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This study evaluates the impact of a college-based dormitory program on transitioning youth with intellectual disabilities. A qualitative study, with interviews at pre and post, was conducted to evaluate the program's impact. Data were collected with semistructured interviews from young adults with intellectual disabilities who participated in a college-based residential program and their parents or guardians. Three general themes emerged from the data: Participants reported experiences that were (a) typical of normative life transitions, (b) typical of growing pains associated with significant life transitions and learning new skills, and (c) one step forward. Results indicate that the experience of living away from home for the first time was in some ways comparable to that of a typical college student. Improvement in life skills, including increased awareness of personal goals, enhanced vocational goals, increased maturity or assertiveness, was reported. Respondents were generally satisfied with the program.

Objectives: Characteristics of the child victim, perpetrator, and maltreatment incident were used to examine predictors of court involvement in cases of serious child maltreatment. Method: Cases were drawn from those reported to: child protective services (n = 225), "sheriff's office" ( n = 225), "prosecutor's office" ( n = 60), "and dependency court" ( n = 65). Logistic regression was used to calculate predicted probabilities of criminal court involvement and dependency court involvement Results: Cases involving female victims were more likely to be filed in criminal court, and sexual abuse had the highest likelihood of prosecution. Cases involving male perpetrators, older perpetrators, and multiple victims were more likely to be filed for prosecution. Physical neglect was the most common type of maltreatment to result in dependency court filings. Perpetrator gender had opposite effects in the two systems. Conclusion: Tracking cases even in the same jurisdiction is confounded by the lack of common identifiers across the agencies involved. (Contains 5 tables.)

In an effort to assist the sexually abused child throughout the court process, the authors propose the concept of a child-centered social worker committed to minimizing the potential for system-induced trauma by assisting the sexually abused child through the judicial process and providing clinical treatment as well. (Contains 68 references.) (GCP)

Describes implementation of a computerized version of the Child Welfare League of America's Child Well-Being Scales by a family services agency in southern Ontario. Reviews results obtained from 172 families to illustrate the potential for using computerized risk assessment as an aid in clinical, supervisory, and management decision-making processes at the agency; asserts that the scales have been useful. (EV)

Interviewed child victim advocates (N=26) to evaluate the effectiveness of a child victim witness program that helps children during the criminal prosecution of their abusers. Results show that the program faced systemic challenges, but respondents were positive about its usefulness in preparing children to testify and in helping children relax. (RJM)

Discusses the benefits and shortcomings of three systems for assessing risk factors affecting children: the Illinois CANTS 17B; the Washington Assessment of Risk Matrix; the Child at Risk Field System. Although these systems are used in 23 states, the lack of staff knowledgeable about human development and the uncertain reliability and validity of the instruments has limited their usefulness. (MDM)

Evaluated the Child At Risk Field System (CARF) by comparing 207 cases of child maltreatment before and after implementation. Although the system had been imperfectly implemented, data indicated that CARF may have provided workers with a useful tool for structured decision making. It was particularly helpful to inexperienced workers. (RJM)

This article examines issues that child protective agencies might consider when evaluating the impact of risk assessment implementation on service delivery. The paper recommends using qualitative and quantitative measures in a process and an outcome evaluation to determine the degree of model implementation and the impact of implementation on case work. (Author/JDD)

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2005.11.010 Byline: Andrea J. Sedlak (a), Dana Schultz (d), Susan J. Wells (b), Peter Lyons (e), Howard J. Doueck (c), Frances Gragg (a) Keywords: Child protection; Justice systems; Child abuse and neglect Abstract: The aim of this study was to examine the trajectory of cases through four systems: child protection, law enforcement, the dependency courts, and the criminal courts. Author Affiliation: (a) Westat, Rockville, MD, USA (b) School of Social Work, University of Minnesota, College of Human Ecology, St. Paul, MN, USA (c) School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA (d) RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, USA (e) School of Social Work, Georgia State University, University Plaza, Atlanta, GA, USA Article History: Received 3 January 2004; Revised 11 November 2005; Accepted 26 November 2005 Article Note: (footnote) [star] This project was funded under Grant Number 92-IJ-CX-K041 from the National Institute of Justice and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention of the US Department of Justice to the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, Susan J. Wells, Principal Investigator. It was conducted in cooperation with the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect Administration for Children and Families, US Department of Health and Human Services.

Predictors of court involvement in cases of serious child maltreatment are examined by using characteristics of the child victim, perpetrator and maltreatment incidents. Physical neglect was the most common type of maltreatment to result in dependency court filings.

Two hundred and ninety-three randomly selected cases from a child protection service agency in a large western New York county were examined to test the hypothesis that sexual abuse allegations are investigated and processed more intensively than cases alleging other types of maltreatment. Contrary to the hypothesis, allegations of sexual abuse were substantiated at a lower rate, not investigated more intensively, and not offered more services than were other cases.

Mandated reporters are an important part of the system established to identify vulnerable children and help troubled families. This study reports the findings from 472 completed and returned surveys mailed to agencies and individuals representing 12 categories of mandated reporters in a western New York country. The results indicated that although the respondents were generally satisfied with child protection, those respondents whose expectations had not been met were the least satisfied., There has been a growing interest in and a concern about client perceptions of child protection and child welfare services (Drake, 1996; Fryer, Bross, Krugman, Denson, & Baird, 1990; Magura [...]

In a national survey of 907 licensed psychologists regarding mandated reporting of child maltreatment, predictors of outcome included: therapeutic alliance; role strain; therapist explicitness; family vs. individual treatment; and whether or not the client was the perpetrator. Therapists were asked to describe a case involving reporting, its impact on treatment, informed consent procedures, as well as their own attitudes and beliefs. Implications for research are discussed, and recommendations for clinical training and practice are offered.

Infants and toddlers are at increased risk for severe/fatal abuse, often at the hands of male perpetrators. This paper examined whether child maltreatment cases involving younger children receive more casework services, overall caseworker activity (e.g., home visits, phone contacts), and are more likely to be substantiated, particularly if a male perpetrator is involved. The randomly selected sample consisted of 293 child abuse and neglect reports in a large county in Western New York in 1993. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that younger children generally receive more overall services and caseworker activity, and that while age makes a significant contribution after the decision has been made to substantiate a case, it does not have the same effect on the initial decision of whether or not to substantiate. Gender of the perpetrator did not reliably predict caseworker attention. Key Words - Child age, Young children, Decision-making, Child protection, Child abuse.

Forty-nine volunteers (29 therapists and 20 child protection workers) were interviewed regarding their experiences with mandated reporting. The results indicated widespread disagreement between the groups about the nature of appropriate reports, the requirements of the law, and the process designed to protect children and help families. Key Words - Mandated reporting, Child maltreatment, Child protection, Therapy.

ACTION's assessment system for Child Protective Services practice evolved a multimethod evaluation procedure which is used to compare pre- and post-Child at Risk Field (CARF) system implementation. Statistically important differences between samples in certain client services provided or received, and the links between crucial casework decisions and information obtained by workers employing the CARF system, were evident, even though the system suffered from poor implementation.

The three systems, the CANTS 17B model, the Washington Assessment Risk Matrix (WARM) and the Child at Risk Field System (CARF), are used in assessing the degree to which the children are at a risk of being ill-treated and evaded in the future. The CANTS 17B model gives certain principles for backing organized decisions, thereby making subsequent and stable assessments possible. The WARM model aids in planning services in situations that involve high risks, and the CARF is used to reduce risk and provide security. The three models have certain weaknesses in terms of reliability, validity, implementation and in requiring trained staff.

The use of systematic risk assessment models by Child Protective Services is a rapidly growing phenomenon. Despite their popularity, we know little about the effect of implementation on casework practice. This article examines some issues that agencies might consider when evaluating the impact of risk assessment implementation on service delivery. The authors recommend an approach that includes the use of qualitative and quantitative measures in a process and an outcome evaluation to determine the degree to which the model has been implemented as intended and the impact of implementation on the case work process. Though this approach is likely to provide agencies with detailed information of the impact of risk assessment implementation, caution is recommended when interpreting the results from an evaluation of a risk assessment model in a field setting., Child Protective Services need to study the effects of implementing data on risk evaluation in child abuse, to make their services more relevant. Risk assessment models should be examined for objectivity in result interpretation and data analysis. The implementation process and efficiency of the program must be evaluated before being applied in child protection services.

Describes how intervention for families with abused or neglected adolescents usually focuses on the troubled youth with the abuse or neglect either overlooked or ignored. Argues that a developmental perspective is essential to the understanding and assessment of the family dynamics of adolescent mistreatment, and presents case examples. Offers recommendations for interventionists working with troubled youth and families. (Author/KS)