NCJ Number
214362
Date Published
2001
Length
210 pages
Annotation
This report from the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS) provides national estimates of child abuse and neglect reported to, and investigated by child welfare services in Canada.
Abstract
Highlights of major findings from the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS) were divided into incidences of abuse and neglect, characteristics of maltreatment, outcome investigations, child characteristics, household characteristics, and referral and agency characteristics. An estimated 135,573 child investigations involving children under 16 were conducted in Canada in 1998. An estimated 42,552 child investigations (31 percent) involved alleged physical abuse as the primary reason for investigations. Some form of physical harm was identified in 13 percent of child maltreatment investigations. Physical harm primarily involved bruises, cuts, and scrapes or other health conditions. In the majority of the investigations, allegations were lodged against parents: 61 percent for mothers and 38 percent for fathers. After the initial investigation, 34 percent of child maltreatment investigations were to remain open for ongoing services and 64 percent were closed. In an estimated 11,058 investigations or 8 percent, children were placed in out-of-home care, group home, or residential/secure treatment. The incidence of investigated maltreatment ranged from 18.5 per 1,000 children among 12- to 15-year-old males, to 25.08 per 1,000 females in the same age group. Twenty-nine percent of the investigations involved children who lived with their two biological parents and 18 percent lived in a two-parent blended family. Fifty-seven percent of investigations involved children living in rental accommodations. Fifty-nine percent of all referrals were made by professionals through their contact with children, and 45 percent of these cases were substantiated. Lastly, in over half of the child investigations there had been previous investigations due to suspected maltreatment. The report recommends that additional studies need to examine cases that are not reported to child welfare services as well as those cases that are reported but not investigated. Tables, figures and appendixes A-I