Child Maltreatment最新文献

Autistic youth experience disproportionately high rates of child maltreatment and a wide range of other traumatic and stressful events, such as peer victimization. Very little empirical work has evaluated trauma-focused supports for Autistic youth, despite high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related symptoms. The current study is a pilot proof-of-concept evaluation of telehealth-based trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) for Autistic youth (N = 17, ages 10-17) and their caregivers. Youth PTSD symptoms significantly declined from the beginning to end of the program across youth self-report, caregiver report, and clinician interview, and effects were maintained at the 1-month follow-up with large effect sizes. Youth self-reported significant declines in anxiety. Caregivers reported significant improvements in all co-occurring youth mental health symptoms and some caregiver-level outcomes. Youth and caregivers rated the program and telehealth delivery favorably overall. Future larger-scale randomized evaluations of TF-CBT for Autistic youth are needed.

Research on sibling separation in foster care often focuses on cases where all siblings are removed. However, separation can also occur when only some children are placed in care, a scenario that is underexplored. This study investigates: the frequency of partial sibling placements; differences between placed and non-placed siblings, as well as split versus intact sibling groups; and the risk of re-report and future placement for non-placed children in split groups compared to those in intact groups. US child maltreatment report (CMR) and foster care caseload data are accessed from National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) and Adoption and Foster Care Reporting System (AFCARS). Sibling groups are assigned based on shared CMR in 2018. At least 27.4% of sibling groups, where at least one child is placed, are split. These groups have wide age ranges between children. Children in split groups left at home are at higher risk of placement than children in non-split groups.

This field study investigated the use and efficacy of main and cued invitations in eliciting forensically relevant information from a national sample of forensic interviews conducted with preschool-aged (2- to 6-year-old) alleged victims of abuse. Among 1065 invitations posed by the interviewers, 43 (4%) were classified as main invitations, while 1022 (96%) were identified as cued invitations. Both subtypes of invitations were equally effective in eliciting event-specific, forensically relevant information from the children. Nearly 70% of main invitations yielded forensically relevant information, compared to 83% for cued invitations. Interviewers typically presented only one invitation before resorting to other prompts, predominantly directive, option-posing, and suggestive questions. The effectiveness of invitations increased significantly when posed later in the interviews, suggesting a decline in children's productive responses as the interview progressed. This study highlights potential barriers to the effective use of invitations and discusses implications for developing tailored training programs for interviewers working with preschool-aged alleged victims.

Studies show the protective power of informal support networks for parents, however, most research in this area is not specific to the child welfare context. With a sample of parents with children involved with the U.S. child welfare system due to substantiated child maltreatment (N = 118), latent profile analyses revealed three distinct profiles of parents' informal support networks including perceived support, received support, and network demands. The profiles were associated with differences in sociodemographic risks, ACEs, and symptoms of depression and stress. Parents with four or more ACEs were more likely to be classified in the very little support profile versus the profile of parents with some support. Parents who had high levels of informal network support and a manageable level of network demands had lower levels of depression and stress compared to parents with very little network support. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

A history of child maltreatment (CM) can lead to poorer perinatal mental health and early parenting outcomes. New fathers who experienced CM may have unique needs that could be addressed with trauma-specific fatherhood programs. This sequential mixed-methods study compares the intervention desires of fathers with and without a history of CM, explores trauma-specific considerations for intervention development, and identifies barriers to participating in perinatal fatherhood programs. We surveyed 371 first-time fathers of young children (birth - 30 months) online. One third (33%, n = 123) had a history of CM, and we interviewed 15 of them. Participants desired basic parenting skills programs with optional trauma-specific add-ons. Trauma-specific topics included managing relationships, sleep, and emotions like low mood, anger, or irritability. Many lacked positive fathering role models and sought connections with other fathers who had experienced CM. Trauma-specific perinatal interventions could support fathers with a history of CM in interrupting the intergenerational transmission of trauma.

Child sexual abuse (CSA) in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings is sometimes perceived as rare or the subject of a "moral panic". Recent high-profile cases challenge this characterisation, exposing systemic failures within contemporary childcare environments that enable the sexual abuse of very young children. This article examines six prosecuted CSA cases from high-income countries involving serial offending against children under the age of five to explore how such severe abuse can persist despite regulation and apparent safeguards, and contrary to persistent scholarly claims that child sex offenders do not target ECEC settings. Using gendered organisational theory, our analysis reveals how organisational cultures, gendered power dynamics, and failures in accountability contribute to the occurrence and concealment of abuse. By situating these cases within broader patriarchal structural contexts, the article offers a critical rethinking of institutional responsibility and proposes reforms to strengthen child protection in ECEC settings.

Using administrative data from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) from 2017 to 2019, this study examined child welfare involvement among Asian American subgroups, addressing gaps in research through disaggregated data analysis. Findings revealed significant racial and ethnic disparities in child welfare outcomes, including differences in prior referrals, re-referrals, and case durations. While certain Asian subgroups-such as Chinese families-experienced shorter case durations, lower odds of prior referrals and recurrence compared to White families, others, including Filipino, Cambodian, Hmong, and Laotian families, showed limited or inconsistent differences from their White counterparts across these outcomes. These findings challenge the model minority stereotype, highlighting the diverse experiences of Asian American families in the child welfare system. Addressing these disparities requires disaggregated data collection and culturally responsive policies that improve service accessibility, ensure timely interventions, and better support the unique needs of Asian American subgroups.

Emotional neglect (EN) is severely underrepresented in child maltreatment research. The current study addressed this gap by estimating the prevalence and psychosocial consequences of EN in a sample of 1,926 low-income women who received home visiting services. Results indicated that 22% to 57% endured EN depending on the operational criteria, exceeding general population estimates. Rates of endorsement differed across racial/ethnic groups, underscoring the need to explore the extent to which prevalence varies along with sampling and measurement approaches. Regression analyses showed that EN was associated with mental health and relationship difficulties in adulthood, including higher depression, anxiety, and PTSD scores; lower levels of social support and relationship satisfaction; and an increased risk of intimate partner violence. Controlling for demographics and other adverse childhood experiences, EN was associated with small but robust effects on adult mental health and social relationships at two time points four years apart. Taken together, the findings confirm EN deserves greater attention from researchers and practitioners.

This study examined interviews with 53 4 to 15-year-old children recanting sexual abuse to determine whether they were forthcoming about potential influences and pressures that could have led them to recant. The great majority (87%) of children mentioned one or more influences or pressures. With respect to influences, about half of children mentioned their positive feelings for the suspect, and about a third mentioned negative consequences for the suspect. About 30% disclosed that their immediate family missed the suspect. About half mentioned concerns about separation from their family, and almost 30% discussed negative consequences for their mother. Pressures from others were mentioned by about half of children. They rarely mentioned pressures from the suspect, but over a third disclosed family pressures, most often the lack of maternal support. Over two-thirds of children described feeling guilty and other internal influences. The results provide preliminary support for questioning recanting children about influences and pressures.

The current study used survey methods to examine initial feasibility and acceptability of a real-world, trauma-informed schools initiative across 15 urban schools and 617 school personnel and classroom teachers. Key indicators included uptake of online asynchronous trauma-informed skills training (TISE) and usage of specific trauma-informed practices by classroom teachers. Approximately 83% of all school personnel completed TISE. Examination of implementation factors revealed organizational health was positively associated with TISE completion, while burnout negatively predicted training completion. Among the subsample of teachers, 76% percent of teachers reported implementing community-building circles, 95% implemented warm and intentional greetings, and 87% implemented mindfulness. For teachers, perceived utility of the practice positively predicted teachers' implementation of all three skills. Access to practice-focused training at their school predicted community circles implementation, and TISE knowledge predicted intentional greeting implementation. Study results highlight the role of organizational culture, practical support, and usable practices in scaling trauma-informed schools initiatives.