Double Jeopardy: Child Abuse and Substance Abuse

1
Double Jeopardy Child Abuse and Substance
Abuse

• Calvin R. Trent, PhD, MEd
• Health Director and Public Health Officer
  
• Detroit Department of Health and Wellness
  Promotion (DHWP)
• April 21, 2009

2
Objectives

• To discuss
• The magnitude of child abuse and neglect in
  Detroit
• Risk factors or conditions that promote child
  abuse
• Why child abuse is a public health issue
• How the abuse of alcohol and other drugs
  exacerbates the problem of child abuse and
• Project FAIR a prevention strategy for child
  abuse and substance abuse.

3
Magnitude of Child Abuse and Neglect in the City
of Detroit
4
Child Abuse and Neglect 2006 Data5,15

• United States 3.6 million suspected cases
• 1.8 million (50) reported cases were
  investigated.
• 450,000 (25) were substantiated (assessment
  determined existence of abuse or neglect).
• Michigan 126,000 suspected cases
• 70,000 (56) reported cases were investigated.
• 17,523 (25) were substantiated.

5
City of Detroit Cases of Child Abuse and
Neglect Confirmed 4,5,19

• During the 2003 2006 period
• -15,782 children were victims of child
  abuse/neglect.
• - 37 were children less the 5 years old.
• In 2007, the Wayne County Department of Human
  Services Child Protective Services received
  7,958 reports of child abuse/neglect for Detroit.
• -2,628 went on to become substantiated child
  abuse cases (33)
• -The 7,958 referrals accounted for 60 of all
  referrals from the southeastern part of Wayne
  County.

6
City of Detroit Cases of Child Abuse and
Neglect Confirmed 4,5,19

• In 2006, the Wayne County Department of Human
  Services Child Protective Services received
  8,867 reports of child abuse/neglect for Detroit.
• -3,772 went on to become substantiated child
  abuse cases (42)
• -The 8,867 referrals accounted for 95 of all
  referrals from the southeastern part of Wayne
  County.

7
United States, Michigan and City of
Detroit Victimization Rate (2001 2006) 17,19
Number of substantiated reports of
abuse/maltreatment per 1,000 children
8
City of Detroit Geographic Distribution of
Cases19

• The highest rates of child abuse/neglect cases
  are clustered in five zip codes located in
  central Detroit
• 48208 (25.2 per 1,000) 48202 (19.6) 48206
  (19.5) 48238 (19.1) and 48203 (18.7).
• In 2006, the average child abuse rate was 13.9
  per 1,000 across the 27 zip codes. In 2007, the
  child abuse rate was 11.2 per 1,000 children.

9
(No Transcript)
10
City of Detroit Children Removed From Their
Homes

• In 2007, 45 (1,173 out of 2,628) of child
  victims were removed from their homes.
• In 2006, 37 (1,406 out of 3,772) of child
  victims were removed from their homes. Initially
  they were
• Placed in a relatives home (47)
• Placed in a licensed unrelated foster care (37)
• Place in other parental home (8).

11
City of Detroit Children Placed in Foster Care

• 2000 85 (5,090 of all displaced children) were
  in foster care.
• 2004 4,310 children were in foster care.
• 2006 82 (3,651 of all displaced children)
  were in foster care.

12
City of Detroit Number of Abused and Neglected
Children Placed in Foster Care(2000, 2004,
2006)4,5
13
Risk Factors
14
Risk Factors6

• Younger children under the age of 5.
• Parents or caregivers under the age of 30.
• Substance abuse among caregivers.
• Low income, single parent families experiencing
  major stress.
• Children left with male caregivers who lack
  emotional attachment to child.
• Children with emotional and/or health problems.
• Lack of suitable child care.
• Parents and caregivers with unrealistic
  expectations of child development and behavior.

15
Child Abuse A Public Health Concern
16
Abused Children

• Suffer from a wide variety of physical, emotional
  and developmental problems
• Require health and social care
• Are less likely to lead healthy and productive
  lives and
• Are more likely to have difficulty in school,
  problems with substance abuse and engage in
  criminal behavior.

17
Impact of Substance Abuse onChild Abuse
18
Substance Abuse Child Abuse

• An estimated 70 of abused children live in
  families with AOD problems
• Parents who are substance abusers are three times
  more likely to abuse their children and four
  times more likely to neglect them
• An estimated 67 of parents in the child welfare
  system require substance abuse services.

19
Substance Abuse Treatment Is Necessary

• Substance abuse treatment helps to prevent and
  end the cycle of child abuse.
• According to SAMHSA, 44 of women and 15 of men
  report they entered treatment to retain or regain
  custody of their children.

20
Think PreventionProject FAIR (Families
Achieving Independence Through Recovery)
21
Project FAIR Partners

• Bureau of Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment
  and Recovery
• Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) Child
  Protective Services (formerly FIA-Family
  Independence Agency) facilitated at all Detroit
  offices.

22
Project FAIR A Prevention Strategy

• Prevents Family Disorganization
• Prevents Substance Abuse and
• Prevents Child Abuse and Neglect

23
Project FAIR A Prevention Strategy

• Designed to keep families together
• Provides integrated substance abuse services
  through a continuum of care
• -assessment
• -treatment
• -supportive services
• -aftercare services

24
Project FAIR A Prevention Strategy

• Reduces the number of days a child is absent from
  parent/guardian
• Increases the number of children who successfully
  remain with or are reunified with their families

25
Project FAIR Services

• Substance abuse treatment screenings and
  referrals to parents/guardians who have child
  protective service involvement due to substance
  abuse
• Screenings are offered by telephone or walk-in
  services and
• Clients are directed for services through the
  child protective service worker or foster care
  worker.

26
Project FAIR Eligibility Requirements

• City of Detroit Resident
• Have Medicaid Insurance or Be Uninsured.

27
Project FAIR Accomplishments

• Increasing number of clients due to effective
  communication between partners
• On avg., 30 individuals each month are referred
  to a treatment facility after completing
  screening process with the Women and Family
  Specialist and
• An avg. 24 individuals each month are admitted
  for follow-up services

28
Project FAIR Accomplishments

• Partners meet on a monthly basis to address
  issues and identify strategies/approaches and
• Staff have been properly trained and are
  constantly updated about the program.

29
References

• Chalk R., Gibbons A., Scarupa H.(2002). The
  multiple dimensions of child abuse and neglect
  New insights into an old problem.
• Child Information Gateway. Child Abuse and
  Neglect Fatalities Statistics US Department of
  Health and Human Services. NCANDS Database
  2001-2006.
• Child Trends. Child Abuse Neglect, 2004.
• Fight Crime Invest in Kids Michigan. New Hope
  for Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect in
  Detroit Proven Solutions to Save Lives and
  Prevent Crime, 2008.
• Kids Count in Michigan. Trends in Child
  Well-Being. 2007 Data Book.
• Michigan Public Health Institute, 2006.
• Michigan Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America.
  Childrens Trust Fund. 2005-2006 Fiscal Report.
• National Center on Elder Abuse. A Response to
  the Abuse of Vulnerable Adults. 2003.
• National Center on Elder Abuse. 2004 Survey of
  State Adult Protective Services Abuse of Adults
  60 Years of Age and Older. 2006.
• National Center on Elder Abuse. Elder Abuse
  Information Series. Reporting of Elder Abuse in
  Domestic Settings. 1997.
• National Center on Elder Abuse. Fact Sheet. Elder
  Abuse Prevalence and Incidence. 2005
• State of Michigan. Department of Human Services.
  2007 Trends Summary Report on Child Abuse.
• US Department of Health and Human Services. Child
  Maltreatment 1999.
• US Department of Health and Human Services. Child
  Maltreatment 2001.
• US Department of Health and Human Services. Child
  Maltreatment and Fatality Statistics, 2006.
• US Department of Health and Human Services. Child
  Maltreatment 2006.
• NCANDS databases 2001-2006. US Department of
  Health and Human Services.
• State of Michigan. Department of Human Services.
  2007 Trends Summary Report on Child Abuse.
• Mayors Task Force to Prevent Child Abuse and
  Neglect, 2006 Report to the Community.