Lessons from Canadian incidence studies: Connecting data to policy and practice to accelerate change - Major findings from the 2014 Quebec incidence study of reported child maltreatment (QIS-2014) and trends from 1998

OBJECTIVES. The QIS has been conducted periodically since 1998 in collaboration with all 16 Quebec child protection agencies. It provides reliable estimates of the frequency of reported child maltreatment and its evolution... [ view full abstract ]

OBJECTIVES. The QIS has been conducted periodically since 1998 in collaboration with all 16 Quebec child protection agencies. It provides reliable estimates of the frequency of reported child maltreatment and its evolution over a 16-year period. It also describes the characteristics of the reported situation, as well as the characteristics of the child and his/her family environment. Findings from the previous cycles of the QIS revealed that from 1998 to 2008, while the overall rate of confirmed reports remained stable, neglect decreased and exposure to intimate partner violence increased. Furthermore, the situations confirmed in 2008 appeared to be less severe than in 1998. The aim of this presentation is to extend this analysis with recent findings from the last cycle of the QIS (2014). METHOD. An electronic survey form was completed by the social worker responsible of the investigation for a representative sample of children investigated by child protection services in Fall 2014. The QIS-2014 survey form is compatible with the one that was used in the provinces of Ontario and Alberta for their incidence studies in 2013, allowing for comparisons on core measures of frequency and characteristics of reported maltreatment. RESULTS. The sample is composed of 4,011 investigated children, with 53% of boys. Mean age is 8.5 years old and the most frequent form of substantiated maltreatment is neglect (27%). Most of children (81%) had their mother as primary caregiver and 14% have been placed in substitute care during the investigation. Rates of children investigated and confirmed for different forms of maltreatment will be presented and compared with the rates from previous cycles. The evolution in the severity of the situations will also be examined. CONCLUSIONS. Results will be discussed in the light of social context and policies that prevails in Québec in the domain of child protection.