Tova B. Walsh

Race and ethnic differences in early childhood maltreatment in the United States.

Objective: In the United States, over 6 million children were referred to child protective services in 2012. Black children are overrepresented among children investigated for child abuse and neglect. Understanding why black children are disproportionately reported for maltreatment is critical to informing policy and practice solutions. Two competing theories attribute disproportionality to either racial bias or concentrated risk factors. Although prior work has focused on national data, this study examines the relationship between risk factors and maltreatment at the state level, focusing on outcomes for young children. Method: We examine the relationship between early childhood poverty and maltreatment victimization across white, black, and Hispanic children (0–3 years). Using state-level data (N = 48), we determine ratios of disproportionate outcomes in child maltreatment and associations to poverty and other risk factors. Results: Study findings for state-level data show greater disproportionality of black and Hispanic children living in poverty relative to their white counterparts. This imbalance is associated with greater disproportionality in maltreatment rates. Results also indicate that disproportionality of maltreatment rates was associated with state disproportionality in rates of unmarried and teenage mothers for blacks and Hispanics. Conclusion: Exposure to risks such as poverty is an important factor driving the overrepresentation of minority groups in the child welfare system. Effective strategies for reducing maltreatment must include strategies for reducing poverty and supporting young at-risk mothers.

Strategies to Engage Men and Boys in Violence Prevention A Global Organizational Perspective

This study presents descriptive findings from in-depth interviews with 29 representatives of organizations in Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and North and South America that engage men and boys in preventing gender-based violence. In particular, the findings suggest that strategies are responsive to the specific cultural, economic, and contextual concerns of the local community, with nuanced messages and appropriate messengers. In addition, respondents reported key principles informing their organizational strategies to deepen men and boys’ engagement. Attention is also paid to respondents’ caution about the risks of framing of engagement practices as separate from both women’s organizations and women and girls themselves.

STRONG, SAFE, AND SECURE: NEGOTIATING EARLY FATHERING AND MILITARY SERVICE ACROSS THE DEPLOYMENT CYCLE

Military fathers of young children often endure repeated separations from their children, and these may disrupt the early parent-child relationship. Postdeployment reunification also poses challenges; disruptions that have occurred must often be repaired in the context of heightened emotions on the part of each family member at a time when fathers are themselves readjusting to the routines and responsibilities of family life. The current study employed qualitative research with the central aim of informing a richer understanding of these experiences. Interviews were conducted with 14 military fathers of young children who had experienced separation from their families during deployment. Narratives were coded using principles of grounded theory, and common parenting themes were extracted. Fathers shared their hopes that their young children would develop qualities of strength, confidence, and self-sufficiency. They also discussed difficulty in supporting the development of these qualities in their young children due to problems dealing with the negative emotions and difficult behaviors that their children exhibited. Reliance on their parenting partner was commonly cited as an effective strategy as fathers transitioned back to family life. Implications for intervention programs include the provision of parenting and self-care skills and inclusion of the fathers parenting partner in the intervention.

Promoting Protective Factors and Strengthening Resilience

Protective factors are qualities of individuals and conditions in families and communities that serve to preserve and promote child and family well-being. They function as buffers, mitigating risk for child abuse and neglect and promoting resilience, which is the ability to successfully and positively adapt to circumstances that threaten well-being. In this chapter, the authors draw on literature from within and beyond the field of child maltreatment prevention to present findings that can inform prevention efforts. The chapter addresses: (1) the emergence of protective factors and resilience as a focus of practice and research, (2) the growing evidence of the importance of focusing on protective factors and resilience in child maltreatment prevention, (3) examples of innovative programming and research efforts that specifically focus on strengthening families by promoting protective factors and enhancing resilience, (4) how these types of promotional approaches can be taken to scale, and (5) research and policy initiatives with the potential to inform program planning.

Mothers and deployment: Understanding the experiences and support needs of deploying mothers of children birth to five

ABSTRACT Military deployments can demand long separations of service members and their families. The strain of separation is particularly acute for mothers of very young children. This study aimed to better understand the deployment and reintegration experiences of service members who are mothers of young children. Focus groups and interviews were conducted with 12 service member mothers who deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan when one or more of their children was younger than age 6. Discussions explored experiences before, during, and after deployment; needs and challenges at each stage; available support resources and gaps in support. Thematic data analysis was conducted, drawing on principles of grounded theory. Disruption and continuity were central themes as participants illuminated the challenges they faced and their profound dedication to sustaining strong family relationships across the deployment cycle. Relinquishing, reassuming, and balancing multiple roles and responsibilities are additional themes that were frequently evoked. Participants noted a lack of formal resources responsive to their needs and circumstances and highlighted a need for services tailored to mothers who are deploying. Military mothers, particularly mothers of young children, face distinct challenges surrounding deployment. Better understanding their experiences and support needs can inform tailored services to meet their needs.