The Availability of Neighborhood Early Care and Education Resources and the Maltreatment of Young Children

Abstract

Using Census and administrative data for 2052 Census tracts in a large urban county, this study explores the relationship between several indicators of social organization and neighborhood rates of child maltreatment for 0- to 5-year-olds. Spatial regression models demonstrate that neighborhoods with a higher percentage of 3- and 4-year-olds attending preschool or nursery school, both locally and in adjacent neighborhoods, had lower rates of early maltreatment referrals and substantiations. Neighborhoods with more licensed child care spaces relative to child care need, as defined by the number of 0- to 5-year-old in the neighborhood with working parents, had lower rates of early child maltreatment referrals. However, neighborhoods with a greater spatial density of child care center spaces, defined as the number of licensed child care center spaces or "slots" per square mile, had higher rates of early child maltreatment referrals. Neighborhoods characterized by concentrated socioeconomic disadvantage, inadequate resources for informal child supervision, and ethnic heterogeneity experienced higher rates of early child maltreatment referrals and substantiations, while neighborhoods with larger concentrations of affluent residents and immigrants experienced lower rates. These results point to the importance of community context in understanding child maltreatment risk. They also suggest that early care and education resources may deserve special attention when developing community-based prevention programs to reduce the maltreatment of young children.

Parenting and proximity to social services: Lessons from Los Angeles County in the community context of child neglect

“…These researchers suggest that disorganized neighborhoods put parents at additional risk for maltreatment because of the multiple stressors they provide, the lack of shared social norms among residents regarding child rearing, and an absence of supportive services for parents (Ben-Arieh, 2010; Coulton, Korbin, & Su, 1999; Ernst, 2001; Freisthler, 2004; Freisthler, Bruce, et al, 2007; Freisthler, Gruenewald, Remer, Lery, & Needell, 2007; Freisthler, Gruenewald, Ring, & LaScala, 2008; Garbarino & Kostelny, 1992; Klein, 2011; Korbin, Coulton, Chard, Platt-Houston, & Su, 1998). This literature has found important associations between child maltreatment and certain neighborhood-level risk factors, most notably concentrated socioeconomic disadvantage, residential instability, racial/ethnic heterogeneity, and “child care burden” or the lack of informal resources for child supervision (Coulton et al, 2007; Freisthler et al, 2006).…”

“…However, in congruence with the theory put forth by Sampson and Groves (1989) that participation in local organizations contributes to neighborhood organization and positive outcomes for residents, Kim and Maguire-Jack (2013) found that participation in community organizations like Parent Teacher Associations was associated with lower levels of verbal abuse of children. Additionally, an emerging literature suggests that the accessibility of certain types of services may help prevent child abuse and neglect (Coulton, Korbin & Su, 1999; Dorsch, Bathman, Foster et al, 2010; Freisthler, 2013; Klein, 2011; Maguire-Jack, 2014b; Morton, 2013; Spearly & Lauderdale, 1983). …”

“…A comparison study of two otherwise similar neighborhoods with contrasting levels of child maltreatment also found that mothers in the high-risk community perceived child care services to be less accessible (Garbarino & Sherman, 1980). More recently, Klein (2011) found that a higher percentage of 3- and 4-year-olds attending preschool, both locally and in adjacent neighborhoods, was associated with lower rates of maltreatment referrals and substantiations (Klein, 2011). Additionally, while neighborhoods with a greater spatial density of child care center spaces had higher rates of maltreatment referrals involving young children (0–5 years old), neighborhoods with more licensed child care spaces relative to child care need had lower rates of maltreatment referrals involving this age group (Klein, 2011).…”

Accessing quality early care and education for children in child welfare: Stakeholders' perspectives on barriers and opportunities for interagency collaboration

“…Meloy and Phillips (2012) found that children whose foster parents used child care subsidies experienced fewer placement disruptions than those who caregivers did not. With respect to safety, at the neighborhood level, the local availability of ECE and rates of preschool utilization have been linked to lower rates of child welfare system involvement (Klein, 2011). Additionally, participation in Head Start, Early Head Start (EHS), and the Chicago Child-Parent Centers preschool program have all been associated with lower rates of child maltreatment, particularly over the long term (Green et al, 2014;Reynolds & Robertson, 2003;Zhai, Waldfogel, & Brooks-Gunn, 2013).…”

Community Factors in Differential Responses of Child Protective Services

“…County, California, study of early care and education resources and child maltreatment in children 0 to 5 years of age (Klein, 2011). Spatial regression models showed lower rates of child maltreatment referrals and substantiations in neighborhoods with a higher percentage of 3 to 4 year olds in preschool or nursery school and lower rates of child maltreatment referrals in neighborhoods with higher availability of licensed child care.…”