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Effect of Race on the Risk of Out-of-Home Placement Among Children with Caregivers Who Reported Domestic Violence

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Abstract

Increased attention has been given to domestic violence as a risk factor for out-of-home placement; however, few previous studies have examined the influence of race/ethnicity. This analysis used data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being to longitudinally compare time to out-of-home placement among a sample of 630 children with African American (n = 162), Hispanic (n = 95), and White (n = 373) female caregivers who reported domestic violence. Propensity score analysis was used to balance the group of caregivers based on observed characteristics. Findings indicated race was not a determinant factor of out-of-home placement; rather, other characteristics may better predict out-of-home placement among families affected by domestic violence. Recommendations for future research and practice are provided.

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Notes

  1. The National Incidence Study is funded by the federal government to gather data on child maltreatment not likely to be reported to CPS.

  2. P-values of regression coefficients of outcomes (caregiver race) are available upon request.

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Acknowledgments

I wish to acknowledge Drs. Mark F. Testa, Rebecca J. Macy, Sandra L. Martin, April Harris-Britt, and Eric Lindberg for their contributions to this research.

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  1. School of Social Work, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA, 92182-4119, USA

    Ijeoma Nwabuzor Ogbonnaya

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Correspondence to Ijeoma Nwabuzor Ogbonnaya.

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Nwabuzor Ogbonnaya, I. Effect of Race on the Risk of Out-of-Home Placement Among Children with Caregivers Who Reported Domestic Violence. J Fam Viol 30, 243–254 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-014-9664-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-014-9664-8

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