Purpose. Promoting effective and appropriate child abuse and neglect reporting among the public requires an understanding of community attitudes about what, when and how to report and whether there are differences across sub-groups (gender, age, race/ethnicity, parental status, residence (urban, suburban, rural) and mandated reporter status). Results would inform a public awareness campaign. Method. As part of a formative research project for an upstate New York Department of Social Services, 400 randomly selected residents responded to a community telephone survey. Survey content, based on earlier phases of the project (key informant interviews and focus groups), included the decision to report (if observed in neighborhood or out shopping), factors that affect reporting (e.g. adequate information, abuse pattern, fear of retaliation, not my business) and perceptions of child protective services (e.g. acts in interest of child, child removal likely). Open and closed-ended questions were used. Findings. More similarities than differences were found with noteworthy variation in the tendency to act, who to call and perceptions of CPS. Males, African-American respondents and younger respondents had statistically significant different responses (e.g. less likely to: report, call CPS). Respondents generally agreed that extreme abuse or a pattern would be easier to report (both 89%). Barriers to reporting were: concern about anonymity (89%) and whether it is their business (90%). 63% thought CPS would remove the child and 82% thought CPS acted in the child's best interests. Discussion. Improving reporting behaviors should focus on helping people reach their threshold for reporting and correcting misperceptions about CPS.
Learning Objectives: 1. Discuss a process to determine communty opinions about child abuse and neglect reporting 2. Based on the results from one community, describe factors that promote or dissuade the general public from reporting child abuse and neglect 3. Based on the results from one community, identify differences across sub-groups (e.g. by gender, age)
Keywords: Family Violence, Reporting
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.