A Public Health Approach to Safeguarding in the 21st Century

Recent government policy has focused on the provision of a safe environment for all children. Parenting support is increasingly being recognised as a core method of safeguarding children, and this is of particular importance, given the widespread prevalence of maltreatment and poor parenting practices, the overwhelming number of child protection referrals and the inherent flaws in risk assessment. Until recently, there was no formulation of an overall model of practice based on these changes. In this paper, we present compelling reasons for believing that a public health approach to safeguarding is the only way of ensuring that all children are protected within a population, including children at high risk. The rationale for the delivery of such a model is presented alongside the application of one such evidence‐based population‐level strategy, which has been demonstrated to reduce population‐level indicators of maltreatment. Novel approaches to the delivery of parenting interventions including media‐based strategies are discussed in terms of their potential for reaching families who may be missed by traditional services. The economic aspects of a public health model are discussed, and their relevance for middle‐ and low‐income countries. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Citing Literature

Number of times cited: 23

• Angelo P. Giardino, Michelle A. Lyn and Eileen R. Giardino , Introduction: Child Abuse and Neglect , A Practical Guide to the Evaluation of Child Physical Abuse and Neglect , 10.1007/978-3-030-00635-8_1 , (3-26) , (2018) . Crossref
• Christina M. Rodriguez and Shannon M.O. Wittig , Predicting child problem behavior and maternal/paternal parent-child aggression: Identifying early prevention targets , Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology , 10.1016/j.appdev.2018.11.001 , 60 , (76-86) , (2019) . Crossref
• Barry Luckock, Jane Barlow and Chris Brown , Developing innovative models of practice at the interface between the NHS and child and family social work where children living at home are at risk of abuse and neglect: a scoping review , Child & Family Social Work , 22 , S4 , (62-69) , (2015) . Wiley Online Library
• Shilpa Boppana and Christina M. Rodriguez , Mediators between Parenting History and Expected At-Risk Parenting: Role of Conformity, Coping, and Attitudes , Journal of Child and Family Studies , 26 , 11 , (3237) , (2017) . Crossref
• Peter Sidebotham , Fatal Child Maltreatment , The Wiley Handbook of What Works in Child Maltreatment , (48-70) , (2017) . Wiley Online Library
• Nick Axford and Vashti Berry , Perfect Bedfellows: Why Early Intervention Can Play a Critical Role in Protecting Children—A Response to Featherstone et al. (2014) ‘A Marriage Made in Hell: Child Protection Meets Early Intervention’ , The British Journal of Social Work , (2017) . Crossref
• Wendy Nicholson and Gillian Turner , School Nursing: Making a Difference in Adolescent Health and Well-Being , International Handbook on Adolescent Health and Development , 10.1007/978-3-319-40743-2_26 , (489-510) , (2016) . Crossref
• Tanya S. Hinds and Angelo P. Giardino , Policy Direction: Focus on Prevention , Child Physical Abuse: Current Evidence, Clinical Practice, and Policy Directions , 10.1007/978-3-319-61103-7_4 , (113-147) , (2017) . Crossref
• Christina M. Rodriguez, Tamika L. Smith and Paul J. Silvia , Parent–Child Aggression Risk in Expectant Mothers and Fathers: A Multimethod Theoretical Approach , Journal of Child and Family Studies , 25 , 11 , (3220) , (2016) . Crossref
• Christina M. Rodriguez, Tamika L. Smith and Paul J. Silvia , Multimethod prediction of physical parent–child aggression risk in expectant mothers and fathers with Social Information Processing theory , Child Abuse & Neglect , 51 , (106) , (2016) . Crossref
• Susan J. White and David G. Wastell , Epigenetics Prematurely Born(e): Social Work and the Malleable Gene , British Journal of Social Work , (bcw157) , (2016) . Crossref
• Christina M. Rodriguez, Enrique Gracia and Marisol Lila , Multimethod prediction of child abuse risk in an at-risk sample of male intimate partner violence offenders , Child Abuse & Neglect , 60 , (27) , (2016) . Crossref
• A. Gonzalez‐Izquierdo, A. Ward, P. Smith, C. Walford, J. Begent, Y. Ioannou and R. Gilbert , Notifications for child safeguarding from an acute hospital in response to presentations to healthcare by parents , "Child: Care, Health and Development" , 41 , 2 , (186-193) , (2014) . Wiley Online Library
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• Madeleine Stevens , The cost‐effectiveness of UK parenting programmes for preventing children's behaviour problems – a review of the evidence , Child & Family Social Work , 19 , 1 , (109-118) , (2012) . Wiley Online Library
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• Matthew Mullen , Getting serious about the human right to play , Asia Pacific Journal of Sport and Social Science , 3 , 2 , (130) , (2014) . Crossref
• Sarah Skeen and Mark Tomlinson , A public health approach to preventing child abuse in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A call for action , International Journal of Psychology , 48 , 2 , (108-116) , (2013) . Wiley Online Library
• Peter Sidebotham , Rethinking Filicide , Child Abuse Review , 22 , 5 , (305-310) , (2013) . Wiley Online Library
• Stuart Logan, Ruth Gilbert and Jenny Woodman , Developing services for a public health approach to child maltreatment , The International Journal of Children's Rights , 20 , 3 , (323) , (2012) . Crossref
• , Public Health Approaches to Safeguarding Children , Child Abuse Review , 20 , 4 , (231-237) , (2011) . Wiley Online Library
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Volume 20 , Issue 4 July/August 2011

Pages 238-255     

Are our Frontline Clinicians Equipped with the Ability and Confidence to Address Child Abuse and Neglect?

Previous studies have suggested that child abuse and neglect (CAN) is under recognised and under reported. Our aims were to examine and compare child protection (CP) knowledge, confidence and practice of frontline clinicians in general practice and hospital settings in South Western Sydney (SWS). We surveyed doctors and nurses in general practice and in the emergency department (ED) in a district in SWS using a validated questionnaire. Of the 113 responses, 62 were general practitioners (GPs), 9 practice nurses, 26 ED nurses and 16 ED doctors. The confidence level with identifying CAN was moderate, with a significant difference between groups. The majority (59%) had made previous CP reports, few suspected but decided not to report; reporting rates differed significantly. A majority (80%) reported some CP training; of the 22 with no training, 21 were GPs and practice nurses. Of those reporting some training, more than 70 per cent of ED nurses, GPs and practice nurses felt their training was inadequate, compared with 19 per cent of ED doctors. There are significant differences in confidence and practice between frontline clinicians in primary care and ED. Targeted CP training should be provided for all frontline clinicians with particular emphasis on primary care GPs. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘We surveyed doctors and nurses in general practice and in the emergency department’

‘There are significant differences in confidence and practice between front‐line clinicians in primary care and ED’

Citing Literature

Number of times cited: 12

• Lauren E. Lines, Alison E. Hutton and Julian Grant , Integrative review: nurses' roles and experiences in keeping children safe , Journal of Advanced Nursing , 73 , 2 , (302-322) , (2016) . Wiley Online Library
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• Louise Everitt, Caroline Homer and Jennifer Fenwick , Working with Vulnerable Pregnant Women Who Are At Risk of Having their Babies Removed by the Child Protection Agency in New South Wales, Australia , Child Abuse Review , 26 , 5 , (351-363) , (2016) . Wiley Online Library
• Stephanie Zielinski, Heather A. Paradis, Pamela Herendeen and Paula Barbel , The Identification of Psychosocial Risk Factors Associated With Child Neglect Using the WE-CARE Screening Tool in a High-Risk Population , Journal of Pediatric Health Care , 31 , 4 , (470) , (2017) . Crossref
• Rick Hood, Jayne Price, Daniele Sartori, Daryl Maisey, Jessica Johnson and Zoe Clark , Collaborating across the threshold: The development of interprofessional expertise in child safeguarding , Journal of Interprofessional Care , 31 , 6 , (705) , (2017) . Crossref
• Tara Flemington, Cathrine Fowler, Quang Nhat Tran and Jennifer Fraser , Clinician Response to Child Abuse Presentations in the Vietnamese Hospital Emergency Setting , Journal of Interpersonal Violence , (088626051771322) , (2017) . Crossref
• Simeon J.A. Visscher and Henk F. van Stel , Variation in prevention of child maltreatment by Dutch child healthcare professionals , Child Abuse & Neglect , 70 , (264) , (2017) . Crossref
• Tara Flemington and Jennifer Fraser , Building workforce capacity to detect and respond to child abuse and neglect cases: A training intervention for staff working in emergency settings in Vietnam , International Emergency Nursing , 34 , (29) , (2017) . Crossref
• Annerley Bates , The Impact of Limited Organisational and Community Resources on Novice Child Protection Workers: A Queensland Example , Child Abuse Review , 24 , 6 , (452-462) , (2013) . Wiley Online Library
• Shanti Raman, Michelle Maiese, Katrina Hurley and David Greenfield , Addressing the Clinical Burden of Child Physical Abuse and Neglect in a Large Metropolitan Region: Improving the Evidence-Base , Social Sciences , 3 , 4 , (771) , (2014) . Crossref
• Peter Sidebotham , Culpability, Vulnerability, Agency and Potential: Exploring our Attitudes to Victims and Perpetrators of Abuse , Child Abuse Review , 22 , 3 , (151-154) , (2013) . Wiley Online Library
• , Perspectives of Neglect , Child Abuse Review , 21 , 2 , (77-80) , (2012) . Wiley Online Library

Volume 21 , Issue 2 March/April 2012

Pages 114-130     

A Public Health Approach to Child Maltreatment Surveillance: Evidence from a Data Linkage Project in the United States

Historically, data concerning children reported for abuse or neglect in the US have been compiled by child protective service agencies and analysed independently from other sources of information. Yet these data suffer from the notable limitations of being both narrow in scope (i.e. containing a limited set of variables) and narrow in coverage (i.e. capturing data for only those children who are reported). In order to extend an understanding of children reported for maltreatment, the California Department of Social Services, in partnership with the University of California at Berkeley, is pursuing a ‘public health’ oriented approach to the surveillance of child maltreatment through linkages between child protective service records and population‐based sources of data. As an example of the information that can be generated through linked records, this article reports results from child‐level matches completed between the state's child protective service records and vital birth records. The cumulative percentage of children reported for abuse or neglect before the age of five is examined based on maternal and child characteristics at birth. This is followed by a discussion of record linkages as a means of furthering a public health approach to child maltreatment. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Number of times cited according to CrossRef: 28

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• Muhammad Chutiyami, Shirley Wyver, Janaki Amin, Is Parent engagement with a child health home-based record influenced by early child development and first-born status? hypotheses from a high-income countries’ perspective, Medical Hypotheses, 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.109605, (109605), (2020). Crossref
• Fred Wulczyn, Race/Ethnicity and Running Away from Foster Care:, Children and Youth Services Review, 10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105504, (105504), (2020). Crossref
• Amy Conley Wright, Melissa Kaltner, Assessing the Outcomes of Alternative Care and Treatment Responses, 5G for Future Wireless Networks, 10.1007/978-3-030-05858-6_3, (35-47), (2019). Crossref
• Katharine W. Buek, David L. Lakey, Dorothy J. Mandell, Paternity establishment at birth and early maltreatment: Risk and protective effects by maternal race and ethnicity, Child Abuse & Neglect, 10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104069, 95 , (104069), (2019). Crossref
• A J Mason-Jones, J Loggie, Child sexual exploitation. An analysis of serious case reviews in England: poor communication, incorrect assumptions and adolescent neglect, Journal of Public Health, 10.1093/pubmed/fdy227, (2019). Crossref
• Gia Elise Barboza-Salerno, Examining Spatial Regimes of Child Maltreatment Allegations in a Social Vulnerability Framework, Child Maltreatment, 10.1177/1077559519850340, (107755951985034), (2019). Crossref
• Stacy Ann Hawkins, Kathrine S. Sullivan, Ashley C. Schuyler, Mary Keeling, Sara Kintzle, Paul B. Lester, Carl A. Castro, Thinking “Big” About Research on Military Families, Military Behavioral Health, 10.1080/21635781.2017.1343696, 5 , 4, (335-345), (2017). Crossref
• Gillian Henderson, Christine Jones, Ruth Woods, Sibling birth order, use of statutory measures and patterns of placement for children in public care: Implications for international child protection systems and research, Children and Youth Services Review, 10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.10.001, 82 , (321-328), (2017). Crossref
• Steven A. Sumner, Matthew J. Maenner, Christina M. Socias, James A. Mercy, Paul Silverman, Sandra P. Medinilla, Steven S. Martin, Likang Xu, Susan D. Hillis, Sentinel Events Preceding Youth Firearm Violence, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 10.1016/j.amepre.2016.08.002, 51 , 5, (647-655), (2016). Crossref
• Michael S. Wald, Beyond CPS: Developing an effective system for helping children in “neglectful” families, Child Abuse & Neglect, 10.1016/j.chiabu.2015.01.010, 41 , (49-66), (2015). Crossref
• Kenneth A. Dodge, Ron Haskins, Children and Government, Handbook of Child Psychology and Developmental Science, 10.1002/9781118963418, (1-50), (2015). Wiley Online Library
• Jane V. Appleton, Peter Sidebotham, The Child at the Centre of Care, Child Abuse Review, 10.1002/car.2383, 24 , 2, (77-81), (2015). Wiley Online Library
• Emily Putnam-Hornstein, James David Simon, Andrea Lane Eastman, Joseph Magruder, Risk of Re-Reporting Among Infants Who Remain at Home Following Alleged Maltreatment, Child Maltreatment, 10.1177/1077559514558586, 20 , 2, (92-103), (2014). Crossref
• Michelle Johnson-Motoyama, Emily Putnam-Hornstein, Alan J. Dettlaff, Kechen Zhao, Megan Finno-Velasquez, Barbara Needell, Disparities in Reported and Substantiated Infant Maltreatment by Maternal Hispanic Origin and Nativity: A Birth Cohort Study, Maternal and Child Health Journal, 10.1007/s10995-014-1594-9, 19 , 5, (958-968), (2014). Crossref
• Christopher Wildeman, Jane Waldfogel, Somebody's Children or Nobody's Children? How the Sociological Perspective Could Enliven Research on Foster Care, Annual Review of Sociology, 10.1146/annurev-soc-071913-043358, 40 , 1, (599-618), (2014). Crossref
• Carol W. Metzler, Matthew R. Sanders, Julie C. Rusby, Multiple Levels and Modalities of Measurement in a Population-Based Approach to Improving Parenting, Emerging Methods in Family Research, 10.1007/978-3-319-01562-0_12, (197-214), (2014). Crossref
• Michael S. Wald, Beyond Maltreatment: Developing Support for Children in Multiproblem Families, Handbook of Child Maltreatment, 10.1007/978-94-007-7208-3_13, (251-280), (2014). Crossref
• Peter Fallesen, Natalia Emanuel, Christopher Wildeman, Cumulative Risks of Foster Care Placement for Danish Children, PLoS ONE, 10.1371/journal.pone.0109207, 9 , 10, (e109207), (2014). Crossref
• Janice McGhee, Fiona Mitchell, Brigid Daniel, Julie Taylor, Taking a Long View in Child Welfare: How Can We Evaluate Intervention and Child Wellbeing Over Time?, Child Abuse Review, 10.1002/car.2268, 24 , 2, (95-106), (2013). Wiley Online Library
• Emily Putnam-Hornstein, Barbara Needell, Bryn King, Michelle Johnson-Motoyama, Racial and ethnic disparities: A population-based examination of risk factors for involvement with child protective services, Child Abuse & Neglect, 10.1016/j.chiabu.2012.08.005, 37 , 1, (33-46), (2013). Crossref
• Rhema Vaithianathan, Tim Maloney, Emily Putnam-Hornstein, Nan Jiang, Children in the Public Benefit System at Risk of Maltreatment, American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 10.1016/j.amepre.2013.04.022, 45 , 3, (354-359), (2013). Crossref
• Bryn King, Jennifer Lawson, Emily Putnam-Hornstein, Examining the Evidence, Child Maltreatment, 10.1177/1077559513508001, 18 , 4, (232-244), (2013). Crossref
• Emily Putnam-Hornstein, Mario A. Cleves, Robyn Licht, Barbara Needell, Risk of Fatal Injury in Young Children Following Abuse Allegations: Evidence From a Prospective, Population-Based Study, American Journal of Public Health, 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301516, 103 , 10, (e39-e44), (2013). Crossref
• J.P. Mersky, J. Topitzes, A.J. Reynolds, Impacts of adverse childhood experiences on health, mental health, and substance use in early adulthood: A cohort study of an urban, minority sample in the U.S., Child Abuse & Neglect, 10.1016/j.chiabu.2013.07.011, 37 , 11, (917-925), (2013). Crossref
• Michael S. Wald, Beyond Maltreatment: Developing Support for Children in Multiproblem Families, SSRN Electronic Journal, 10.2139/ssrn.2205471, (2013). Crossref
• Anne Lazenbatt, Lisa Bunting, Julie Taylor, Consequences of infant maltreatment on child wellbeing, British Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 10.12968/bjmh.2012.1.3.171, 1 , 3, (171-175), (2012). Crossref
• Public Health Approaches to Safeguarding Children, Child Abuse Review, 10.1002/car.1196, 20 , 4, (231-237), (2011). Wiley Online Library

Volume 20 , Issue 4 July/August 2011

Pages 256-273     

The UNCRC and Social Workers' Relationships with Young Children

In the UK, The Munro Review of Child Protection (2010, 2011a, 2011b) has recently highlighted that among the failings in safeguarding children known to social services is the lack of meaningful relationships between social workers and children. In her final report, Munro (2011b) has made recommendations for a more child‐centred system anchored on two themes – the child's journey and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). This article illustrates by way of practical examples how the UNCRC, together with the detailed advice and guidance contained in the UNCRC general comments numbers 5, 7 and 12, provides the best framework for developing effective social work relationships with, and safeguarding, young children. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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Number of times cited according to CrossRef: 14

• Robert B Porter, Recording of Children and Young People’s Views in Contact Decision-Making, The British Journal of Social Work, 10.1093/bjsw/bcz115, 50 , 6, (1796-1815), (2019). Crossref
• Ercüment Erbay, Ertu?rul Hatipo?lu, Sosyal Hizmet Uzmanlar?n?n Gerçekle?tirdikleri Mesleki Uygulamalarda ve Ald?klar? Kararlarda Çocuklar?n Kat?l?m Hakk?n? Dikkate Alma Durumlar?, OPUS Uluslararas? Toplum Ara?t?rmalar? Dergisi, 10.26466/opus.538109, (2019). Crossref
• Cheryl McCormack, Marie Gibbons, Caroline McGregor, An Ecological Framework for Understanding and Improving Decision Making in Child Protection and Welfare Intake (Duty) Practices in the Republic of Ireland, Child Care in Practice, 10.1080/13575279.2019.1685464, (1-17), (2019). Crossref
• Paul McCafferty, Implementing Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in Child Protection Decision-Making: a Critical Analysis of the Challenges and Opportunities for Social Work, Child Care in Practice, 10.1080/13575279.2016.1264368, 23 , 4, (327-341), (2017). Crossref
• Joe Duffy, Mary Collins, Sook Hyun Kim, Linking family engagement with a rights perspective: macro factors influencing practice, European Journal of Social Work, 10.1080/13691457.2016.1255925, 21 , 1, (45-60), (2016). Crossref
• Jo Dillon, Daz Greenop, Mel Hills, Participation in child protection: A small-scale qualitative study, Qualitative Social Work: Research and Practice, 10.1177/1473325015578946, 15 , 1, (70-85), (2015). Crossref
• Michele Cascardi, Cathy Brown, Svetlana Shpiegel, Ariel Alvarez, Where Have We Been and Where Are We Going? A Conceptual Framework for Child Advocacy, SAGE Open, 10.1177/2158244015576763, 5 , 1, (215824401557676), (2015). Crossref
• Karmen Toros, Michael C. LaSala, Marju Medar, Assessment of Children in Need in a Post-Soviet Context: Reflections of Child Protective Workers in Estonia, Journal of Family Social Work, 10.1080/10522158.2015.1065458, 18 , 4, (267-287), (2015). Crossref
• G.G. van Bijleveld, C.W.M. Dedding, J.F.G. Bunders-Aelen, Seeing eye to eye or not? Young people's and child protection workers' perspectives on children's participation within the Dutch child protection and welfare services, Children and Youth Services Review, 10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.09.018, 47 , (253-259), (2014). Crossref
• Julie Ridley, Cath Larkins, Nicola Farrelly, Shereen Hussein, Helen Austerberry, Jill Manthorpe, Nicky Stanley, Investing in the relationship: practitioners’ relationships with looked‐after children and care leavers in Social Work Practices, Child & Family Social Work, 10.1111/cfs.12109, 21 , 1, (55-64), (2013). Wiley Online Library
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• C. Larkins, J. Ridley, N. Farrelly, H. Austerberry, A. Bilson, S. Hussein, J. Manthorpe, N. Stanley, Children's, Young People's and Parents' Perspectives on Contact: Findings from the Evaluation of Social Work Practices, British Journal of Social Work, 10.1093/bjsw/bct135, 45 , 1, (296-312), (2013). Crossref
• Karmen Toros, Anne Tiko, Koidu Saia, Child-centered approach in the context of the assessment of children in need: Reflections of child protection workers in Estonia, Children and Youth Services Review, 10.1016/j.childyouth.2013.03.011, 35 , 6, (1015-1022), (2013). Crossref
• Jane V. Appleton, Peter Sidebotham, Making an Impact for Children, Child Abuse Review, 10.1002/car.1208, 20 , 6, (391-394), (2011). Wiley Online Library

Volume 20 , Issue 6 November/December 2011

Pages 395-406     

Investing to Protect Our Children: Using Economics to Derive an Evidence‐based Strategy

Child abuse and neglect are global problems that affect over 25 per cent of children and have serious health, social and economic consequences. Government and other agencies are heavily committed to the provision of services to address the consequences of abuse and neglect. In a climate of scarce resources, there is increasing interest in developing cost‐effective strategies to prevent child maltreatment. Economic evaluation in the context of formal ‘priority setting’ can contribute to the development of an efficient child protection strategy and at the same time develop the arguments to support an increased investment in the prevention of child maltreatment. Key challenges arise from incompleteness of the evidence base of effective interventions and the considerable complexity of the cross‐portfolio effects. The latter has resulted in the widespread failure to capture the full range of impacts, most notably intergenerational effects, quality of life and mortality. This means the benefits of investing in effective preventive strategies to address child maltreatment will be underestimated and too few resources allocated to this important task. Adoption of the proposed priority‐setting framework and translation into action are likely to reduce child maltreatment and associated harms for children at risk now and in the future. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Citing Literature

Number of times cited: 7

• Inga Wagenknecht, Uta Meier-Gräwe and Ute Ziegenhain , Kosten und Nutzen Früher Hilfen - aktuelle Erkenntnisse und zukünftiger Forschungsbedarf/ Economic efficiency of early intervention – current findings and future need for research , Kindesmisshandlung und -vernachlässigung , 18 , 1 , (10) , (2015) . Crossref
• Nicole RS Boyer, Kathleen A Boyd, Fiona Turner-Halliday, Nicholas Watson and Helen Minnis , Examining the feasibility of an economic analysis of dyadic developmental psychotherapy for children with maltreatment associated psychiatric problems in the United Kingdom , BMC Psychiatry , 14 , 1 , (2014) . Crossref
• Madeleine Stevens, Lucy Harris, Megan Ellis, Crispin Day and Jennifer Beecham , Investigating changes in use of services by high‐need families following the Helping Families Programme, an innovative parenting intervention for children with severe and persistent conduct problems , Child and Adolescent Mental Health , 19 , 3 , (185-191) , (2013) . Wiley Online Library
• Madeleine Stevens , The cost-effectiveness of UK parenting programmes for preventing children's behaviour problems - a review of the evidence , Child & Family Social Work , 19 , 1 , (109) , (2014) . Crossref
• Sarah Skeen and Mark Tomlinson , A public health approach to preventing child abuse in low- and middle-income countries: A call for action , International Journal of Psychology , 48 , 2 , (108) , (2013) . Crossref
• Peter Sidebotham , Safeguarding in an Age of Austerity , Child Abuse Review , 21 , 5 , (313-317) , (2012) . Wiley Online Library
• , Public Health Approaches to Safeguarding Children , Child Abuse Review , 20 , 4 , (231-237) , (2011) . Wiley Online Library

Volume 20 , Issue 4 July/August 2011

Pages 274-289     

Representations of Attachment Patterns in the Family Drawings of Maltreated and Non‐maltreated Children

The study was conducted to investigate and compare the attachment styles of maltreated and non‐maltreated children through the use of the family drawing technique. The sample consisted of ten maltreated and ten non‐maltreated children between the ages of five and 11. The findings revealed that the maltreated children depicted significantly more items in their drawings linked to an insecure attachment pattern than non‐maltreated children, while the non‐maltreated children made use of significantly more drawing features linked to a secure attachment pattern. These results corresponded to scores on the Child Behaviour Checklist (Achenbach, 1991). All maltreated children scored in the clinical range. The family drawings of maltreated children significantly evidenced a greater distress ? represented by an insecure attachment pattern – than the drawings of non‐maltreated children represented by a secure attachment style. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘The family drawings of maltreated children significantly evidenced a greater distress’

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• Peter D. Rehder, W. Roger Mills-Koonce, Nicholas J. Wagner, Bharathi J. Zvara, Michael T. Willoughby, Attachment quality assessed from children’s family drawings links to child conduct problems and callous-unemotional behaviors, Attachment & Human Development, 10.1080/14616734.2020.1714676, (1-18), (2020). Crossref
• Esther Burkitt, Dawn Watling, Hannah Message, Expressivity in children's drawings of themselves for adult audiences with varied authority and familiarity, British Journal of Developmental Psychology, 10.1111/bjdp.12278, 37 , 3, (354-368), (2019). Wiley Online Library
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• Bharathi J. Zvara, Roger Mills-Koonce, Lynne Vernon Feagans, Martha Cox, Clancy Blair, Peg Burchinal, Linda Burton, Keith Crnic, Ann Crouter, Patricia Garrett-Peters, Mark Greenberg, Stephanie Lanza, Emily Werner, Michael Willoughby, Intimate Partner Violence, Parenting, and Children’s Representations of Caregivers, Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 10.1177/0886260519888527, (088626051988852), (2019). Crossref
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• Eleonora Cannoni, Anna Silvia Bombi, Friendship and Romantic Relationships During Early and Middle Childhood, SAGE Open, 10.1177/2158244016659904, 6 , 3, (215824401665990), (2016). Crossref
• Heinz Kindler, Erhebungsmethoden mit Kindern bzw. Jugendlichen zu sexueller Gewalt, Forschungsmanual Gewalt, 10.1007/978-3-658-06294-1, (191-216), (2016). Crossref
• Udo Weber, Klinische Diagnostik Diagnostik klinische bei sexuellem Kindesmissbrauch, Sexueller Missbrauch von Kindern und Jugendlichen, 10.1007/978-3-662-44244-9, (173-177), (2015). Crossref
• Karyn B. Purvis, L. Brooks McKenzie, Erin Becker Razuri, David R. Cross, Karen Buckwalter, A Trust-Based Intervention for Complex Developmental Trauma: A Case Study from a Residential Treatment Center, Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, 10.1007/s10560-014-0328-6, 31 , 4, (355-368), (2014). Crossref
• B.J. Zvara, W.R. Mills-Koonce, P. Garrett-Peters, N.J. Wagner, L. Vernon-Feagans, M. Cox, The mediating role of parenting in the associations between household chaos and children’s representations of family dysfunction, Attachment & Human Development, 10.1080/14616734.2014.966124, 16 , 6, (633-655), (2014). Crossref
• Jane V. Appleton, Peter Sidebotham, Child Protection and Mental Health, Child Abuse Review, 10.1002/car.2220, 21 , 3, (153-156), (2012). Wiley Online Library

Volume 21 , Issue 3 May/June 2012

Pages 203-218     

Making Decisions about Parental Mental Health: An Exploratory Study of Community Mental Health Team Staff

Adult mental health problems can impact on parents, and research highlights that their children are at higher risk of developing mental health problems. In extreme cases, mental health problems are associated with a risk of fatal child abuse. Despite this, there are few studies exploring clinical decision‐making by adult mental health professionals.

‘In extreme cases, mental health problems are associated with a risk of fatal child abuse’

This study used qualitative methods to explore Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) workers' experiences of decision‐making in the interface between mental health and child welfare. Workers were interviewed about their experiences of clinical decision‐making regarding child welfare. Interviews and accounts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Influences on decision‐making were explored and triangulated with the accounts of Named Nurses for Child Protection. The findings revealed that CMHT participants were aware of their responsibilities towards children, but a complex synthesis of factors impacted on their sense‐making about risk and welfare. Three superordinate themes emerged: the tensions of working across systems; trying to balance the perceptions and feelings involved in sense‐making; and the role that interpersonal dynamics play in the understanding and management of risk. This paper focuses in particular on perceptions and feelings. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘A complex synthesis of factors impacted on their sense‐making about risk and welfare’

Citing Literature

Number of times cited according to CrossRef: 8

• Natalie Elizabeth Anderson, Julia Slark, Merryn Gott, Unlocking intuition and expertise: using interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore clinical decision making, Journal of Research in Nursing, 10.1177/1744987118809528, 24 , 1-2, (88-101), (2019). Crossref
• Phillip Tchernegovski, Andrea E. Reupert, Darryl J. Maybery, How do Australian adult mental health clinicians manage the challenges of working with parental mental illness? A phenomenological study, Child & Family Social Work, 10.1111/cfs.12426, 23 , 3, (381-389), (2017). Wiley Online Library
• Maria Afzelius, Lars Plantin, Margareta Östman, Children of Parents With Serious Mental Illness: The Perspective of Social Workers, Practice, 10.1080/09503153.2016.1260705, 29 , 4, (293-310), (2016). Crossref
• Louise Everitt, Caroline Homer, Jennifer Fenwick, Working with Vulnerable Pregnant Women Who Are At Risk of Having their Babies Removed by the Child Protection Agency in New South Wales, Australia, Child Abuse Review, 10.1002/car.2432, 26 , 5, (351-363), (2016). Wiley Online Library
• Joe Duffy, Gavin Davidson, Damien Kavanagh, Applying the recovery approach to the interface between mental health and child protection services, Child Care in Practice, 10.1080/13575279.2015.1064358, 22 , 1, (35-49), (2015). Crossref
• Peter Sidebotham, What did you do at Work Today, Daddy?, Child Abuse Review, 10.1002/car.2357, 23 , 5, (307-310), (2014). Wiley Online Library
• Peter Sidebotham, Rethinking Filicide, Child Abuse Review, 10.1002/car.2303, 22 , 5, (305-310), (2013). Wiley Online Library
• Jane V. Appleton, Peter Sidebotham, Child Protection and Mental Health, Child Abuse Review, 10.1002/car.2220, 21 , 3, (153-156), (2012). Wiley Online Library

Volume 21 , Issue 3 May/June 2012

Pages 173-189     

Championing the interface between mental health and child protection: evaluation of a service initiative to improve joint working in northern Ireland

The importance of establishing effective inter‐agency working between adult mental health services and child care services in order to safeguard children has been repeatedly identified by research, policy, inquiries and inspection reports. This article reports on the evaluation of an initiative in one health and social care trust in Northern Ireland that aimed to facilitate joint working and so improve service provision and protection for children and families. The Champions Initiative involved identifying a Champion in each multidisciplinary community mental health team and in each family and child care team that would have responsibility for providing information, promoting joint working and identifying any obstacles to better cooperation. The evaluation of this Initiative assessed levels of experience, training, confidence, understanding and awareness in the Champions and their team members at baseline. The Champions and their Team Leaders were then followed up after six months to obtain their qualitative views of the impact of the initiative. The results include comparisons between mental health and child care staff, and crucially, views about whether the initiative has had any impact on working together. This study also generated recommendations for further service development in this complex and important area of practice. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘Identifying a Champion in each multidisciplinary community mental health team and in each family and child care team’

Citing Literature

Number of times cited according to CrossRef: 15

• Kerry McVeigh, The Think Family Social Work Assessment: outcomes of a family-focused initiative using The Family Model, Advances in Mental Health, 10.1080/18387357.2020.1825969, (1-15), (2020). Crossref
• Billie Lever Taylor, Liberty Mosse, Nicky Stanley, Experiences of social work intervention among mothers with perinatal mental health needs, Health & Social Care in the Community, 10.1111/hsc.12832, 27 , 6, (1586-1596), (2019). Wiley Online Library
• Lelia Fitzsimons, The role of champions in promoting family focused practice across adult mental health and children's services, Advances in Mental Health, 10.1080/18387357.2019.1661783, (1-10), (2019). Crossref
• Nicky Stanley, Khatidja Chantler, Rachel Robbins, Children and Domestic Homicide, The British Journal of Social Work, 10.1093/bjsw/bcy024, 49 , 1, (59-76), (2018). Crossref
• Sanne Rumping, Leonieke Boendermaker, Doret J. Ruyter, Stimulating interdisciplinary collaboration among youth social workers: A scoping review, Health & Social Care in the Community, 10.1111/hsc.12589, 27 , 2, (293-305), (2018). Wiley Online Library
• Robin Mason, Janice Du Mont, Maeve Paterson, Ilene Hyman, Experiences of child protection workers in collaborating with adult mental health providers: An exploratory study from Ontario, Canada, Children and Youth Services Review, 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.02.005, 86 , (271-276), (2018). Crossref
• Andani Thakhathi, Champions of Change and Organizational Development: A Return to Schön and Typology for Future Research and Practice, Research in Organizational Change and Development, 10.1108/S0897-301620180000026007, (265-306), (2018). Crossref
• Phillip Tchernegovski, Andrea E. Reupert, Darryl J. Maybery, How do Australian adult mental health clinicians manage the challenges of working with parental mental illness? A phenomenological study, Child & Family Social Work, 10.1111/cfs.12426, 23 , 3, (381-389), (2017). Wiley Online Library
• Eeva Timonen-Kallio, Juha Hämäläinen, Eila Laukkanen, Interprofessional Collaboration in Finnish Residential Child Care: Challenges in Incorporating and Sharing Expertise Between the Child Protection and Health Care Systems, Child Care in Practice, 10.1080/13575279.2016.1158153, 23 , 4, (389-403), (2016). Crossref
• Barry Luckock, Jane Barlow, Chris Brown, Developing innovative models of practice at the interface between the NHS and child and family social work where children living at home are at risk of abuse and neglect: a scoping review, Child & Family Social Work, 10.1111/cfs.12228, 22 , S4, (62-69), (2015). Wiley Online Library
• Joe Duffy, Gavin Davidson, Damien Kavanagh, Applying the recovery approach to the interface between mental health and child protection services, Child Care in Practice, 10.1080/13575279.2015.1064358, 22 , 1, (35-49), (2015). Crossref
• Estela Arcos, Ximena Sanchez, Maria Cecilia Toffoletto, Margarita Baeza, Patricia Gazmuri, Luz Angélica Muñoz, Antonia Vollrath, Social protection systems in vulnerable families: their importance for the public health, Revista de Saúde Pública, 10.1590/S0034-8910.2014048005131, 48 , 3, (398-405), (2014). Crossref
• Oi Ling Wong, Integrative Family and Systems Treatment with Parental Mental Illness: A Hong Kong Chinese Family, Contemporary Family Therapy, 10.1007/s10591-014-9298-2, 36 , 2, (242-249), (2014). Crossref
• Peter Sidebotham, Rethinking Filicide, Child Abuse Review, 10.1002/car.2303, 22 , 5, (305-310), (2013). Wiley Online Library
• Jane V. Appleton, Peter Sidebotham, Child Protection and Mental Health, Child Abuse Review, 10.1002/car.2220, 21 , 3, (153-156), (2012). Wiley Online Library

Volume 21 , Issue 3 May/June 2012

Pages 157-172     

Infant Trafficking and Baby Factories: A New Tale of Child Abuse in Nigeria

Baby factories are new systematic abuse structures that are promoting infant trafficking, neo‐slavery and the exploitation of young women with unwanted pregnancies in Nigeria. Since this practice was first described in 2006, it has been growing rather than abating. This paper reviews the scientific literature, along with media reports, and critiques this phenomenon from a children's rights' perspective. Children born into baby factories are denied various civil rights. They also suffer abuse in the baby factories and as a consequence of being born in such places. This abuse can be classified into immediate and long term. Immediate abuse includes inadequate care and its repercussions, denial of birth registration, illegal adoption and murder. Long‐term or delayed abuse that they may be exposed to includes health‐related consequences, neglect, death, child labour, prostitution and other sexual abuse, organ trafficking and recruitment as child soldiers. Various factors are thought to drive the baby factory phenomenon which include poverty, high infertility rates and the profitability of local and inter‐country adoptions. Programmes directed at addressing the root cause of the problem are needed in order to eliminate infant trafficking. Also, clear laws that delineate inter‐country adoption and infant trafficking need to be enacted. Most importantly, baby factories need to be recognised as child trafficking routes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘New systematic abuse structures that are promoting infant trafficking, neo‐slavery and the exploitation of young women’

Key Practitioner Messages:

• A new type of child abuse and human trafficking that targets infants has emerged in Nigeria in what are described as ‘baby factories’.
• Baby factories are criminal entities that exploit young girls with unwanted pregnancies and the practice is growing.
• Children born in baby factories suffer a range of immediate abuses and are exposed to long-term abuses.
• Baby factories violate several articles in the Convention on the Rights of a Child.

‘Criminal entities that exploit young girls with unwanted pregnancies’

Citing Literature

Number of times cited: 5

• Olga B. A. van den Akker , Cross-Border Surrogacy , Surrogate Motherhood Families , 10.1007/978-3-319-60453-4_8 , (199-230) , (2017) . Crossref
• Olusesan Ayodeji Makinde, Clifford Obby Odimegwu and Stella O. Babalola , Reasons for Infertile Couples Not to Patronize Baby Factories , Health & Social Work , 42 , 1 , (57) , (2017) . Crossref
• Peter Sidebotham , Kneeling on Mung Beans , Child Abuse Review , 25 , 6 , (405-409) , (2017) . Wiley Online Library
• Olusesan Ayodeji Makinde, Olufunmbi Olukemi Makinde, Olalekan Olaleye, Brandon Brown and Clifford O. Odimegwu , Baby factories taint surrogacy in Nigeria , Reproductive BioMedicine Online , 32 , 1 , (6) , (2016) . Crossref
• Olusesan Makinde, Bolanle Olapeju, Osondu Ogbuoji and Stella Babalola , Trends in the completeness of birth registration in Nigeria: 2002-2010 , Demographic Research , 35 , (315) , (2016) . Crossref

Volume 25 , Issue 6 November/December 2016

Pages 433-443     

The Use of the Child Abuse Potential Inventory in the Assessment of Parents involved in Care Proceedings

Assessing for potential physical abuse is a fundamental task for those professionals undertaking assessments of parents involved in care proceedings. One tool developed to help assist in this endeavour is the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory (Milner, 1980 , 1986 ). The CAP Inventory provides an estimate of parental risk of child abuse and is one of the most widely used psychometric tools by psychologists in child protection settings. This review evaluates the psychometric properties of this measure and provides an overview of its potential uses, as well as its limitations. It concludes that there is evidence to support the validity and reliability of the CAP Inventory for use in care proceedings. Specifically, the review indicates that the CAP Inventory has good levels of reliability and validity (construct, content and concurrent). The only aspect of validity for which there is a lack of evidence is that of predictive validity and this is due to a dearth of prospective studies. Given the above, the practical, clinical and ethical implications for the use of the CAP Inventory in the assessment of parents involved in care proceedings are discussed. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Citing Literature

Number of times cited according to CrossRef: 3

• Amanda H. Costello, Natalie J. Shook, Nancy M. Wallace, Cheryl B. McNeil, Examining factors associated with elevated Lie Scale responding on the Child Abuse Potential Inventory, Child Abuse & Neglect, 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.10.009, 76 , (56-64), (2018). Crossref
• Jane V. Appleton, Peter Sidebotham, Physical Abuse of Children, Child Abuse Review, 10.1002/car.2505, 26 , 6, (405-410), (2017). Wiley Online Library
• Jane V. Appleton, Working Alongside One Another…, Child Abuse Review, 10.1002/car.2416, 24 , 5, (313-316), (2015). Wiley Online Library

Volume 24 , Issue 5 September/October 2015

Pages 332-345     

Developing key capabilities in child care and protection

Over the last 20 years, research has questioned how well equipped newly qualified social workers are in relation to child care and protection. Recent inquiries have highlighted that some social workers have not recognised their responsibilities towards children and young people when they encounter them in the course of their duties. In England, Lord Laming's (2009) report The Protection of Children in England, following the death of Peter Connelly in Haringey, recommended a specialist child protection route as part of the social work degree and re‐opened the debate about the benefits of specialism versus genericism. In Scotland, when faced with similar challenges, Key Capabilities in Child Care and Protection were introduced to ensure that all social workers at the point of qualifying can evidence their knowledge and skills in relation to child care and protection. This paper describes their development. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘Introduced to ensure that all social workers at the point of qualifying can evidence their knowledge and skills’

Citing Literature

Number of times cited according to CrossRef: 2

• Margaret Bruce, The Voice of the Child in Child Protection: Whose Voice?, Social Sciences, 10.3390/socsci3030514, 3 , 3, (514-526), (2014). Crossref
• Jane V. Appleton, Peter Sidebotham, Child Protection and Mental Health, Child Abuse Review, 10.1002/car.2220, 21 , 3, (153-156), (2012). Wiley Online Library

Volume 21 , Issue 3 May/June 2012

Pages 190-202     

Child Sexual Behavior Inventory: A Comparison Between Latino and Normative Samples of Preschoolers

There is a relative dearth of research examining normative sexual behavior in Latino preschool children, despite an increased presence of Latinos as a minority population in the United States. To meet this need, a sample of Latino mothers were asked to complete the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI; Friedrich et al., 1992 Friedrich , W. N. , Grambsch , P. , Damon , L. , Hewitt , S. K. , Koverola , C. , et al. . ( 1992 ). Child Sexual Behavior Inventory: Normative and clinical comparisons . Psychological Assessment , 4 , 303 – 311 .[Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) on their preschool-aged children (3 to 5 years old; n = 188). When their children's scores were compared to CSBI normative data, significant differences emerged. Compared to the normative sample, Latino boys and girls scored significantly higher on the sexual abuse specific items subscale, and Latino girls scored significantly higher on the developmentally related sexual behavior subscale. Possible cultural explanations for these elevations are explored.     

The Professional's Influence within the Client System: Exploring Counter-Transference and Adult Attachment within the Therapeutic Relationships with Children Experiencing Abuse and Their Caregivers

A large amount of research has been completed on the impact of abuse and neglect on children's brain development, attachment and behaviour (Malinosky-Rummell &; Hansen, 1993, ‘Long-term consequences of childhood physical abuse’, Psychological Bulletin, vol. 114, pp. 68–79; Margolin &; Gordis, 2000, ‘The effect of family and community violence on children’, Annual Review of Psychology, vol. 51, pp. 445–479; Perry, 2002, ‘Childhood experiences and the expression of genetic potential: what childhood neglect tells us about nature and nurture’, Brain and Mind, vol. 3, pp. 79–100; van der Kolk, 2005, ‘Developmental trauma disorder’, Psychiatric Annuals, vol. 35, no. 5, pp. 401–408). Research has also begun to address the impact on the professional's and carer's psychological well-being, as a result of working with children who have experienced abuse and neglect (Cunningham, 1999 Cunningham, M. (1999) ‘The impact of sexual abuse treatment on the social work clinician’, Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, vol. 16, no. 4, pp. 277–290. doi: 10.1023/A:1022334911833.[Crossref] , [Google Scholar], ‘The impact of sexual abuse treatment on the social work clinician’, Child and Adolescent Social Work Journal, vol. 16, pp. 277–290; Trippany, Kress and Wilcoxon, 2004, ‘Preventing vicarious trauma: what counsellors should know when working with trauma survivors’, Journal of Counselling and Development, vol. 82, pp. 31–37; Conrad &; Kellar-Guenther, 2006, ‘Compassion fatigue, burnout and compassion satisfaction among Colorado child protection workers’, Child Abuse and Neglect, vol. 30, pp. 1071–1080). Psycho-dynamic concepts such as projection and splitting have begun to be explored in how children who have experienced abuse communicate their experience to their carers and the professionals involved with them. Some authors (Dale et al., 1986, Dangerous Families: Assessment and Treatment of Child Abuse, Tavistock Publications, London) have also explored the impact of the psycho-dynamics on the treatment team and the ‘splitting’ that can occur among professionals involved with the child. This paper aims to extend this reflection to also consider the impact of the professional's attachment history, early childhood experiences and current personal relationships on the child and caregiver's systems. Therefore, concepts such as counter-transference and adult attachment styles within the therapeutic relationship are explored and examples provided from my own practice.     

Reliability of measures of centrality and prominence

This paper evaluates the reliability of measures of centrality and prominence of social networks among high school students. The authors present and discuss results from eight experiments. Four types of social support: (1) instrumental support, (2) informational support, (3) social companionship, and (4) emotional support—were measured three times within each class. Four measurement scales: (1) binary, (2) categorical, (3) categorical with labels and (4) line production—were applied. Reliability of in- and out-degree, in- and out-closeness, betweenness and flow betweenness was estimated by the Pearson correlation coefficient. Meta analysis of factors affecting the test-retest reliability of measures of centrality and prominence was done by multiple classification analysis. Results show that,

• -Global measures (considering direct and indirect choices) are more sensitive to measurement errors than local measures (considering only direct choices).
• -In-measures are more stable than out-measures.
• -Among types of social support, emotional support gives the least stable measures of centrality and prominence, whereas social companionship gives the most stable results.
• -The reliability of centrality and prominence measures is higher when the network is denser.

     

Konstruktionen der Geschlechtsidentit?t �C Widerspr��che aktueller Sozialisationsprozesse

I will first describe in four aspects a frame about gender socialization. Then I will study actual contradictions in the gender socialization of four international research areas. Doing so, I can also relate to own empiric studies about family??s biographies and gender roles (Macha und Witzke 2008; Macha 2009). The four example research areas are:

1. Typical gender socialization in the family and the stability of time structures,
2. gender socialization in the school
3. Typical gender socialization for and through the employment market, taking as an example, the academic career.
4. Typical gender socialization for and through the employment market, taking as an example, the leadership positions in the economy and the income of men and women.

     

Electronic distribution of public assistance benefits: System performance and stakeholder opinions

Several states have conducted pilot projects to test the feasibility of using electronic banking techniques to deliver public assistance benefits. These systems establish electronic account balances which recipients access through the use of a debit card at terminals such as bank automatic teller machines or transaction authorization machines like those that validate credit card charges. The present study examines the first test of a comprehensive electronic benefit transfer (EBT) system for multiple benefit programs, a pilot project for cash and food stamp programs conducted by the state of Maryland in the city of Baltimore. Surveys examined the issues perceived by the three primary sets of stakeholders:

• 1. 

  1. representatives of government, including social service workers (n = 47) and key state personnel;

• 2. 

  2. two-thirds of the participating retailers (n = 110); and

• 3. 

  3. benefit recipients (n = 882).All stakeholder groups were generally favorable regarding EBT. However, some subgroups were less favorable: small store operators were less favorable than larger ones and cash recipients were more favorable than food stamp participants. Understanding these opinions requires a closer examination of the meaning and use of public assistance programs by all participants.

     

Priority setting for evaluation: Developing a strategic evaluation portfolio

Resources for evaluation are frequently scarce and best use should be made of them to deliver against the typical purposes of an evaluation function to (i) enhance accountability and (ii) promote operational improvement and learning. This paper presents a method for analyzing and prioritizing potential evaluations to improve the selection of a portfolio of activities that give the greatest pay-off. The method establishes the relative priority of ‘evaluation opportunities’ against criteria that relate to the usual primary purposes of an evaluation function. The method was developed in the context of a multilateral organization but is of general utility to the wider evaluation community and, with suitable adaptation can be applied to help ensure that scarce evaluation resources are used to their best advantage.A range of benefits are expected to accrue to an organization from adopting a more thorough, analytical priority setting process. These include:

• •Enhancing the relevance of evaluations to the wider organizational agenda
• •Providing structured justification for allocating funds to evaluation activities
• •More transparent, predictable decision-making
• •Enabling realignment of evaluation priorities with changing needs and circumstances
• •Improved credibility with stakeholders
• •Providing a clear direction and sense of purpose to evaluation staff
• •Documenting a clear framework for the development of an organization's evaluation portfolio.

The paper describes a priority setting method, including the key criteria that are used to assess ‘evaluation opportunities’, and presents different analyses of an evaluation portfolio. Examples from a practical application of the approach to the preparation of an evaluation work plan in a multilateral environmental agency are given.