Improving the Tracking of Child Abuse and Neglect

Posted by on November 05, 2012

Improving the Tracking of Child Abuse and Neglect

PolicyLab at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia announces the a new Evidence to Action brief, Tracking Child Abuse and Neglect: The Role of Multiple Data Sources in Improving Child Safety.  This Evidence to Action brief identifies strategies to improve the surveillance and tracking of child abuse and neglect.  To better to respond to and prevent child maltreatment, the brief provides tools and case examples to help agency administrators:  1) Compare aggregate results from multiple data sources, 2) Link case-based data from multiple sources, and 3) Establish uniform data definitions and data collection protocols.

Recent data show U.S. rates of child abuse not declining as suggested by national reporting systems. Instead, hospital data indicate that rates of the most severe cases of abuse are increasing.  To address this disconnect, the brief suggests the need for more comprehensive strategies to capture trends in maltreatment.

http://policylab.us/index.php/publications/evidence-to-action/301-tracking-child-abuse-and-neglect-the-role-of-multiple-data-sources-in-improving-child-safety.html

About PolicyLab at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

PolicyLab is a center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia that develops evidence-based solutions for the most challenging health-related issues affecting children. PolicyLab engages in research that is both responsive to community needs and relevant to policy priorities, partnering with practitioners, policymakers, and families throughout the research process. Through its work, PolicyLab identifies the programs, practices, and policies that support the best outcomes for children and their families, disseminating its findings beyond research and academic communities as part of its commitment to transform evidence to action.

Website: http://www.research.chop.edu/PolicyLab

Twitter: @PolicyLabCHOP