NCJ Number
154116
Journal
Child Welfare Volume: 74 Issue: 2 Dated: (March/April 1995) Pages: 325-336
Date Published
1995
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The author analyzed demographic data on 23,764 parents who were subjects of maltreatment reports in Illinois in 1988 and 8,535 children in out-of-home care on February 28, 1990, to examine the relationship between parent age and child maltreatment.
Abstract
Data obtained from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services showed that adolescent parents were no more likely than older parents to maltreat their children. Further, adolescents were not overrepresented in the population of either maltreating parents or heads of households with children in care. Heads of households who were under 21 years of age and who had children in care comprised only 3.2 percent of the total population of heads of households with children in care. Of all maltreating parents in Illinois in 1988, just 4.5 percent were under 21 years of age. Findings suggest that programs for adolescent parents should focus on issues other than potential maltreatment. The author suggests a focus on health care, nutrition, child support, child care, and enhanced educational and vocational opportunities for young women. 17 references and 1 table