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Poverty Indicators in the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System Child File: Challenges and Opportunities.

Authors :
Jones, Dylan
Drake, Brett
Kim, Hyunil
Chen, Jun-Hong
Font, Sarah
Putnam-Hornstein, Emily
Barth, Richard P.
Huang, Tzu-Hsin
Jonson-Reid, Melissa
Source :
Research on Social Work Practice. Mar2024, Vol. 34 Issue 3, p325-337. 13p.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Purpose: The National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) Child File, the only national dataset cataloging child maltreatment reports. It includes variables representing economic distress frequently used in published research. At the national level, these variables are demonstrably implausible, substantially underestimating economic distress. Method: This paper reviews recent work using these variables, analyzes the NCANDS data directly, demonstrates why the economic variables in NCANDS are unusable at a national level, and provides recommendations for incorporating economic measures using NCANDS. Results: We find 19 articles that have used these variables within the past 10 years. Most states provide implausible estimates. Economic measures can be incorporated into NCANDS data by either subsetting to s states with plausible estimates of these variables in given years, or appending county-level economic Census data. Discussion: Without addressing these variables' issues in plausibility, use of them will yield biased estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
10497315
Volume :
34
Issue :
3
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Research on Social Work Practice
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
175415912
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315231179658