FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILD-ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN RESIDENTIAL CARE SETTINGS

A random sample of 510 reports of child abuse and neglect incidents in residential care settings was studied in order to begin to develop a systematic understanding of the causes of such incidents. The study was focused on the time and day of the incidents, the time and day of oral reports to the New York State Child Abuse and Maltreatment register, the characteristics of the children involved in the incidents, and the characteristics of the workers involved. It was found that the children allegedly maltreated in residential care settings were older than children abused and neglected in familial settings, that younger staff were more likely to be involved in incidents than older staff, and that male staff were more likely to be involved than female staff. It was also found that incidents were more likely to occur between 5:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. In contrast, reporting to the register occurred more frequently between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Incidents of suspected abuse and neglect were reported to the register more quickly if they occurred between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on weekdays.