Defining Repeat Maltreatment

[carolyn hartley <carolyn-hartley@xxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Colleagues,

We are looking for any thoughts and/or literature on defining repeat
maltreatment.  Our project, with the Partnership for Safe Families in Cedar
Rapids, IA, includes 500 confirmed child maltreatment incidents (parent or
parental figure only perpetrators) spanning a 20 month period.  

One set of planned analyses will look at factors that predict repeat
maltreatment.  We are currently trying to decide how to define "repeat
maltreatment."  One option is to define maltreatment at the family level -
any repeat incident of maltreatment against any child by any
parent/parental figure.  Another strategy would be to define repeat at the
individual level.  For example, if the father was the abuser in both
incidents, it would be classified as a repeat; but if the mother was the
abuser in one incident, and the father in another, then this would not be
considered a repeat case.

An additional issue to add to the mix would be type of maltreatment - if a
parent/parental figure is founded for neglect in one incident, and physical
abuse in a later incident, should this be classified as a repeat as well?

We would appreciate any comments on ways to define repeat maltreatment and
the advantages and disadvantages of both.

Regards,

Carolyn Copps Hartley, Ph.D. 	Carol Coohey, Ph.D.
University of Iowa, School of Social Work