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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Shayala Williams, MPH, M. Katherine Rosanbalm, PhD, Christina Christopoulos, PhD, and Kenneth Dodge, PhD. Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke University, PO BOX 90539, Durham, NC 27708-0539, 919-668-3297, shayalaw@duke.edu

The Durham Family Initiative (DFI) is a multidisciplinary community-based approach aimed at reducing child maltreatment rates in Durham County, North Carolina. Official DSS reports of child maltreatment are widely believed to underestimate the true prevalence of child maltreatment. In order to more effectively evaluate the impact of DFI programs, we are supplementing the official rates with other types of data-gathering approaches. The first alternative approach is a random door-to-door household survey initially conducted in 2004. The survey included several questions on self and neighbor observations of positive and negative child/parent interactions. The next approach is a survey of professional perceptions of child maltreatment conducted during late 2004. These surveys will be repeated every two years to measure changes over time.

Less than one percent of children in Durham County were substantiated by DSS for physical abuse or neglect during the fiscal year 2004/2005. The household and professional surveys suggest a far higher prevalence of child maltreatment. Self reported indicators from the household survey found ten percent of respondents countywide indicated they had lost control when disciplining their four- to six-year-old in the past month. Six percent of respondents reported witnessing physical abuse against their nearest four- to six-year-old neighbor in the past month. These findings were consistent with data from the survey of professional perceptions. Durham County professionals estimated ten percent of children they encountered through work during the previous year were physically harmed by a primary caregiver. Costs, benefits, and methodological limitations of each method will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to

• Develop alternative methods of evaluating child maltreatment prevention programs.
• Describe the use of two survey methodologies to estimate child maltreatment rates.
• Discuss the costs, benefits, and limitations of child maltreatment prevention evaluation approaches.

Keywords: Family Violence, Evaluation

Related Web page: www.childandfamilypolicy.duke.edu/research_projects/durham_family_initiative.htm

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.ppt format, 132.0 kb)