Historically, American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) children have been disproportionately represented in the foster care system. In this study, nationally representative child welfare data from October 1999 was used to compare urban AI/AN children to non-Indian children placed into out-of-home care. Compared to non-Indian children, urban AI/AN…

Objectives: This study examined risk of maltreatment among children exiting foster care using a statewide sample of children reunified between 2001 and 2004 in Rhode Island. The objectives were: (1) to compare rates of maltreatment following parental reunification for youth in care as a result of maltreatment with those in care for other reasons;…

"Child Welfare Outcomes 2002-2005: Report to Congress" (Child Welfare Outcomes Report) is the seventh in a series of annual reports from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (the Department). The reports are developed in accordance with section 479A of the Social Security Act (as amended by the Adoption and Safe Families Act…

Most studies of ethnic disproportionality in child welfare examine data in one of two ways: a point in time approach or an entry cohort approach. While each provides insight into disproportionality, neither gives a full picture of the differences among ethnic groups in the experience of the child welfare system over time. This study uses…

Comparison of types and frequency of child abuse and neglect reports in Baltimore (Maryland) family foster care found more than a three-fold increased frequency of maltreatment compared to nonfoster families. Chances of physical abuse in foster families showed a sevenfold increase over the incidence in nonfoster families. (Author/DB)

Objective: To determine if Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD) can be reliably identified in maltreated toddlers in foster care, if the two types of RAD are independent, and to estimate the prevalence of RAD in these maltreated toddlers. Methods: Clinicians treating 94 maltreated toddlers in foster care were interviewed regarding signs of…

Medical and psychosocial screening of 149 abused and neglected children entering the foster care system in Cook County, Illinois, found the children to have a greater incidence of chronic medical conditions, weigh less, be shorter, have a high incidence of developmental delays, and have deficits in adaptive behavior. (Author/DB)

Infant outcomes of substance-abusing mothers who either retained (N=44) or lost (N=23) custody of their children were compared. At six months, infants with their mothers demonstrated better cognitive development than infants with relatives; however, there were three deaths and two cases of suspected child abuse/neglect among infants with mothers,…

This paper examines the impact of welfare reforms on several measures of child maltreatment. The authors use state-level data from 1990 to 1998 to examine whether recent welfare reforms have increased or reduced the incidence of reported and substantiated cases of maltreatment, the incidence of specific types of substantiated…

Analysis of 206 cases of severely abused and/or neglected children over a 4-year period resulted in the conclusion that children are poorly served by delays in the existing Massachusetts social service/legal system. Among specific findings were that two-thirds of parents were poor, 84 percent were psychiatrically disordered, and foster care…

A detailed ecological model is used to develop a framework for assessing the incidence of child abuse among American Indians. Macro, exo, and micro levels of analysis are extended by the inclusion of mediating and potentiating factors that may either contribute to or ameliorate maltreatment or abuse. Abuse and its consequences are considered in…

Although Massachusetts ranks in the top 10 percent among states on several key indicators of child well-being, the state's growing incidence of child maltreatment is stark and confounding. This report launches a state call to action aimed at ending child maltreatment through revising and strengthening systems to protect children, providing support…

This Kids Count data book examines trends in the well-being of Minnesota's children. The statistical portrait is based on 11 indicators of child well-being: (1) child poverty rate; (2) children receiving free or reduced-price school lunch; (3) children in families receiving food stamps; (4) births to teenage mothers; (5) low birth weight rates;…

This Kids Count report is the second to examine statewide trends in the well-being of Montana's children. The statistical portrait is based on 16 indicators of well-being: (1) low birthweight; (2) infant mortality; (3) child death; (4) teen violent death; (5) Medicaid participation; (6) school enrollment; (7) public school enrollment in Chapter 1…

This Kids Count data book examines statewide trends in the well-being of Minnesota children during the 1990s. The statistical portrait is based on 11 indicators of well-being: (1) child poverty rate; (2) percent of children receiving Aid to Families with Dependent Children; (3) percent receiving free or reduced-price school lunches; (4) teen birth…