Approximately 1,100 women records of infants who were born to mothers receiving Medi-Cal will be matched against the statewide database of reported child abuse and neglect over a 16 month period. Prenatal records of Medi-Cal mothers who abused/neglected their children and records of non-abusing Medi-Cal mothers will be examined for risk or protective factors related to child maltreatment. The dependant variables will be items chosen from the Medi-Cal perinatal risk assessment and birth records. The outcome variables will be official reports of different types of child abuse or neglect documented in the California child welfare system.
The outcome variables for this study will be reported cases of child abuse and neglect documented in the California Child Welfare System (CWS). Professionals such as doctors, counselors, teachers or child care workers are required by law to call CWS or law enforcement when they suspect a child has been abused or neglected. Reports also come from parents relatives or neighbors. The social worker collects information from the reporting party to determine whether the allegations meet the legal definitions described in the Child Abuse and Neglect Report Act. If the report meets the definition of abuse or neglect, an investigation is begun. If the allegation does not meet the definition of abuse or neglect, no investigation will be done by child protective services; however, the family may be referred to another agency for assistance.
Learning Objectives: List five prenatal indicators that distinquish between low income
Keywords: Risk Assessment,