This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Drake, B. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Drake, B. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Unraveling "Unsubstantiated"

Washington University

Substantiation rates have long been the primary variable associated with research into child protective services (CPS) early intervention. Rates of substantiation have been used to criticize the efficiency of CPS screening procedures, to suggest that mandated reporting laws are cumbersome and require revision, and to posit that large numbers of CPS assessments result in high levels of unintended negative consequences for reported families. Substantiation is commonly used in empirical research as a proxy for the appropriateness of CPS referrals. These practices are problematic for several reasons. This article argues that many or most unsubstantiated reports involve either some form of maltreatment or preventive service needs appropriate to CPS intervention, and that using substantiation as a means of gauging the validity of a CPS referral is therefore intrinsically fallacious. A harm/evidence model is presented as an aid to conceptualizing the heterogeneity of unsubstantiated reports. The validity of the model is explored through a review of relevant empirical work. The article concludes with a series of suggestions for future research.

Child Maltreatment, Vol. 1, No. 3, 261-271 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/1077559596001003008


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. J. English, J. C. Graham, R. R. Newton, T. L. Lewis, R. Thompson, J. B. Kotch, and C. Weisbart At-Risk and Maltreated Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Aggression/Violence: What the Conflict Looks Like and Its Relationship to Child Outcomes Child Maltreat, May 1, 2009; 14(2): 157 - 171. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Fluke Allegory of the Cave: On the Theme of Substantiation Child Maltreat, February 1, 2009; 14(1): 69 - 72. [PDF]

				N. Trocme, D. Knoke, B. Fallon, and B. MacLaurin Differentiating Between Substantiated, Suspected, and Unsubstantiated Maltreatment in Canada Child Maltreat, February 1, 2009; 14(1): 4 - 16. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. B. Fakunmoju Substantiation and Adverse Appeal Outcomes: Content Analysis and Testing of Drake's Harm/Evidence Model Child Maltreat, February 1, 2009; 14(1): 53 - 68. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. P. Cross and C. Casanueva Caseworker Judgments and Substantiation Child Maltreat, February 1, 2009; 14(1): 38 - 52. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. L. Kohl, M. Jonson-Reid, and B. Drake Time to Leave Substantiation Behind: Findings From A National Probability Study Child Maltreat, February 1, 2009; 14(1): 17 - 26. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. E. Casanueva, T. P. Cross, and H. Ringeisen Developmental Needs and Individualized Family Service Plans Among Infants and Toddlers in the Child Welfare System Child Maltreat, August 1, 2008; 13(3): 245 - 258. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. T. Merrick, A. J. Litrownik, M. D. Everson, and C. E. Cox Beyond Sexual Abuse: The Impact of Other Maltreatment Experiences On Sexualized Behaviors Child Maltreat, May 1, 2008; 13(2): 122 - 132. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. B. Kotch, T. Lewis, J. M. Hussey, D. English, R. Thompson, A. J. Litrownik, D. K. Runyan, S. I. Bangdiwala, B. Margolis, and H. Dubowitz Importance of Early Neglect for Childhood Aggression Pediatrics, April 1, 2008; 121(4): 725 - 731. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Fluke, G. R. Shusterman, D. M. Hollinshead, and Y.-Y. T. Yuan Longitudinal Analysis of Repeated Child Abuse Reporting and Victimization: Multistate Analysis of Associated Factors Child Maltreat, February 1, 2008; 13(1): 76 - 88. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T. P. Cross, D. Finkelhor, and R. Ormrod Police Involvement in Child Protective Services Investigations: Literature Review and Secondary Data Analysis Child Maltreat, August 1, 2005; 10(3): 224 - 244. [Abstract] [PDF]

				H. Dubowitz, R. R. Newton, A. J. Litrownik, T. Lewis, E. C. Briggs, R. Thompson, D. English, L.-C. Lee, and M. M. Feerick Examination of a Conceptual Model of Child Neglect Child Maltreat, May 1, 2005; 10(2): 173 - 189. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. Drake, M. Jonson-Reid, I. Way, and S. Chung Substantiation and Recidivism Child Maltreat, November 1, 2003; 8(4): 248 - 260. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. King, N. Trocme, and N. Thatte Substantiation as a Multitier Process: The Results of a NIS-3 Analysis Child Maltreat, August 1, 2003; 8(3): 173 - 182. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Jonson-Reid After a Child Abuse Report:: Early Adolescents and the Child Welfare System The Journal of Early Adolescence, February 1, 2002; 22(1): 24 - 48. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. Radhakrishna, I. E. Bou-Saada, W. M. Hunter, D. J. Catellier, and J. B. Kotch Are Father Surrogates a Risk Factor for Child Maltreatment? Child Maltreat, November 1, 2001; 6(4): 281 - 289. [Abstract] [PDF]

				B. Drake and M. Jonson-Reid Substantiation and Early Decision Points in Public Child Welfare: A Conceptual Reconsideration Child Maltreat, August 1, 2000; 5(3): 227 - 235. [Abstract] [PDF]