Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-28T01:21:13.172Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Using prevention science to reduce the risk of child neglect

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 February 2016

Abstract

Child neglect is the most prevalent and least understood form of child maltreatment both in Australia (AIHW 2007) and the United States (USDHHS 2008). There is a general consensus that because child neglect is multidimensional, no one method will be effective in preventing it. Use of prevention science principles (Cole et al. 1993), which focus on enhancing protective factors and decreasing risk factors, should be used to target families and communities, but be applied in such a way as to individualise and recognise their differences. This paper uses the stages of prevention science to illustrate the development, implementation, and evaluation of a community based prevention program called Family Connections (DePanfilis & Dubowitz 2005; DePanfilis, Dubowitz & Kunz 2008). Implications of this process are considered in the context of recommendations of the World Health Organization for preventing child maltreatment (Butchart, Harvey, Mian & Furniss 2006).

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Aarons, G. & Palinkas, L.A. (2007) ‘Implementing evidence-based practice in child welfare: Service provider perspectives’, Administrative Policy Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 34, 411419.Google Scholar
Australian Institute of Health & Welfare (AIHW) (2007) Child protection Australia – 2005-06, Child welfare series no. 40, AIHW Cat. No. CWS 28, Canberra: AIHW.Google Scholar
Belsky, J. (1992) The etiology of child maltreatment: An ecological-contextual analysis, paper commissioned by the National Academy of Science, Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, Panel on Research on Child Abuse and Neglect.Google Scholar
Black, M.M., Hutcheson, J., Dubowitz, H. & Berenson-Howard, J. (1994) ‘Parenting style and developmental status among children with non-organic failure to thrive’, Journal of Paediatric Psychology, 19(6), 689707.Google Scholar
Black, M.M., Hutcheson, J.J., Dubowitz, H., Starr, R.H. Jr. & Berenson-Howard, J. (1996) ‘The roots of competence: Mother-child interaction among low-income, African-American families’, Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 17(3), 367391.Google Scholar
Butchart, A., Harvey, A.P., Mian, M. & Furniss, T. (2006) Preventing child maltreatment: A guide to taking action and generating evidence, Geneva, Switzerland: WHO Press. Retrieved from the World Health Organization website at http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2006/9241594365_eng.pdf Google Scholar
Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979) The ecology of human development: Experiments by design and nature, Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Cole, J.D., Watt, N.F., West, S.G., Hawkins, J.D., Asarnow, J.R., Markman, H.J., Ramey, S.L., Shure, M.B. & Long, B. (1993) ‘The science of prevention: A conceptual framework and some directions for a national research program’, American Psychologist, 48, 10131022.Google Scholar
Camacho-Gonsalves, T., Leff, H.S. & Torrey, W.C. (2002) Toolkit on manuals and workbooks for psychosocial interventions, LOCATION: The Evaluation Center.Google Scholar
DePanfilis, D. (2006) Child neglect: A guide for prevention, assessment, and intervention, Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration on Children and Families, Administration for Children, Youth, and Families, Children's Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect.Google Scholar
DePanfilis, D. (1999) ‘Intervening with families When children are neglected’, in Dubowitz, H. (Ed), Neglected children research, practice, and policy, (pp. 211236), Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
DePanfilis, D. (1996) ‘Social isolation of neglectful families: A review of social support assessment and intervention models’, Child Maltreatment, 1, 3752.Google Scholar
DePanfilis, D. & Dubowitz, H. (2005) ‘Family Connections: A program for preventing child neglect’, Child Maltreatment, 10, 108123.Google Scholar
DePanfilis, D., Dubowitz, H. & Kunz, J. (2008) ‘Assessing the cost-effectiveness of Family Connections’, Child Abuse & Neglect, 32, 335351.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
DePanfilis, D., Glazer-Semmell, E., Farr, M. & Ferretto, G. (1999) Family Connections intervention manual, Baltimore: University of Maryland, Baltimore.Google Scholar
DePanfilis, D. & Zuravin, S.J. (2001) ‘Assessing risk to determine the need for services’, Children and Youth Services Review, 23, 320.Google Scholar
DePanfilis, D. & Zuravin, S.J. (1999a) ‘Epidemiology of child maltreatment recurrences’, Social Services Review, 73, 218239.Google Scholar
DePanfilis, D. & Zuravin, S.J. (1999b) ‘Predicting child maltreatment recurrences during treatment’, Child Abuse and Neglect, 23(8), 729743.Google Scholar
DePanfilis, D. & Zuravin, S.J. (2002) ‘The effect of services on the recurrence of child maltreatment’, Child Abuse and Neglect, 26, 187205.Google Scholar
Dubowitz, H. (2000) ‘What is neglect?’ in Dubowitz, H. & DePanfilis, D. (Eds.), Handbook for child protection practice, (pp. 1014), Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Dunst, C.J., Trivette, C.M. & Deal, A.G. (1988) Enabling and empowering families: Principles and guidelines for practice, Cambridge, MA; Brookline Books.Google Scholar
Gaudin, J. (1993) ‘Effective intervention with neglectful families’, Criminal Justice and Behavior, 20(1), 6689.Google Scholar
Gaudin, J. (1988) ‘Treatment of families who neglect their children’, in Nunnally, E., Chilman, C.S. and Cox, F.M. (Eds.), Mental illness, delinquency, addictions, and neglect, (pp. 167249), Newbury Park, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Gilbert, R., Widom, C.S., Browne, K., Ferguson, D., Webb, E. & Janson, S. (2008) ‘Burden and consequences of child maltreatment in high-income countries’, The Lancet, 373(9657), 6881.Google Scholar
Girvin, H., DePanfilis, D. & Daining, C. (2007) ‘Predicting program completion among families enrolled in a child neglect preventive intervention’. Research_on Social Work Practice, 17, 674685.Google Scholar
Guterman, N.B. (2001) Stopping child maltreatment before it starts: Emerging horizons in early home visitation services. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Harrington, D., Dubowitz, H., Black, M.M. & Binder, A. (1995) ‘Maternal substance use and neglectful parenting: relationships with children's development’, Journal of Child Clinical Psychology, 24, 258263.Google Scholar
Hawkins, J.D., Horn, M.L.V. & Arthur, M.W. (2004) ‘Community variation in risk and protective factors and substance use outcomes’, Prevention Science, 5, 213220.Google Scholar
Holden, E.W. & Nabors, L. (1999) ‘Preventing child neglect’, in Dubowitz, H. (Ed.), Neglected children research, practice, and policy, Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.Google Scholar
Institute of Medicine (2002) Future of the Public's Health in the 21st Century, Washington, DC: Author.Google Scholar
Institute of Medicine (1994) Reducing risks for mental disorders: Frontiers for preventive intervention research, Washington, DC: National Academy Press.Google Scholar
Kellam, S.G., Koretz, D. & Moscicki, E.K. (1999) ‘Core elements of developmental epidemiologically based prevention research’, American Journal of Community Psychology, 27, 463482.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kinney, J., Strand, K., Hagerup, M. & Bruner, C. (1994) Beyond the buzzwords: Key principles in effective frontline practice, Falls Church, VA: NCSI Information Clearinghouse.Google Scholar
Kirby, L.D. & Fraser, M.W. (1997) ‘Risk and resilience in childhood’, in Fraser, M.W. (Ed), Risk and resilience in childhood, (pp. 1033), Washington, DC: NASW Press.Google Scholar
Litteil, J.H., Corcoran, J. & Pillai, V. (2008) Systematic reviews and meta-analysis, New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Lutzker, J.R., & Rice, J.M. (1987) ‘Using recidivism data to evaluate Project 12-Ways: An ecobehavioral approach to the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect’, Journal of Family Violence, 2, 283290.Google Scholar
Masten, A.S. & Wright, M.O. (1998) ‘Cumulative risk and protection models of child maltreatment’, in Rossman, B.B.R. & Rosenberg, M.S. (Eds), Multiple victimization of children, (pp. 730), New York: The Haworth Press, Inc. Google Scholar
Mobray, C.T., Holter, M.C., Teague, G.B. & Bybee, D. (2003) ‘Fidelity criteria: Development, measurement, and validation’, American Journal of Evaluation, 24, 315340.Google Scholar
Mrazek, P.J. & Haggerty, R.J. (Eds.) (1994) Reducing risks for mental disorders: Frontiers for preventive intervention research, Washington, DC: National Academy Press.Google Scholar
Schumacher, J.A., Slep, A.M.S. & Heyman, R.E. (2001) ‘Risk factors for neglect’, Aggression and Violent Behavior, 6, 231254.Google Scholar
Straus, M.A. & Kantor, G.K. (2005) ‘Definition and measurement of neglectful behavior: Some principles and guidelines’, Child Abuse & Neglect, 29, 1929.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomlison, B. (2004) ‘Child maltreatment: A risk and protective factor perspective in child maltreatment’, in Fraser, M.W. (Ed.), Risk and resilience in childhood, 2nd edn., (pp. 89131), Washington, DC: NASW Press.Google Scholar
US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), Administration on Children, Youth and Families (2008) Child maltreatment 2006, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
Weissberg, R.P. & Greenberg, M.T. (1998) ‘Prevention science and collaborative community action research: Combining the best from both perspectives’. Journal of Mental Health, 7, 479492.Google Scholar
W.K. Kellogg Foundation (2001) W.K. Kellogg Foundation logic model guide. Battle Creek, MI: author. Retrieved January 19, 2009 from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation web site at http:/www.wkkf.org/Pubs/Tools/Evaluation/Pub3669.pdf Google Scholar
Wolfe, D. (1994) ‘The role of intervention and treatment services in the prevention of child abuse and neglect’, in Melton, G.B. & Barry, F.D. (Eds.), Protecting children from abuse and neglect foundations for a new national strategy, (pp. 224303), New York: Guilford.Google Scholar