A Qualitative Comparison of the Structure and Function of Two Child Protection Systems

Richard Krugman

Kempe Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Richard D. Krugman, MD, is Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine where he has been for his entire academic career. Dr. Krugman is a 1963 graduate of Princeton University, earned his medical degree in 1968 at New York University School of Medicine. He did his internship and residency in pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Krugman joined the CU faculty in 1973. He was a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow in 1980. In 1981, he was named as Director of the C. Henry Kempe National Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, and gained international prominence in the field of child abuse. He was appointed to the U.S. Advisory Board of Child Abuse and Neglect in 1989, serving as Chair from 1989-1991. He served 15 years as Editor-in-Chief of Child Abuse and Neglect: the International Journal (1986-2001) and is currently co-editing the Child Maltreatment book series for Springer. He spent 25 years as Dean of the CU School of Medicine (1990-2015) and was elected to the National Academy of Medicine in 2005.

Abstract

Objectives: The child protection system (CPS) in the Netherlands at its inception was historically situated within the healthcare system, while the CPS in the United States has historically been situated within the child... [ view full abstract ]

Objectives:

The child protection system (CPS) in the Netherlands at its inception was historically situated within the healthcare system, while the CPS in the United States has historically been situated within the child welfare, law enforcement and civil and criminal justice systems. The objective of this study is to compare the structure, function, and outcomes of the CPS in these two nations, using Colorado as the representative state within the U.S.

Method: As part of a larger study that also included Belgium, we conducted 63 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with national, state, and local level administrators and CPS workers in The Netherlands and Colorado. We intentionally sampled administrators and workers from across geographic locations, including urban and rural regions in each location. Interviews were designed to examine perceptions of the structure and function of each CPS system; perspectives on how and why the structure and function of their system has evolved; perceived strengths and weaknesses of the processes and outcomes of their system; and the evaluation of short- and long-term outcomes within their system. Interviews were conducted in either English or Dutch by members of the research team trained in qualitative data collection, digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed according to established qualitative content analysis methodology. Throughout the analytic process, the research team met regularly to discuss emergent codes, themes, and patterns, to confirm inter-coder reliability, and to triangulate data.

Results: We will present the similarities and differences across each system’s mission, approach, and structure, the type and quality of data collected, and the perceived impact of intervention on children and families.

Conclusions: While each CPS system has strengths, both lack the ability to collect data on the quality of their services and the longitudinal outcomes for the children and families they serve.

Authors

Richard Krugman (Kempe Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine)
Laura Schwab-reese (Kempe Center, University of Colorado School of Medicine)
Karen Albright (University of Denver)

Topic Area

Child Protection Systems and Strategies at local, national and international levels

Session

Oral 5 » Session 1-Child Protection Systems (11:00 - Monday, 2nd October, Central America Room)

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