Longitudinal Analysis of Repeated Child Abuse Reporting and Victimization: Multistate Analysis of Associated Factors

TLDR

Child maltreatment reports to CPS are usually one‑time, but many children experience repeated investigations and victimizations, reflecting a complex interplay of child risks and systemic factors linked to the interventions they receive. The study investigates which individual, maltreatment, and service factors predict rereporting and substantiated rereporting of child abuse across multiple states, and argues that reentry metrics should differ for children receiving services to properly gauge safety improvements. The authors analyzed 505,621 child cases from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System. Within 24 months, 22% of children were rereported and 7% had substantiated rereports; younger, White or mixed‑race children, those with disabilities, and those with caregivers who abused alcohol were at higher risk, and service interventions such as foster care placement increased the likelihood of subsequent events.

Abstract

Most child subjects of maltreatment reports to child protective services (CPS) are involved just once, whereas other children experience repeated investigations and victimizations. This study examines individual, maltreatment, and service-related factors associated with maltreatment rereporting and substantiated rereporting in a multistate context. Case-level National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System data (505,621 children) were analyzed. Within 24 months, 22% of children were rereported, and 7% were rereported with substantiation. Younger and White and mixed race children, those with disabilities, and those whose caregivers abused alcohol were more likely to be rereported and rereported and substantiated. Service provision, including foster care placement, was associated with increased likelihood of subsequent events. When CPS agency performance is assessed using measures of reentry, separate measures may be necessary for children who receive services, so that improvements in safety can be appropriately recognized. Reentry into CPS is a complex interaction of risks to children and systemic factors tied to the intervention they receive.