IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/cysrev/v67y2016icp123-132.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

What's so different about differential response? A multilevel and longitudinal analysis of child neglect investigations

Author

Listed:
  • Janczewski, Colleen E.
  • Mersky, Joshua P.

Abstract

Differential response (DR) is a system reform that allows child protective services (CPS) agencies to divert low-to-moderate risk families from an investigative track to an alternate track that does not require a maltreatment disposition or identification of an alleged perpetrator. Knowledge of how DR alters the flow of cases through CPS systems has been restricted by methodological limitations in prior research. This study uses cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) child file to examine the extent to which DR implementation affects the number and demographic composition of cases investigated for neglect. Results from multivariate, multilevel cross-sectional analysis of 2010 data indicated that investigations were 2.4 times more likely to be substantiated in DR counties than in non-DR counties. Children with a previous substantiated report were also more likely to have a current report substantiated and this difference was significantly greater in DR counties than in non-DR counties. Child race and ethnicity did not predict substantiation decisions. Results from a mixed-effect longitudinal analysis of 997,512 cases from 269 counties between 2001 and 2010 suggest that the rate of investigations fell sharply nationwide within three years of DR implementation. However, substantiation rates did not change as a result of DR implementation. Instead, analysis indicated differences between DR and non-DR counties emerged before the launch of DR. The findings highlight the benefit of using “big data” and longitudinal analysis to assess large-scale policy changes.

Suggested Citation

  • Janczewski, Colleen E. & Mersky, Joshua P., 2016. "What's so different about differential response? A multilevel and longitudinal analysis of child neglect investigations," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 123-132.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:67:y:2016:i:c:p:123-132
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.05.024
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0190740916301645
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.05.024?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Drake, Brett & Lee, Sang Moo & Jonson-Reid, Melissa, 2009. "Race and child maltreatment reporting: Are Blacks overrepresented?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 309-316, March.
    2. Morton, Cory M. & Ocasio, Kerrie & Simmel, Cassandra, 2011. "A critique of methods used to describe the overrepresentation of African Americans in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1538-1542, September.
    3. Fluke, John D. & Yuan, Ying-Ying T. & Hedderson, John & Curtis, Patrick A., 2003. "Disproportionate representation of race and ethnicity in child maltreatment: investigation and victimization," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 25(5-6), pages 359-373.
    4. Slack, Kristen Shook & Berger, Lawrence M. & DuMont, Kimberly & Yang, Mi-Youn & Kim, Bomi & Ehrhard-Dietzel, Susan & Holl, Jane L., 2011. "Risk and protective factors for child neglect during early childhood: A cross-study comparison," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1354-1363, August.
    5. English, Diana J. & Marshall, David B. & Coghlan, Laura & Brummel, Sherry & Orme, Matthew, 2002. "Causes and Consequences of the Substantiation Decision in Washington State Child Protective Services," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 24(11), pages 817-851, November.
    6. Lawrence, C. Nicole & Rosanbalm, Katie D. & Dodge, Kenneth A., 2011. "Multiple Response System: Evaluation of Policy Change in North Carolina's Child Welfare System," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(11), pages 2355-2365.
    7. Dettlaff, Alan J. & Rivaux, Stephanie L. & Baumann, Donald J. & Fluke, John D. & Rycraft, Joan R. & James, Joyce, 2011. "Disentangling substantiation: The influence of race, income, and risk on the substantiation decision in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1630-1637, September.
    8. Drake, Brett & Jonson-Reid, Melissa, 2011. "NIS interpretations: Race and the National Incidence Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 16-20, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Choi, Mi Jin & Kim, Jangmin & Roper, Ayla & LaBrenz, Catherine A. & Boyd, Reiko, 2021. "Racial disparities in assignment to alternative response," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    2. Shipe, Stacey L. & Uretsky, Mathew C. & Shaw, Terry V., 2022. "Family outcomes in alternative response: A multilevel analysis of recurrence," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    3. Smith, Brenda D. & Pressley, Tracy D., 2019. "Do surprisingly low child maltreatment rates in rural southern counties reflect lower rates of substantiation?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    4. Slayter, Elspeth M. & Jensen, Jordan, 2019. "Parents with intellectual disabilities in the child protection system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 297-304.
    5. Piper, Kathryn A., 2017. "Differential response in child protection: How much is too much?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 82(C), pages 69-80.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Boatswain-Kyte, Alicia & Esposito, Tonino & Trocmé, Nico & Boatswain-Kyte, Alicia, 2020. "A longitudinal jurisdictional study of Black children reported to child protection services in Quebec, Canada," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    2. Karatekin, Canan & Gehrman, Richard & Lawler, Jamie, 2014. "A study of maltreated children and their families in juvenile court: I. Court performance measures," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 62-74.
    3. Cénat, Jude Mary & McIntee, Sara-Emilie & Mukunzi, Joana N. & Noorishad, Pari-Gole, 2021. "Overrepresentation of Black children in the child welfare system: A systematic review to understand and better act," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    4. repec:cup:judgdm:v:9:y:2014:i:2:p:114-128 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Fix, Rebecca L. & Nair, Reshmi, 2020. "Racial/ethnic and gender disparities in substantiation of child physical and sexual abuse: Influences of caregiver and child characteristics," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    6. Stephens, Tricia & Kuerbis, Alexis & Pisciotta, Caterina & Morgenstern, Jon, 2020. "Underexamined points of vulnerability for black mothers in the child welfare system: The role of number of births, age of first use of substances and criminal justice involvement," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    7. Choi, Mi Jin & Kim, Jangmin & Roper, Ayla & LaBrenz, Catherine A. & Boyd, Reiko, 2021. "Racial disparities in assignment to alternative response," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    8. Dettlaff, Alan J. & Rivaux, Stephanie L. & Baumann, Donald J. & Fluke, John D. & Rycraft, Joan R. & James, Joyce, 2011. "Disentangling substantiation: The influence of race, income, and risk on the substantiation decision in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1630-1637, September.
    9. Font, Sarah A. & Berger, Lawrence M. & Slack, Kristen S., 2012. "Examining racial disproportionality in child protective services case decisions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(11), pages 2188-2200.
    10. Johnson-Motoyama, Michelle & Dettlaff, Alan J. & Finno, Megan, 2012. "Parental nativity and the decision to substantiate: Findings from a study of Latino children in the second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being (NSCAW II)," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 34(11), pages 2229-2239.
    11. Boyd, Reiko, 2014. "African American disproportionality and disparity in child welfare: Toward a comprehensive conceptual framework," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 15-27.
    12. Maguire-Jack, Kathryn & Cao, Yiwen & Yoon, Susan, 2018. "Racial disparities in child maltreatment: The role of social service availability," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 49-55.
    13. Jeryl L. Mumpower & Gary H. McClelland, 2014. "A signal detection theory analysis of racial and ethnic disproportionality in the referral and substantiation processes of the U.S. child welfare services system," Judgment and Decision Making, Society for Judgment and Decision Making, vol. 9(2), pages 114-128, March.
    14. Cheng, Tyrone C. & Lo, Celia C., 2013. "Racial disparity in risk factors for substantiation of child maltreatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 1962-1969.
    15. Morton, Cory M. & Ocasio, Kerrie & Simmel, Cassandra, 2011. "A critique of methods used to describe the overrepresentation of African Americans in the child welfare system," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1538-1542, September.
    16. Rolock, Nancy & Jantz, Ian & Abner, Kristin, 2015. "Community perceptions and foster care placement: A multi-level analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 186-191.
    17. Adjei, Paul Banahene & Minka, Eric, 2018. "Black parents ask for a second look: Parenting under ‘White’ Child Protection rules in Canada," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 511-524.
    18. Delfabbro, Paul & Hirte, Craig & Rogers, Nancy & Wilson, Ros, 2010. "The over-representation of young Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people in the South Australian child system: A longitudinal analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(10), pages 1418-1425, October.
    19. Rolock, Nancy, 2011. "New methodology: Measuring racial or ethnic disparities in child welfare," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 33(9), pages 1531-1537, September.
    20. Kahn, Nicholas E. & Hansen, Mary Eschelbach, 2017. "Measuring racial disparities in foster care placement: A case study of Texas," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 213-226.
    21. Smith, Brenda D. & Pressley, Tracy D., 2019. "Do surprisingly low child maltreatment rates in rural southern counties reflect lower rates of substantiation?," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 107(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:67:y:2016:i:c:p:123-132. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/childyouth .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.