Multiple Types of Maltreatment: Behavioral and Developmental Impact on Children in the Child Welfare System

Abstract

Children entering the child welfare system have experienced some form of maltreatment, with the impact on behavior and development not always recognized. Complicating the impact is the number of maltreatment types and how many of each a child may have experienced. This study analyzes the relationship between the number of maltreatment events with behavior problems and developmental delays in a clinical sample of children involved with the child welfare system. Results indicate that challenging behaviors are the norm for these children, but do not vary with increased types of maltreatment events. The majority of these children have moderate to major developmental delays, with delays increasing with the number of events experienced. Implications are explored and applied to professional practice.

Keywords:

• child maltreatment
• child welfare
• trauma
• neurodevelopment
• child behavior

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