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Psychological and physical abuse towards four-year-old children as reported by their parents: a national Finnish survey
- Authors:
- LEPPAKOSKI Tuija, VUORENMAA Maaret, PAAVILAINEN Eija
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 118, 2021, p.105127.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Background: In Finnish society, child maltreatment is a health and social problem with harmful consequences. Identifying families at risk may help preventing child maltreatment recurrence. Objective: The aim of this nationwide retrospective cross-sectional study was to describe the child- and family-related risk factors associated with physical and psychological abuse experienced by 4-year-old children. Methods: This study analyzed nationwide survey data collected by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare. Overall, 17,009 parents (46%) visiting at a child health clinic filled out the survey consent form. For 8720 children, one or both parents completed the questionnaire (24%). Analyses were carried out using χ2 tests and binary logistic regression. Results: Of the 4-year-olds, 44% had experienced at least one form of psychological abuse and 14% physical abuse. These forms of violence co-occurred in 25% of the reported cases (p < 001). Intimate partner violence (IPV) and child maltreatment co-occurred in 19.6% of psychological abuse (p < .001) and 22.5% of physical abuse cases (p < .001). Parents exposed to IPV was the risk factor most likely to predict an increased risk for both psychological abuse (OR 4.01, CI 3.41–4.72; p < .001), and physical abuse (OR 2.19, CI 1.81–2.64; p < .001). Approving of hair-pulling or pinching the child (i.e., using corporal punishment) was most likely to predict an increased risk of physical abuse (OR 13.70, CI 11.69–16.06; p < .001). Conclusions: The findings emphasize the importance of preventing all forms of child maltreatment by identifying families at risk and supporting parenthood according to families' needs. (Edited publisher abstract)
Effectiveness of child protection practice models: a systematic review
- Authors:
- ISOKUORTTI Nanne, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 108, 2020, p.104632.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Attempts to improve child protection outcomes by implementing social work practice models embedded in a particular theory and practice approach, have increased internationally over the past decade. Objective: To assess the evidence of the effectiveness of child protection practice models in improving outcomes for children and families.Participants and setting: Children < 18 years and their families involved in child protection services. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to synthesize evidence regarding the effectiveness of child protection practice models. Systematic searches across 10 electronic databases and grey literature were conducted to identify quasi-experimental studies minimally. Included studies were critically appraised and the findings summarized narratively. Results: Five papers, representing six studies, focusing on three practice models (Solution-Based Casework; Signs of Safety; and Reclaiming Social Work) met the inclusion criteria. All studies applied a quasi-experimental design. Overall, the quality of the evidence was rated as being poor, with studies suffering from a risk of selection bias, small sample sizes and short-term follow up. Conclusions: Despite the popularity of practice models, the evidence base for their effectiveness is still limited. The results suggest that high-quality studies are urgently needed to evaluate the impact of practice models in improving the outcomes of child-protection-involved families. The findings also illustrate the difficulties of conducting high-quality outcome evaluations in children’s social care, and these challenges and future directions for research, are discussed. (Publisher abstract)
Child welfare removal of infants: exploring policies and principles for decision-making in Nordic countries
- Authors:
- HESTBAEK Anne-Dorthe, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 108, 2020, p.104572.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This descriptive policy analysis examines the position of infants’ rights in the family service orientated child welfare systems of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden when being placed in out-of-home care. Its focus is on the contexts of, and legal procedures for, removing babies from home into public care. Children under the age of one year are taken into public care mainly through voluntary and emergency measures. Analysis of the development over a decade displays big intra-country differences in the prevalence of infant removal, varying from 2 per 1000 to 8 per 1000. The scant prevalence of public policy, practice guidelines and research indicates that infant removal is in some ways an anomaly, an unspoken leaf in the Nordic child welfare systems, whereas the Nordic welfare states otherwise extensively support families with young children through universal interventions. The findings invite to a re-examination of the rights of infants and their specific needs in the welfare states in order to establish responsive and efficient child protection systems. (Publisher abstract)
Are child protection workers and judges in alignment with citizens when considering interventions into a family? A cross-country study of four jurisdictions
- Authors:
- BERRICK Jill, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 108, 2020, p.104562.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This paper examines whether and how the views of professional decision makers in public agencies and courts in four child protection jurisdictions align with the views of the public. Democratic states are built on the foundation that state polices are accountable to, and represent, the citizens’ will. The extent to which this is the case in child protection is largely unknown. This study draws on survey vignette data collected from three samples (citizens, child protection staff and judiciary decision makers) representing society at large, the child welfare agency, and judicial systems in four jurisdictions - England, Finland, Norway, and the U.S. (California). Findings from this study suggest that there is a high degree of similarity across countries in the public’s views about children’s need for services, and the poor outcomes that may result absent a service response. Views between child protection professionals and the public diverge the most when considering if the child is suffering from neglect and the use of intrusive state interventions. Child protection staff and judges’ perspectives within each country are in general alignment and show the impact of the established systems on considerations. The results may have implications for the design of social policy in the area of child protection internationally. (Edited publisher abstract)
From care to education and work? Education and employment trajectories in early adulthood by children in out-of-home care
- Authors:
- KAARIALA Antti, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Child Abuse and Neglect, 98, 2019, p.104144.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
Background: Temporal dynamics during the early adulthood transition among children in out-of-home care is a neglected research area, leaving the possibility of coping with childhood adversity over time a poorly understood topic. Objective: To explore early adulthood education and employment trajectories among young adults who experienced out-of-home care during childhood and to examine how various care history factors predict these trajectories. Participants: The study uses longitudinal birth cohort data comprising individual-level information from national registers of all children born in Finland in 1987 (N = 59,476, of whom 1893 were in care). Setting and methods: The research uses trajectory clustering from a previous study on the 1987 birth cohort to compare trajectories between children in care and a propensity score–matched group of peers never in care. The study investigated the association between care history factors and trajectories with multinomial logistic regression modeling. Results: Compared with the matched peer group, children in care were less likely to enter trajectories characterized by education and employment (38%) and more likely to enter trajectories involving early parenthood (14%) or long periods of fragmented social assistance benefit receipt and unemployment (21%). Those on early parenthood trajectories were almost exclusively women, whereas those receiving social assistance benefits and experiencing unemployment for lengthy periods were mostly men. Entering disadvantaged trajectories was associated with, inter alia, placement as an adolescent, residential care, and aging out of care. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the relevance of examining longitudinal trajectories in children in care’s early adulthood. Many young adults with care experience need support in education and employment beyond young adult age. (Edited publisher abstract)
The feasibility of an online discussion group as a component of targeted youth work in Finland
- Authors:
- KIVIJARVI Antti, AALTONEN Sanna, VALIMAKI Vesa
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 105, 2019, p.104411.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This paper investigates the potential of online group activities alongside one-to-one offline counselling in youth work targeted toward young adults not in employment or education. The study examines the feasibility of moderated anonymous online group (MAOG) discussions from a comprehensive standpoint, with reference to the perspectives of end-users, service providers and further research. The paper is based on a two-arm, quasi-experimental and mixed methods study. To this end, the data consists of group interviews with young adults and youth workers arranged at the beginning of the study, baseline and follow-up interviews, online discussion threads, as well as evaluations of the online group activities. The piloted intervention was most acceptable to young adults who suffered from loneliness and had difficulties in joining face-to-face groups. Most youth work professionals considered the pilot viable. Finally, several modifications are suggested prior to implementing an experimental setting to study the effectiveness of the intervention. (Edited publisher abstract)
The factors that contribute educational outcomes of adolescents placed in care due to severe behavioral problems
- Authors:
- TALASLAMPI Heli, JAHNUKAINEN Markku, MANNINEN Marko
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 102, 2019, pp.210-221.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
According to multiple studies, adolescents placed in out-of-home care (OOHC) are less well-educated than their peers in the general population. Reform school (RS) is an institution for youth placed in OOHC due to severe behavioural problems. The educational outcomes of former RS residents are not known. This study examined the possible differences in educational level by comparing Finnish national register data for 814 former RS residents in four cohorts (placed in out-of-home care in 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2006) to 4021 of their peers in the general population matched by gender, age, and place of birth. The educational level differences were analysed by the χ2 test of association. Logistic regression models were performed to identify the predictors of having a basic education only. Based on the results, individuals with an RS background have a high risk of low education. Among the RS population, being in the youngest cohort, lack of aftercare provided by RSs, and a diagnosis of substance-related disorders predict lower levels of education. These results call for immediate action. Long-term aftercare programs should be provided for former RS residents. Extending compulsory school attendance to upper secondary study is likely to improve the educational level of the RS population. In addition, effective programs for intervening substance abuse problems should be provided both in RS and aftercare. By these actions, it may be possible to reduce current social exclusion and poor long-term prognosis associated with RS placement. (Edited publisher abstract)
Group-based parenting program to improve parenting and children's behavioral problems in families using special services: a randomized controlled trial in a real-life setting
- Authors:
- KARJALAINEN Piia, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 96, 2019, pp.420-429.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This randomized controlled trial (RCT) evaluated the effectiveness of the Incredible Years (IY) Parenting Program in modifying children's behavioral problems, parenting practices and parents' psychological well-being among families under child protection and using other special support services. Participants in the study were 3–7-year-old children with behavioral problems (n = 102, intervention group n = 50, control group n = 52) and their parents (n = 122). The results show that parent reported child problem behavior as well as clinical levels of behavioral problems decreased to a greater extent in the intervention group than in the control group. The intervention also increased positive parenting practices. Changes in parental stress or parents' psychological well-being in the intervention did not differ from those in the control group over time. The results suggest some promising evidence that the IY parenting intervention may be effective in the context of child protection and other family support services in real-life conditions. (Edited publisher abstract)
Care leavers in early adulthood: how do they fare in Britain, Finland and Germany?
- Authors:
- CAMERON Claire, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 87, 2018, pp.163-172.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
In this paper we examine the longer term outcomes of young people who experienced out of home care (OHC) as children, in Britain, Germany and Finland, countries characterised by different welfare regimes. While there is some evidence on immediate transitions after leaving care (up to age 21), there is less evidence on experiences around age 30, a phase of early adulthood. Drawing on existing longitudinal data for general population samples we focus on outcomes related to education, employment, family, health and receipt of welfare benefits for those who were ever in care and those who were not. We find evidence for continuing disadvantage regarding education and employment for those who were in care as children, but also indications of subjective wellbeing and commitment to family life – possibly a reflection of “normality” and efforts to “fit in” as parents. Surprisingly, despite variations in welfare system and differences in the scope and quality of available data, trends were similar in each of the countries, suggesting that none provide adequately for the needs of care experienced young adults. The findings point towards the need for a revised conceptualisation of the notion of “independence” which has to take into account the manifold and changing relationships between individuals and the state. Instead of a “cliff edge” approach there should be support for a more gradual shift from “dependence” to “independence” enabling those with care experience to develop their full potential. In interpreting the findings, limitations of the available data have to be acknowledged, pointing to the need for generating harmonised and longitudinal data on vulnerable subpopulations to enable effective monitoring of needs and provision. (Edited publisher abstract)
Care order templates as institutional scripts in child protection: a cross-system analysi
- Authors:
- BERRICK Duerr Jill, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Children and Youth Services Review, 84, 2017, pp.40-47.
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
This article compares blank care order application templates used in four countries (England, Finland, Norway, and USA (California)), treating them as a vital part of the ‘institutional scripts’ that shape practice, and embody state principles of child protection. The templates are used when child protection agencies apply to court for a care order, usually to remove a child from the family home. The templates prescribe and shape the type of information and analysis that is required justify such an extreme level of state intervention in family life. They are a mechanism and a manifestation of the principles and the legislation of each child welfare system, and are able to cast light on issues that might otherwise remain unseen or unnoticed in cross-country comparisons. The analysis of the documents compares the language and form of the four blank templates, their inter-textuality, their readership, and authors. The analysis highlights the discretionary space allocated to social workers across countries and the state frameworks within which child protection efforts are embedded. (Publisher abstract)