legal and judicial changes cause fewer infants to be determined abused, and those to not be consistently protected. State law requires “Imminent danger” for protection, yet no literature documents subsequent abuse rates. Our goal was to determine how often subsequent abuse occurs.</div></div><div><h3>Participants and setting</h3><div>Since 2016, emergency department (ED) triage nurses screened children less than 4-years-old for high-risk bruising. Since 2018, our electric record included a pop-up for positive nurse screens, requiring physicians to confirm bruising and its evaluation.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We reviewed positive screens for less than 6-month-olds between 12/30/2018-12/30/2021. Hospital records were reviewed for initial evaluations and subsequent abuse. The County Prosecutor's Office reviewed subsequent felony referrals.</div></div><div><h3>Findings</h3><div>Of 100 positive nurse screens, 40 had physician confirmed bruising. Ten (25.0 %) were confirmed accidents, 3 (7.5 %) birth related, 3 (7.5 %) bleeding disorders, 20 (50.0 %) abuse, and 4 (20.0 %) unknown. Seventy-nine percent of abused and unknown infants were discharged with protection. Before 2-years-old, two (5.0 %) children (1 abused, 1 unknown) had subsequent abuse.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Only 0.14 % of ED infants less than 6-months-old had bruises. ED evaluations found abuse in half. Lack of Protective Services records precluded knowing how many children remained with or were returned to caretakers or had subsequent referrals. Subsequent abuse was infrequent, but clinically important for future risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100237,"journal":{"name":"Child Protection and Practice","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100242"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145159273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-18DOI: 10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100232
Val Wood, Catherine Twinn , Connie Santos, Bob Lonne
Canada's 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission's findings concerning child welfare highlighted impacts resulting in Indigenous people's dispossession, trauma, separation, and relational upheavals through forced removals and lasting harm to children, families and communities. Canadian Provincial government legislation over child welfare authority dominates and these outcomes continue today through child apprehensions. In 2020 the Canadian Federal Government enacted Bill C-92 respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families; a legal framework intended to reduce the gross over-representation of Indigenous children in care. It affirms the inherent jurisdictional authority of Indigenous communities over their child and family matters. In 2024 following some Provincial Governments' legal challenges, the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously confirmed C-92 is constitutional in its entirety.
This article chronicles the efforts of a team of Indigenous Dene, provincially-delegated workers with extensive experience working within provincial child and family legislative frameworks. Within 15-months 47 children taken by Alberta Children's Services from their rural community were returned and re-connected to their families, kin and culture. Culturally-based practices such as inclusion of ceremonial practices, using circle processes to conduct meetings and problem solve and respecting the traditional authority of matriarchs within the Indigenous Dene kinship system were key strategies in resisting and challenging the status quo of provincial child welfare authorities. These actions can encourage other communities to transform current child welfare approaches by restoring and reclaiming their own laws and traditional practices which offer alternative, humane and culturally-connected ways to protect children, support healing and rebuild communities.
{"title":"“We stole her back too” - Acts of resistance and restoration when traditional governance and authority of child and family matters is reclaimed by the grandmothers of a First Nation community","authors":"Val Wood, Catherine Twinn , Connie Santos, Bob Lonne","doi":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100232","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100232","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Canada's 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission's findings concerning child welfare highlighted impacts resulting in Indigenous people's dispossession, trauma, separation, and relational upheavals through forced removals and lasting harm to children, families and communities. Canadian Provincial government legislation over child welfare authority dominates and these outcomes continue today through child apprehensions. In 2020 the Canadian Federal Government enacted Bill C-92 respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families; a legal framework intended to reduce the gross over-representation of Indigenous children in care. It affirms the inherent jurisdictional authority of Indigenous communities over their child and family matters. In 2024 following some Provincial Governments' legal challenges, the Supreme Court of Canada unanimously confirmed C-92 is constitutional in its entirety.</div><div>This article chronicles the efforts of a team of Indigenous Dene, provincially-delegated workers with extensive experience working within provincial child and family legislative frameworks. Within 15-months 47 children taken by Alberta Children's Services from their rural community were returned and re-connected to their families, kin and culture. Culturally-based practices such as inclusion of ceremonial practices, using circle processes to conduct meetings and problem solve and respecting the traditional authority of matriarchs within the Indigenous Dene kinship system were key strategies in resisting and challenging the status quo of provincial child welfare authorities. These actions can encourage other communities to transform current child welfare approaches by restoring and reclaiming their own laws and traditional practices which offer alternative, humane and culturally-connected ways to protect children, support healing and rebuild communities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100237,"journal":{"name":"Child Protection and Practice","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100232"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145220913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Advances in technology have influenced the provision of child welfare services in a variety of ways creating both new opportunities to improve services and new risks, including the risk of technology-facilitated violence (TFV) against workers.
Objective
This study aimed to: better understand the nature and impacts of TFV against child welfare workers; identify strategies employed by child welfare workers to minimize risk and manage the impacts of TFV; and explore how organizational responses may mitigate or exacerbate the impact of violence once it occurs.
Participants
Eleven child welfare workers from across Canada who worked in a variety of child welfare roles including intake and investigation, permanency planning, guardianship, and crisis intervention participated in interviews.
Methods
Using long-interview method of data collection, the researchers adopted a discovery-oriented qualitative design, employing the constructivist grounded theory method.
Results
Participants reported a variety of electronic means used to communicate with clients including email, social media platforms, direct messaging, and text messaging. While electronic means of communication provided opportunities for engagement both personally and professionally, it also carried the risk that abusive and threatening comments could be transmitted to workers in a new way. Results revealed an escalating progression of TFV. First, participants were subject to repeated abuse, harassment, and threats conveyed through email, text messages, and work-related social media. Next, abusive clients used information from online sources to contact workers through their personal social media, blurring the boundaries between their personal and professional lives. In addition, images and information about workers were shared on public and communal social media pages, inciting others to join in the abuse and harassment. Finally, the increased visibility of workers resulted in direct, in-person confrontations in the community not only by clients but also by members of the public. Participants indicated that organizations were insufficiently prepared to deal with TFV and as a result, workers were largely left to deal with TFV on their own.
Conclusion
As identified by participants in this study, there is an urgent need within child welfare for the development of policies and procedures related to TFV, training for workers on TFV prevention and mitigation strategies, and supports to mitigate the effects of TFV when it occurs.
{"title":"Technology-facilitated violence against child welfare workers: A qualitative analysis","authors":"Cheryl Regehr , Faye Mishna , Danielle Billard , Barbara Fallon , Jeffrey Schiffer , Rachael Lefebvre","doi":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100241","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.chipro.2025.100241","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Advances in technology have influenced the provision of child welfare services in a variety of ways creating both new opportunities to improve services and new risks, including the risk of technology-facilitated violence (TFV) against workers.</div></div><div><h3>Objective</h3><div>This study aimed to: better understand the nature and impacts of TFV against child welfare workers; identify strategies employed by child welfare workers to minimize risk and manage the impacts of TFV; and explore how organizational responses may mitigate or exacerbate the impact of violence once it occurs.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div>Eleven child welfare workers from across Canada who worked in a variety of child welfare roles including intake and investigation, permanency planning, guardianship, and crisis intervention participated in interviews.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Using long-interview method of data collection, the researchers adopted a discovery-oriented qualitative design, employing the constructivist grounded theory method.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Participants reported a variety of electronic means used to communicate with clients including email, social media platforms, direct messaging, and text messaging. While electronic means of communication provided opportunities for engagement both personally and professionally, it also carried the risk that abusive and threatening comments could be transmitted to workers in a new way. Results revealed an escalating progression of TFV. First, participants were subject to repeated abuse, harassment, and threats conveyed through email, text messages, and work-related social media. Next, abusive clients used information from online sources to contact workers through their personal social media, blurring the boundaries between their personal and professional lives. In addition, images and information about workers were shared on public and communal social media pages, inciting others to join in the abuse and harassment. Finally, the increased visibility of workers resulted in direct, in-person confrontations in the community not only by clients but also by members of the public. Participants indicated that organizations were insufficiently prepared to deal with TFV and as a result, workers were largely left to deal with TFV on their own.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>As identified by participants in this study, there is an urgent need within child welfare for the development of policies and procedures related to TFV, training for workers on TFV prevention and mitigation strategies, and supports to mitigate the effects of TFV when it occurs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100237,"journal":{"name":"Child Protection and Practice","volume":"7 ","pages":"Article 100241"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145107728","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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