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Childhood Prevalence of Involvement with the Child Protection System in Quebec: A Longitudinal Study

Author

Listed:
  • Tonino Esposito

    (École de Travail Social, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada)

  • Johanna Caldwell

    (École de Travail Social, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada)

  • Martin Chabot

    (École de Travail Social, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada)

  • Anne Blumenthal

    (School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA)

  • Nico Trocmé

    (School of Social Work, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada)

  • Barbara Fallon

    (Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada)

  • Sonia Hélie

    (Institut Universitaire Jeunes en Difficulté, Montreal, QC H2L 4R5, Canada)

  • Tracie O. Afifi

    (Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada)

Abstract

The goal of this study, the first of its kind in Canada, was to estimate the child lifetime prevalence of child protection involvement in Quebec. Using administrative and population data spanning 17 years, we performed a survival analysis of initial incidents of child protection reports, confirmed reports, confirmation of a child’s security or development being compromised, and placement outside the home for one day or more. We found that before reaching the age of 18 years, over 18% of children were reported to child protection at least once, one in every ten children (10.1%) in the province had a report that led to the finding of their security or development being compromised, and over 5% were placed outside the home. We found that neglect was a primary concern in close to half (47.6%) of cases. By using a full population dataset, we obtained a more accurate prevalence estimate than studies using synthetic cohort life tables. These findings only captured initial incidents of involvement with child protection, meaning this study does not show the extent of recurrent involvement for some children. The findings reflect prior results showing that neglect is common in initial child protection involvement but less pervasive than has been shown in incidence studies, suggesting that recurrent child protection involvement is more driven by neglect than initial incidents are.

Suggested Citation

  • Tonino Esposito & Johanna Caldwell & Martin Chabot & Anne Blumenthal & Nico Trocmé & Barbara Fallon & Sonia Hélie & Tracie O. Afifi, 2022. "Childhood Prevalence of Involvement with the Child Protection System in Quebec: A Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-15, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2022:i:1:p:622-:d:1019636
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Frank Edwards & Sara Wakefield & Kieran Healy & Christopher Wildeman, 2021. "Contact with Child Protective Services is pervasive but unequally distributed by race and ethnicity in large US counties," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 118(30), pages 2106272118-, July.
    2. Steensma, C. & Choi, B.C.K. & Loukine, L. & Schanzer, D., 2018. "Period life tables for calculating life expectancy: Options to assess and minimize the potential for bias," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 108(3), pages 1-14.
    3. Semanchin Jones, Annette & Logan-Greene, Patricia, 2016. "Understanding and responding to chronic neglect: A mixed methods case record examination," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 212-219.
    4. Maguire-Jack, Kathryn & Font, Sarah A., 2017. "Intersections of individual and neighborhood disadvantage: Implications for child maltreatment," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 44-51.
    5. Kim, H. & Wildeman, C. & Jonson-Reid, M. & Drake, B., 2017. "Lifetime prevalence of investigating child maltreatment among US children," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 107(2), pages 274-280.
    6. Ian Hyslop & Emily Keddell, 2018. "Outing the Elephants: Exploring a New Paradigm for Child Protection Social Work," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-13, June.
    7. Lloyd Grieger & Sheldon Danziger, 2011. "Who Receives Food Stamps During Adulthood? Analyzing Repeatable Events With Incomplete Event Histories," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 48(4), pages 1601-1614, November.
    8. J. Barth & L. Bermetz & E. Heim & S. Trelle & T. Tonia, 2013. "The current prevalence of child sexual abuse worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 58(3), pages 469-483, June.
    9. Sinha, Vandna & Ellenbogen, Stephen & Trocmé, Nico, 2013. "Substantiating neglect of first nations and non-aboriginal children," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 2080-2090.
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