ERIC Number: EJ833578
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0009-4021
EISSN: N/A
The Relationship of Child Neglect and Physical Maltreatment to Placement Outcomes and Behavioral Adjustment in Children in Foster Care: A Canadian Perspective
Marquis, Robyn A.; Leschied, Alan W.; Chiodo, Debbie; O'Neill, Arlene
Child Welfare, v87 n5 p5-25 2008
Dramatic increases in child welfare rates in Canada over recent years have been largely driven by an increased reporting of neglect cases (Trocme, Fallon, MacLaurin, & Neves, 2005). To a large extent, exploring the importance of neglect separate from physical maltreatment has been ignored in the child maltreatment literature. This study examined the differential effects of foster care in the child welfare system with children who presented as either experiencing physical maltreatment or neglect prior to their admission to care. Findings from this study are important to child welfare decision making about the differential needs of these two groups of children. The files of a sample of 110 children (79 neglected children and 31 physically maltreated children) were examined for differences in their adjustment while in foster care and on discharge. Some distinct differences in presentation were noted between the children experiencing the two types of maltreatment. Children experiencing neglect were younger, were more likely to have caregivers diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder, and had higher rates of exposure to spousal violence than maltreated children. Physically maltreated children displayed greater difficulty during their foster care adjustment. Once discharged from care, neglected children were more likely to be returned to the care of the agency. This study draws attention to the differential needs of children who experience neglect prior to their admission to a child welfare agency. Longer-term outcome studies are necessary to more completely understand how these two types of maltreatment influence the outcomes of children who are provided care within the child welfare system. (Contains 3 footnotes and 3 tables.)
Descriptors: Substance Abuse, Placement, Child Neglect, Child Abuse, Child Welfare, Caregivers, Foreign Countries, Foster Care, Adjustment (to Environment), Age Differences, Parent Influence, Family Violence, Marital Status, Family Structure, Depression (Psychology)
Child Welfare League of America. P.O. Box 932831, Atlanta, GA 31193-2831. Tel: 800-407-6273; Tel: 770-280-4164; e-mail: order@cwla.org; Web site: http://www.cwla.org/pubs
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A