Browsing by Author "Sokol, Rebeccah L."

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    Prevalence and context of firearms-related problems in child protective service investigations
    (Elsevier, 2020-09) Sokol, Rebeccah L.; Victor, Bryan G.; Piellusch, Emily K.; Nielsen, Sophia B.; Ryan, Joseph P.; Perron, Brian E.; School of Social Work
    Background: Despite the significance of firearm safety, we need additional data to understand the prevalence and context surrounding firearm-related problems within the child welfare system. Objective: Estimate proportion of cases reporting a firearm-related problem during case initiation and the contexts in which these problems exist. Sample and setting: 75,809 caseworker-written investigation summaries that represented all substantiated referrals of maltreatment in Michigan from 2015 to 2017. Methods: We developed an expert dictionary of firearm-related terms to search investigation summaries. We retrieved summaries that contained any of the terms to confirm whether a firearm was present (construct accurate) and whether it posed a threat to the child. Finally, we coded summaries that contained firearm-related problems to identify contexts in which problems exist. Results: Of the 75,809 substantiated cases, the dictionary flagged 2397 cases that used a firearm term (3.2 %), with a construct accuracy rate of 96 %. Among construct accurate cases, 79 % contained a firearm-related problem. The most common intent for a firearm-related problem was violence against a person (45 %). The co-occurrence of domestic violence and/or substance use with a firearm-related problem was high (41 % and 48 %, respectively). 49 % of summaries that contained a firearm-related problem did not provide information regarding storage. Conclusion: When caseworkers document a firearm within investigative summaries, a firearm-related risk to the child likely exists. Improved documentation of firearms and storage practices among investigated families may better identify families needing firearm-related services.
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    Using administrative data to uncover how often and why supervisory neglect happens: Implications for child maltreatment prevention
    (Elsevier BV, 2021-12) Sokol, Rebeccah L.; Victor, Bryan G.; Mariscal, E. Susana; Ryan, Joseph P.; Perron, Brian E.; School of Social Work
    Background Despite supervisory neglect being the most prevalent and fatal neglect sub-type, the most common reasons why caregivers are substantiated for this type of maltreatment remains unknown. Objective Our study describes cases substantiated for supervisory neglect in a Midwestern state in an effort to inform prevention strategies against supervisory neglect. Participants and setting This study utilized state administrative data from substantiated child maltreatment investigations conducted between May 1st and October 31st, 2019 (N = 11,208). Methods We first identified the substantiated investigations where supervisory neglect was present and established investigation-level correlates for these cases. We then selected a random sample of investigations with a substantiated allegation of supervisory neglect (n = 150) for a qualitative review of written investigative narratives to uncover the contextual factors of supervisory neglect and identify which factors frequently co-occur. Results Supervisory neglect was the most common maltreatment type, present in 71% (n = 7945) of substantiated child welfare investigations. Our qualitative review of 150 randomly selected cases identified ten distinct, non-mutually exclusive contextual factors of supervisory neglect. Child exposure to domestic violence was the most prevalent contextual factor (45%), followed by caregiver's substance-related problems (42%). Childhood exposure to domestic violence and caregiver's substance-related problems was the most common co-occurrence of factors, present in 18% of cases. Conclusions Supervisory neglect accounts for the vast majority of child maltreatment incidents. To prevent the largest share of supervisory neglect cases, policy and programs are needed to address domestic violence and substance-related problems among caregivers.