Using administrative data to predict children with multiple reports to child protection

Children and young people, at risk of or experiencing abuse and neglect, are currently cycling in and out of the child protection system and experiencing poor outcomes in many aspects of their lives. Children may be reported... [ view full abstract ]

Children and young people, at risk of or experiencing abuse and neglect, are currently cycling in and out of the child protection system and experiencing poor outcomes in many aspects of their lives. Children may be reported to child protection multiple times before a response is provided. Identifying possible points for early intervention for children, who may have as many as 48 reports, is urgently needed to allow for the provision of appropriate support, to reduce the number of reports and burden on the child protection system, and ultimately improve outcomes for children. This study aimed to examine which, of the factors readily extractable from child protection administrative data, are associated with children who have multiple child protection reports. Unit-record longitudinal administrative data was extracted for all children born in 2001, who had been reported to an Australian child protection department between January 2001 and July 2013. Children were categorised into five groups, based on their level of child protection involvement, using the number of reports they had within this time period, ranging from isolated (one report) to extreme involvement (ten or more reports). This paper will present the characteristics and system involvement for the five groups of children and highlight factors that may be used to predict children’s level of child protection involvement. Findings will identify key points for early intervention with children and families and discuss specific risk and protective factors that characterise children with high levels of child protection involvement. Preliminary findings suggest the urgency of early intervention and targeting infants to ensure families receive a timely and appropriate response.