Research Digests
June 8, 2005
Topics:
Preventing Abuse
and Neglect Among Ages 0-5
Five
Top Risk Factors for Infant Maltreatment
Children under age 1 account for the largest percentage of maltreatment
victims in the U.S. A recent study of nearly 4,500 infants in Florida
determined that the five most significant factors associated with infant
maltreatment were: smoking during pregnancy; more than two siblings; Medicaid
beneficiary; unmarried mother; and low birth weight. Mothers and infants
with at least four of the top five risk factors had maltreatment rates
seven times higher than the population average.
Policy
Recommendations for Child Abuse Prevention and Foster Care
The Zero to Three Policy Center recently released a fact sheet emphasizing
the importance of child abuse prevention among young children. The fact
sheet outlines nine policy recommendations mostly addressing foster care,
but it includes one recommendation focused on the need to use evidence-based
approaches for preventing child maltreatment. Relevant research and promising
strategies, including successful home visiting programs, also are described.
Latest
State and National Child Maltreatment Figures
Child Maltreatment 2003, a report released recently by the National Clearinghouse
on Child Abuse and Neglect Information, offers state and national data
on referrals for maltreatment, substantiated cases, and types of abuse
and neglect. The report also includes information on perpetrators of maltreatment,
child protective services workforce workload, and preventive and post-investigation
services.
Also See: Kidsdata.org
has child maltreatment data for San Mateo and Santa Clara counties
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Promoting
Emotional & Behavioral Health in Preteens
Drugs and Violence Begin as Early as Fourth Grade
National data from the Pride Survey shows that while drug use and violent
behaviors begin as early as the fourth grade, the average age of onset
is between ages 12 and 13, when most students are in the seventh grade.
Among fourth graders, the survey found that:
- 31% report being threatened and 32% have been hit by another student
at school
- 17% said it would be easy to get a gun
- 3% reported using alcohol on a monthly basis, and 2% used tobacco
monthly or more frequently
Once drug use begins, the number of students using drugs accelerates
rapidly from grade level to grade level. For example, the percentage of
students reporting monthly drug use is 39% higher in the seventh grade
than in sixth grade and 68% higher in eighth grade than seventh grade.
Full report on grades four-six: http://www.pridesurveys.com/main/supportfiles/ue03ns.pdf
Sixth-Grade
Behavior May Indicate Risks
A new study by the Philadelphia Education Fund and Johns Hopkins University
found that certain behavior of sixth graders may predict high school dropouts.
The report shows that nine of 10 Philadelphia sixth graders who failed
English or math, were flagged for bad behavior, or attended school less
than 80 percent of the time, didn’t graduate from high school on
time. Ten percent of these students graduated a year late, and most of
the rest never graduated.
Factors
That Make a Difference in Preventing Youth Violence
A report from the University of Minnesota, "Influencing Behavior:
The Power of Protective Factors in Reducing Youth Violence," describes
community, family, and individual factors found to have significant impact
on reducing youth violence. For example, boys and girls are less likely
to be involved in violent behavior when they report feeling connected
to their school, feeling connected to adults outside their immediate family,
and feeling safe in their neighborhood.
Also See: "Preventing Violence and Related Health-Risking
Social Behaviors in Adolescents," http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/epcsums/adolvisum.pdf
Preventing
Problems, Promoting Development, Encouraging Engagement
In recent decades, a shift has occurred in how researchers, policymakers,
and practitioners think about youth development. This updated Forum for
Youth Investment paper examines this paradigm shift, outlines related
youth outcomes, reviews research on adolescent development, and emphasizes
ideas about young people becoming stronger participants in their communities.
Recent Articles and Reports on After School Programs
Note: Additional preteen-related news and research can be found in
the LPFCH Preteen
Digests
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Also of Note
California's
Adolescents: Findings from the 2001 California Health Interview Survey
This report presents a public health profile of California adolescents
ages 12-17 years, covering topics such as substance use, sexual activity,
and adult supervision. Among the findings, 16% of adolescents with adult
supervision after school reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days,
compared to 27% of adolescents who lacked such supervision. The report
also notes that with the emphasis on programs for ages 0-5, parents tend
to receive much information about child rearing in the early years; however,
information on effective parenting skills for older ages, particularly
for the transition into the middle-childhood years (6-10), is often lacking.
Report
on Bay Area Youth Violence
A United Way study on youth violence in seven Bay Area counties found
that even though the Bay Area’s youth violence rate registers better
than the state average, nearly two-thirds of the 600 youth surveyed said
they or their friends had been victims of violence. The report does not
cover Santa Clara County, but does include data for San Mateo County.
It states that 8 out of 10,000 youth ages 10-17 in San Mateo County committed
suicide or were hospitalized for self-inflicted injury in 2002, slightly
higher than the Bay Area-wide average of 6 per 10,000.
Future
of Children: Closing the Gaps in School Readiness
The Spring 2005 issue of The Future of Children examines racial and ethnic
disparities among young children entering school -- including the controversial
issue of school-entry testing, and the effects of family income, genetics,
health, parenting and pre-K on children’s school readiness.
Also See: 2005 Santa Clara County School Readiness Assessment,
http://www.uwsv.org/programs/planning_asriscc.pdf
Child
Well-Being in the Nation: A Mixed Picture
The national 2005 Index of Child Well-Being, which combines data on 28
indicators covering health, safety, economics, emotional well being and
other areas, found dramatic declines in rates of violence and risky behaviors,
such as teen pregnancy and substance use during the past 10 years. However,
a greater percentage of children live in poverty today than did in 1975,
and obesity rates have more than tripled in 30 years.
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Web Resources
National
Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information Website Updated
New materials on child abuse prevention were added to this site in April.
This year's theme, "Safe Children and Healthy Families Are a Shared
Responsibility," is carried throughout in a community resource packet,
which includes both English and Spanish materials, and provides fact sheets
that offer concrete suggestions for ways that organizations and individuals
can share responsibility for preventing abuse and neglect.
State
After-School Profiles: New Search Tool Available
The Afterschool Investments Project has added a new way to search the
Afterschool Investments State Profile Series. In addition to viewing your
state's profile, you now can search the national database of state initiatives.
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