Marleen Wessels
University of Groningen
As a PhD student at the University of Groningen, Marleen Wessels is conducting research on child welfare, in particular child abuse and neglect. She is involved in project Hestia: an international project on child protection policies and responses in three countries: Germany, England and the Netherlands. The project consists of three studies: a policy analysis, a case file analysis with regard to child protection investigations and interviews with parents who have been involved in a child protection investigation. Her PhD project focusses on decision- making in the Dutch child protection system.
Objectives Several studies indicate that children and families with a migration background or living in poverty are overrepresented in the child welfare system (Fluke, Chabot, Fallon, MacLaurin, & Blackstock, 2010). These... [ view full abstract ]
Objectives
Several studies indicate that children and families with a migration background or living in poverty are overrepresented in the child welfare system (Fluke, Chabot, Fallon, MacLaurin, & Blackstock, 2010). These disparities occur at several decision- making points along the child welfare pathway, including the initial report, acceptance for investigation, and the substantiation decision: a decision that has significant impact on later decisions regarding for example out of home placement. Although several studies found disparities in the child protection system, it has been difficult to find the explanatory factors behind them (Dettlaf et al., 2011). Therefore, the aim of the current presentation is to look into demographic factors that influence the inflow and substantiation decision in the Dutch child protection system.
Method
The substantiation decision was examined using data from a case file analysis of 400 case files of families involved in a child protection investigation in the Netherlands. The relation between demographic characteristics and the substantiation decision was analyzed using multinomial regression models.
Results
In the sample, 35% of the children had a migration background, while in the Dutch population only 22% of the people have a migration background. No significant effect of the migration background was found on the substantiation decision. Nevertheless, other characteristics did have a significant relation with the substantiation decision in the Netherlands, such as documented financial difficulties and drug abuse of parents.
Conclusion
In this study, children and families with a migration background were overrepresented in the Dutch child protection system, but having a migration background did not significantly increase the chance of a substantiation decision. According to expectations, having financial difficulties significantly increased the chance of a substantiation decision. This study showed that child protection decision- making is a complex process which cannot be explained by one single factor.
Child Protection Systems and Strategies at local, national and international levels
