Re: Decline in Quebec incidence rate of CSA - Search for -Reply

[2C0 <psylevin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

We have a paper in press in the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry
showing that sex abuse cases were processed by the local CPS agency no
differently than they processed other cases, and in fact the
asubstantiat6i9on rate was significantly below the substantiation rate for
neglector for physical abuse. Sex abuse cases were kept open for service
at a slightly, but not significantly different rate fromother types of
cases.Invvestigation (home visits, office visits, telphone calls, and
visits to other sites) were no different in sex abuse and other types of
cases. It was our impression that as p;ublicity about sex abuse icnreased,
allegations became vaguer. Moroever, there was a specialized sex abuse
team in place, and with greater spohsitication, they may have been more
careful about substantiating cases. Our data showed a decrease from state
wide figures eight years earlier. We concluded that we are seeing more
cicumspection in investigation and in decision-making than earlier. It was
also our impression that workers were more sensitive to serious
allegations (molestation and incest) than to vaguer allegations. the we is
Howard Doueck, Jennifer Freeman, and Cheryl Compaan. 

 > ** Confidential **
> > >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > > > David Finkelhor wrote: > 
> > Andrea Sedlak's findings from the NIS comparison are very important, but
> > they concern the period from 1986 to 1993, when reports and
> > substantiations of sexual abuse were still both rising in the US and
> > probably in Quebec as well.  The decline that we are all trying to account
> > for is a phenomenon that appears to have begun in around 1992-93 and
> has
> > accelerated since. It appears to involve large declines in both reports
> > and substantiations.
> 
> If I may be allowed a guess, I would consider that the economic context
> might be important here.  We have seen studies showing that physical
> abuse
> rates (in Colorado) are *very* closely tied to unemployment rates.  My own
> research, and the NIS work, shows that even sexual abuse is strongly tied
> to poverty (although I understand that some excellent researchers still
> doubt this to be the case).  Perhaps the good economy which has
> obtained
> in the past several years is causing a decrease in the high maltreatment
> rates which were found in the late 1980's.  This hypothesis becomes more
> attractive when we recall that the period covered by the NIS-3 was a bad
> period economically, with the economic upturn only really getting underway
> right at the end of the period covered by the NIS-3.
> 
> Brett Drake Ph.D.
> Associate Professor
> George Warren Brown School of Social Work
> Washington University
> 
> 
> 
> 
> <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
> This association between economic downturn and increased rate of
> notification of Child abuse has been seen in Australia.
> 
> Dr Michael G. Ryan
> The Child Protection Unit
> The New Children's Hospital
> E-mail: MichaeR2@nch.edu.au
> Snail mail: P.O Box 3515
>                  Parramatta NSW 2124
>                  Australia
> Tel: +61 (02) 9845 2493
> Fax: +61 (02) 9845 2495
> 

Murray and/or Addie Levine
e-mail: psylevin@acsu.buffalo.edu
snail mail:  Dept/. Psychology, SUNY Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260
voice: 716-645-3650 ext 228
Fax: 716-645-3801