Changes in patterns of child neglect

[Arroyo <>]

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>Date: Mon, 28 Sep 1998 14:44:37 -0400
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>To: NDACAN@cornell.edu (Andres Arroyo)
>From: Jane Powers <jlp5@cornell.edu> 
>Subject: Changes in patterns of child neglect
>
>I received the following inquiry from a colleague and am posting this on the
>list for her.  Are other  communities experiencing a similar change in
>patterns of child neglect?? 
>
>Local CPS workers in Tompkins County New York have noticed that neglect
>investigations, neglect petitions in Family Court, and placements of
>children for neglect have suddenly started rising very dramatically,
>beginning about 12 months ago. Abuse patterns have remained similar to prior
>years, and are not rising in the same way as neglect.
>
>Professionals in our county have been discussing possible reasons for this
>change and haven't discovered any big single cause.  The profile of families
>is the same as in prior years (issues are mental 
>health of parents and/or domestic violence and/or substance abuse).  Typical
>allegations remain the same: lack of supervision, lack of family stability,
>etc.  Ages of children being removed tends toward 
>teens for related PINS/JD, and younger children.
>
>Therories we've considered and mostly rejected because of lack of evidence
>for a major effect are:
>
>- many more police hot-line reports from increased attention to children in
>domestic violence situations
>- increased stress on families due to welfare changes (pressure to work or
>denial of welfare benefits)
>- changes in Dept. of Social Services staff, supervisors, judges, lawyers
>- raising of local or state standards for indicated neglect or for removal
>of children
>- reduction of preventive services
>
>We are left to conclude that either we haven't yet discovered a big, unusual
>change, or that the cause is due to lots of small changes, all moving in the
>same direction.  Our hunch is the latter, with complex family reactions to
>welfare policy as significant but hard to see.  For example, increase in
>single mothers working is likely leading to less supervision of kids,
>especially during evening or night if the mothers have shift-work.
>
>We do wonder whether other communities, within New York State or elsewhere
>are experiencing this pattern, because it might help us examine the relative
>impact of state or national influences vs. local influences. 
>
>By the way, our county's unemployment rate is consistently the lowest in the
>state, about 2-3%, and we have not seen any sudden changes in the local
>economy.  In fact, it has improved by all traditional 
>measures during the past 12 months.
>
>Any help on this issue would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Sara Hess
>Tompkins County Youth Bureau
>sara_hess@HSB.CO.TOMPKINS.NY.US
>
>
>
>Jane Powers
>jlp5@cornell.edu
>
>