Substantiation as a multitier process: the results of a NIS-3 analysis.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies on child maltreatment reporting have focused mainly on one level of substantiation. This article analyzes factors influencing the multitiered substantiation process.


METHODS
The 1993 Third National Incidence Study (NIS-3) data of substantiated and non-substantiated reported incidents (N=7,263) of maltreatment were analyzed. Substantiation was classified into three categories: unfounded, indicated, and founded. Independent variables included demographic characteristics, case-processing variables, and maltreatment characteristics.


METHODS
Bivariate and multiple logistic regression (MLR) analyses were calculated to determine whether demographic and case processing variables predicted unfounded or founded/indicated dispositions. Second-level analysis examined demographic, case processing, and maltreatment characteristics as predictors of founded or indicated status.


RESULTS
These results showed that 60.2% of CPS investigations conducted were evaluated as unfounded, about 22% were categorized as founded, and 17% were classified as indicated. In the MLR analysis for the first level of substantiation, case processing variables were highly significant predictors of founded/indicated status. In the second-level substantiation MLR model, cases in the mid-range income level (dollars 15,000-29,999) had a lower probability (adjusted OR = .58, p = .02) of being founded than those of less than dollars 15,000, and reports involving Hispanic children (OR = 3.04, p = .05) were more likely than the "all other" race-ethnic social classification to have been substantiated as founded.


CONCLUSIONS
This analysis of NIS-3 data suggests that a three-tiered rather than a two-tiered system is a more accurate representation of the CPS substantiation process. Further analysis of substantiation patterns is required to provide a basis for developing more effective investigation systems.
King
Gary
G
Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, USA.
Trocmé
Nico
N
Thatte
Nandita
N
D000293:Adolescent; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003657:Decision Making; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019221:Mandatory Reporting; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States