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The Social and Family Backgrounds of Infants in Care: Predicting Subsequent Abuse Dr. Paul Delfabbro School of Psychology University of Adelaide.

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Presentation on theme: "The Social and Family Backgrounds of Infants in Care: Predicting Subsequent Abuse Dr. Paul Delfabbro School of Psychology University of Adelaide."— Presentation transcript:

1 The Social and Family Backgrounds of Infants in Care: Predicting Subsequent Abuse Dr. Paul Delfabbro School of Psychology University of Adelaide

2 Researchers Paul Delfabbro (University of Adelaide) Nancy Rogers (DFC) Ros Wilson (DFC) Mignon Borgas (DFC) Helen Jeffreys (DFC)

3 Background 38% of children entering care are under 5 years of age, and 13% are under 1 year of age (AIHW, 2006) Infancy (0-2 years) has been identified as a critical period of childhood development where stability and consistency is very important The trajectory for longer-term physical and cognitive development is often determined in this period

4 What is Known about Infants in Care Infant entry into care is often associated with longer periods in care (Courtney, 1994; Goerge & Wulczyn, 1999) Well established literature on what factors make children and infants more likely to be vulnerable to child abuse (Fuller et al., 2001; Lipien & Forthofer, 2004) Less is known about factors influencing reunification in infants and the role of family risk factors

5 Practical Significance Growing interest in structural decision-making tools for risk assessments Policy interest in the relative merits of family preservation vs. permanency planning. The outcomes for infants may be influential in these debates Infant outcomes influence what happens in the system more broadly if they stay in care May be one of the strongest indicators of the effects of strong CP policies

6 Summary of Research The aim of this study was to track the placement destinations of infants (aged 0-2) years entering the South Australian care system in the period 2000-2004. What family and social background factors were associated with different placement trajectories? What happened to these children?

7 Infant sample 498 infants (0-2 years) who had at least 1 contact with the care system between 2000-2004 were randomly sampled The mean age of entry into care was 1.3 years, and current mean age was 5 years 225 (45%) only had respite from home 273 (55%) had formally entered care

8 Demographics Equal proportions of male and female babies The proportion of indigenous children was 9-10 times higher than the population average 20% entered care within the 1 st 3 months of life; a third between 3 and 12 months, and 56% after 1 year of age

9 Data collected (Computer records) Demographics Placement and order history Family background, reasons for contact with the Department Placement destination Notification history post reunification

10 Key Findings from the Infant Study

11 Family History (n = 498) N (%) Infants who entered care Comparison sample from older stable kids Severe Neglect209 (76.6)81.5 Financial problems181 (66.6)48.1 Domestic violence150 (54.9)44.4 Parental sub abuse142 (52.2)57.4 Physical abuse149 (54.6)61.1 Homelessness126 (46.2)33.3 Parental mental health105 (38.5)27.8

12 In Care vs. Respite Only N (%) Infants who entered care N (% Respite only Severe Neglect76.656.4 Financial problems66.366.2 Domestic violence54.949.3 Parental sub abuse52.048.0 Physical abuse54.633.3 Homelessness46.239.1 Parental mental health38.532.0

13 Total Number of Problems Total Sample In Care Respite Only None23 (4.6)1 (0.4)22 (9.8) 1-3157 (31.5)78 (28.6)79 (35.1) 4-6275 (55.2)166 (60.8)109 (48.4) 7+43 (8.6)28 (10.3)15 (6.7)

14 Background Variations Sexual abuse and mental health problems more commonly reported in metropolitan families Substance abuse and parental mental health problems had become more prevalent over time 2001-2004 Infants born to teenage parents or parents with an intellectual disability entered care significantly earlier

15 Indigenous differences Background problems were more common in indigenous families This included: financial problems, homelessness, domestic violence, neglect, and substance abuse The sample fell into two clusters based on indigenous non-indigenous status

16 Destinations (for sample who entered care) By mid-2005: 41% had returned home, 41% were still in foster care, 13% were living with relatives 70% of the children still in foster care were on GOM-18 orders Indigenous infants were less likely to remain in foster care Children who entered earlier were more likely to be still in care

17 Family environment: Post Reunification Of 334 children who went or stayed home, 38% (n = 127) of children were in homes where at least 1 risk factor was present Of this 127, 35% of these had one risk factor and 40% had 2 risk factors 24% were still being exposed to 3 or more risk factors (translates to 1 in 10 out of the whole sample)

18 Subsequent Notifications I 62% of cases exiting care had attracted at least 1 more notification Most of this was neglect, followed by physical abuse 10 children had 10 or more neglect notifications

19 Subsequent Notifications II Notifications were more likely in the metropolitan area, in non-indigenous children and those subject to physical abuse and/or domestic violence

20 Predicting Further Abuse I Previous physical abuse was the strongest predictor of subsequent notifications If previous physical abuse (in entered care sample) then: No sigt predictors Tier 3 (least serious) 67% likelihood of Tier 2 18% likelihood of Tier 1 (most serious)

21 Predicting Abuse (continued) If infants only had respite placements and had been physically abused: P (Tier 3) =.93 P (Tier 2) =.77 P (Tier 1) =.23 High P(abuse) in respite-only sample if physically abused. Greater variability in sample is likely to have led to stronger models

22 Important Issues Emerging from Findings Complex and multiple needs of infants entering care (poverty more important in this very young sample than domestic violence) Rates of ongoing notifications and prevalence of ongoing family problems

23 Further Implications Previous physical abuse is the strongest predictor of ongoing notifications There is a need to consider the needs of children who also enter the system only because of respite arrangements Infants are being returned to families where multiple problems still exist

24 Future Research Further work aims to examine the temporal patterns of entry and exit so as to model outcomes longitudinally Need further research to consider outcomes post reunification, including the status of subsequent abuse allegations Effectiveness of structural decision-making tools in reunification

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