State Efforts to Identify Maltreated Children with Disabilities: A Follow-Up Study

Abstract

Child abuse and neglect state liaison officers representing 50 states and 7 U.S. territories were surveyed regarding data collection procedures, accuracy of reporting, state assistance to local agencies, and training for child welfare workers in the area of maltreated children with disabilities. The current study is a replication of a similar survey conducted by Camblin in 1982. Results indicate that (a) more states provided assistance to local child welfare agencies than was reported in 1982, (b) the number of states that routinely collected disability information in child maltreatment cases had declined, (c) seven states documented specific disabilities in children, (d) two states reported on the number of children disabled as a result of abuse, (e) fewer states reported having accurate information on the incidence of disabled children reported for maltreatment, and (f) seven states required training in disabilities for child welfare workers, with an average of four hours required. Implications of the results for identifying and serving maltreated children with disabilities are discussed and recommendations for child welfare agencies are presented.