Understanding service use and victim patterns associated with re-reports of alleged maltreatment perpetrators

Abstract

Despite the fact that the goal of child welfare is to impact the caregiver’s behavior rather than the child’s, research on recurrence at the alleged perpetrator level is scant compared to research on child level recurrence. No prior studies both controlled for services participation by the caregiver and explored whether a recurrence happens with the same child. This study helps fill the gap by analyzing caregivers who are alleged perpetrators and later recurrence of abuse or neglect. In-home child welfare services were initially associated with lower recidivism but this effect moderates over time. Receipt of AFDC at study start did not impact likelihood of recidivism but receipt of AFDC (or later TANF) after the first report appears to lower the risk of recurrence. Among low income women, a history of mental health or substance abuse treatment was associated with higher recurrence. Among re-reports of alleged perpetrators, nearly 45% had at least one new child on the report. Caucasian and older perpetrators were less likely to have an alleged recurrence involving a new child. Women with mental health (but not substance abuse) treatment histories and those who had child welfare services after the first report were more likely to be re-reported for alleged maltreatment of a new child. (Author Abstract)