Child maltreatment fatalities: Predicting rates and the efficacy of child welfare policy

TY - JOUR

T1 - Child maltreatment fatalities

T2 - Predicting rates and the efficacy of child welfare policy

AU - Douglas, Emily M.

AU - Mccarthy, Sean C.

PY - 2011/4

Y1 - 2011/4

N2 - Scientists have studied child maltreatment fatalities (CMFs) for several decades, yet little research has examined the social context in which CMFs occur and whether prevention efforts are effective. Using state-level data from 2006-2008, we examine the social context in which CMFs occur and conduct a five-year follow-up to a study that found media attention predicted CMF-related legislation (Douglas, 2009). The results indicate that the social context in which children live are important; poverty and region are the strongest predictors of CMFs and states that passed legislation to prevent future maltreatment fatalities did not experience a decline in the death rate. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

AB - Scientists have studied child maltreatment fatalities (CMFs) for several decades, yet little research has examined the social context in which CMFs occur and whether prevention efforts are effective. Using state-level data from 2006-2008, we examine the social context in which CMFs occur and conduct a five-year follow-up to a study that found media attention predicted CMF-related legislation (Douglas, 2009). The results indicate that the social context in which children live are important; poverty and region are the strongest predictors of CMFs and states that passed legislation to prevent future maltreatment fatalities did not experience a decline in the death rate. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

KW - Child fatalities

KW - Child maltreatment

KW - Media attention

KW - Policy practice

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79953139209&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1080/15588742.2011.555323

DO - 10.1080/15588742.2011.555323

M3 - Article

SN - 1558-8742

VL - 10

SP - 128

EP - 143

JO - Journal of Policy Practice

JF - Journal of Policy Practice

IS - 2

ER -