The Effects of Socioeconomic Vulnerability, Psychosocial Services, and Social Service Spending on Family Reunification: A Multilevel Longitudinal Analysis

The effect of working tax credits on child maltreatment rates: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Socioeconomic status and poverty are strongly associated with Child Maltreatment. Multiple studies have described the effects of working tax credits on Child Maltreatment with heterogeneous results. There is yet to be a comprehensive review of this research.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to review all research which explores the effect of working tax credits on child maltreatment.

METHODS

Three databases (Ovid Medline, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched. Title and abstracts were screened according to a set of eligibility criteria. Data were extracted from eligible studies, and risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-randomized Studies of Interventions tool. Results were synthesised narratively.

RESULTS

Nine studies were included. Of these, five papers investigated overall reports of child maltreatment, with three finding a positive effect of tax credits. Results suggested a protective effect against child neglect, however, no significant effect was found with respect to physical or emotional abuse. Three of four papers found that working tax credits resulted in decreased rates of entry to foster care. Mixed results were found with respect to self-reported child protective services contact. A range of methodological and temporal differences between studies was identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, some evidence found that in work tax credits are protective against child maltreatment and that they are most effective in reducing neglect. Policymakers can take courage in these results, as they represent an example whereby the "risk factors" of child maltreatment can be countered in order to reduce rates of it.

Association between child welfare reporting rates and the developmental vulnerability of kindergarten children at the neighborhood level

BACKGROUND

In Canada, more than one in four children are considered vulnerable in at least one domain of development when they enter kindergarten. Recent studies have suggested that this ratio is higher among those who were previously maltreated. However, little is known about this associations at the neighborhood level, although it may be an interesting way to identify risk areas and highlight child welfare system data to prevent public health issues.

OBJECTIVE

Using the census tract as the unit of measurement, this study examines the association between the proportions of vulnerable children in different domains of development upon entering kindergarten, and four indicators of child maltreatment (CM) among 0-5 year olds.

PARTICIPANTS, SETTING AND METHOD

This study is based on the secondary use of data from a survey on the development of kindergartners carried out in 2017, combined with data from child welfare records for that same year. The data have been aggregated on the basis of 759 census tracts located in four health regions of Quebec, Canada.

RESULTS

The results of spatial regression analyses show that all indicators of maltreatment are positively and significantly associated with each indicator of developmental vulnerability. The size of these associations varies according to the indicators used (β = 0.192, p < .05 to β = 1.587, p < .001).

CONCLUSION

The results highlight the link between CM and school readiness, including potential externalities on neighborhood children. Neighborhoods at high risk of maltreatment could help identify areas with high rate of vulnerable children in early childhood.

Predictive model for intra-familial child maltreatment re-reports and recurrence in South Korea: Analysis of national child protection services case records

BACKGROUND

Child maltreatment recurrence has a significant negative impact on child well-being and may indicate low effectiveness of child protection services (CPS). In South Korea, 10.4% of child maltreatment cases in 2016 had previous CPS involvement. Identifying and understanding significant predictors of child maltreatment re-reports and recurrence has been a critical task in maltreatment research. However, this task has rarely been attempted in South Korea.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to examine child maltreatment re-reports and recurrence among children involved in CPS in Korea, identify correlates of child maltreatment re-reports and recurrence with predictors, and explore the consistency or inconsistency of correlates between re-reports and recurrence.

METHODS

The present study analyzed 5349 case records from the National Child Maltreatment Data System, which included information collected by Korean CPS regarding maltreatment, child, parent or perpetrator, and service characteristics.

RESULTS

Results showed that the recurrence rate was 5.9% over the two-year period. In contrast to previous studies, neglect was not found to be a significant predictor of recurrence. Perpetrators' problem-solving skills and survival stress, as well as children's disability status, were significant predictors of recurrence. Receiving welfare assistance was a significant predictor of re-reports (AOL = 1.42, p < 0.01) but not a significant predictor of recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Compared to other empirical studies conducted in several countries, we found similarities and differences regarding predictors of child maltreatment re-reports and recurrences. The results reiterate the importance of family intervention to prevent maltreatment recurrence.

Considering Health Literacy, Health Decision Making, and Health Communication in the Social Networks of Vulnerable New Mothers in Hawai'i: A Pilot Feasibility Study

Health literacy is understudied in the context of social networks. Our pilot study goal was to consider this research gap among vulnerable, low-income mothers of minority ethnic background in the state of Hawai'i, USA. Recruitment followed a modified snowball sampling approach. First, we identified and interviewed seven mothers ("egos") in a state-sponsored home visiting program. We then sought to interview individuals whom each mother said was part of her health decision-making network ("first-level alters") and all individuals whom the first-level alters said were part of their health decision-making networks ("second-level alters"). Health literacy was self-reported using a validated item. A total of 18 people were interviewed, including all mothers (n = 7), 35% of the first-level alters (n = 7/20), and 36% of the second-level alters (n = 4/11). On average, the mothers made health decisions with 2.9 people (range: 1-6); partners/spouses and mothers/mothers-in-law were most common. One mother had low health literacy; her two first-level alters also had low health literacy. Across the full sample, the average number of people in individuals' health decision networks was 2.5 (range: 0-7); 39% of those interviewed had low health literacy. This can inform the design of future studies and successful interventions to improve health literacy.