Service Outcomes Following Disclosure of Child Sexual Abuse During Forensic Interviews: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Few children disclose sexual abuse and participate in a formal investigation. Furthermore not all children that disclose abuse during a forensic interview receive services to address trauma or safety. Despite the importance of such outcomes little is known about which factors may influence when children will receive services. Through content analysis of 139 case records findings indicate that a child's race/ethnicity abuse-related factors and level of family support are all significant in predicting service and placement outcomes in child protection cases. Implications for social work practice include the need for ongoing engagement in culturally sensitive strengths-based practice with families

Keywords::

• Child sexual abuse
• forensic interviews
• service outcomes
• safety plans
• out-of-home placement
• family support

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gwendolyn D. Anderson

Gwendolyn D. Anderson is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Her research interests include child welfare policy and child sexual abuse disclosure.