Bong Joo Lee

Poverty, early childbearing, and child maltreatment: A multinomial analysis

Abstract We examine child maltreatment among the 1982–1988 birth cohorts in Illinois specific to three categories of maltreatment allegations: sexual abuse, other types of abuse, and neglect. Using multinomial logit regression, we examine the effects of seven independent variables on allegation-specific child maltreatment. The independent variables examined are mothers age at birth, community child poverty rate, birth year, region, sex of the child, birth order and race or ethnicity. We find that, even after controlling for other sociodemographic variables, maternal age and poverty are each strong predictors of a substantiated report of all types of child maltreatment. The results indicate that the two factors combined compound the risk of being a victim of substantiated child maltreatment. This finding suggests that a more comprehensive approach that aims to lessen the economic stress of young mothers while addressing their parenting skills may have a direct effect on reducing child maltreatment.

State Hospital Reentry Among Youth with Serious Emotional Disturbance: A Longitudinal Analysis

We investigated the demographic, service history, and clinical factors associated with readmission to state operated inpatient psychiatric hospitals by children and adolescents. Using computerized administrative data records for 3,969 consecutive index admissions of individuals between the ages of 7 and 17 inclusive, we examined hospital reentry among youth receiving services at these facilities. The univariate analysis comparing youths who reentered the hospital with those who did not reenter indicated that reentry was more likely to occur among African American youths and among those who were diagnosed with psychotic disorders. Reentry occurred less frequently among youths diagnosed with depressive disorders. Reentry also occurred less frequently among youths living in areas having an organized array of community-based mental health services. Youths who reentered the hospital were significantly older and had longer prior hospitalizations than those not reentering. The proportional hazards model used in the analysis indicated several factors associated with increased likelihood of hospital reentry. African American youths and individuals diagnosed with a psychotic disorder were more likely to reenter the hospital. Younger youths and those having lengthy prior hospitalizations were at increased risk for reentering the hospital. Youths living in urban, white, higher income communities were less likely to reenter the hospital.

Matching and cleaning administrative data

This paper addresses the cleaning and linking of individual-level administrative data for the purposes of social program research and evaluation. We define administrative data as the data collected in the course of programmatic activities for the purposes of program operation, client-level tracking, service provision, or decision-making — essentially, non-research activities. Although some data sets are collected with both programmatic and research activities in mind (wage reports are a good example), researchers usually think of administrative data as a secondary data source in contrast to surveys that are conducted solely for research purposes.

The Rationale for Measuring and Monitoring Children’s Well-Being

This volume is entirely devoted to the subject of measuring and monitoring children’s1 well-being. It is not intended primarily to be an academic or research venture, but rather to provide a tool for practitioners, professionals, and, in fact, anyone who works with and for children. We believe that such a tool is essential for any meaningful effort to promote the well-being of children. Initially, some four years ago, a small group of children’s advocates—practitioners and researchers—asked themselves the following question: if measuring and monitoring children’s well-being is so obviously important and has such positive potential, why do we still face numerous problems in developing and implementing the use of these valuable tools? Moreover, where such tools do exist, the practice of actual and consistent monitoring is rare.

Underlying Assumptions and Basic Guidelines for Measuring and Monitoring Children’s Well-Being

We began this volume by laying out our rationale for supporting efforts aimed at measuring and monitoring the well-being of children. We have also reviewed the efforts to date, addressing a wide variety of studies and reports, nationally and internationally, which reflect the very extensive agreement among governmental and nongovernmental organizations, scholars, and practitioners on the need to continue, and indeed to expand, these measuring and monitoring efforts. In this chapter, we provide an explanation of our basic assumptions, and explicate the general principles that have guided our research and recommendations.

How to Measure and Monitor Children’s Well-Being

The scope and innovative nature of the proposed domains and indicators of children’s well-being are in many ways both reasons for hope and reasons for despair. When looking at the list of proposed indicators in the previous chapter, it seems the most vital aspect of their acceptance and use is the existence of data, or at least the possibility of identifying sources of information and an adequate way to collect the data.

Five “New” Domains of Children’s Well-Being

In this chapter, we present the five domains of children’s well-being selected by our international study group. The chapter is divided into five sections. First we discuss the need for new domains; then, we turn to the question of why five domains rather than a single theoretical framework. hi the third section, we present the context we used for selecting those specific domains. Then, in the fourth section, we present the domains we selected. Finally, in the fifth section, we discuss some implications for choosing indicators within the domains.

Summary and Agenda for the Future

In the previous eight chapters, we have tried to convey a message, a message that measuring and monitoring children’s well-being is a feasible task. Furthermore, it is a vital task for anyone who wishes to positively affect children’s well-being.

Measuring and Monitoring Children’s Well-Being and the Making of Policy

By now it should be clear: we strongly, believe that any effort to measure and monitor children’s well-being is justified by its positive direct and indirect impact on children’s lives. Knowing for the sake of knowing, planning, and even monitoring is not enough. Measuring children’s wellbeing should be undertaken for the sake of improving the state of the child.

Possible Indicators of Children’s Well-Being

Any effort to monitor and measure children’s well-being is contingent on finding and using the right measures for the task. As a result of earlier work, it seemed appropriate to contribute to this ongoing effort by opening up new domains and concentrating on aspects of well-being beyond survival and positive development of children (see Chapters 3 & 4). Thus, in this chapter, we suggest lists of indicators as an addition to and not a replacement for existing domains and indicators of children’s well-being.