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Identifying Substance Abusing Delivering Women: Consequences for Child Maltreatment Reports

NCJ Number
183115
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2000 Pages: 173-183
Author(s)
Vicky Albert; Dorie Klein; Amanda Noble; Elaine Zahand; Sue Holtby
Date Published
2000
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This study attempts to determine how and the extent to which a State law requiring the identification of substance-abusing delivering women affected the number of children reported for abuse or neglect in several California counties.
Abstract
The effects of Senate bill SB2669 on the number of child maltreatment reports were mixed. On an aggregate level, all else constant and at least for a few years after the bill’s passage, SB2669 was associated with a decrease in child maltreatment reports in two of the participating counties. This may have been the result of conscientious implementation of the legislation in those counties, because SB2669, although mandated, was never enforced. Moreover, implementation practices regarding the legislation varied substantially between and even within counties’ hospitals. Lawmakers should rethink the purpose of the law and provide the necessary language, tools and training to ensure that the goals of identifying substance-abusing mothers and their families are met. Provisions to enforce the legislation could lessen county- and hospital-level variability in implementing the law. Table, references, appendix