Socioeconomic Risk and the Longitudinal Child Lifetime Prevalence of Child Protection Involvement
Dublin Core
Title
Socioeconomic Risk and the Longitudinal Child Lifetime Prevalence of Child Protection Involvement
Subject
Public health
Creator
Kristen Walker
Electronic Resource Item Type Metadata
Journal Name
Child Abuse & Neglect
Volume
Vol. 154
Publication Date
2024
Publisher
Elsevier ScienceDirect
Document Type
Journal article
Language
English
Region
Quebec, Canada
Access
Open Access
View Source
Abstract
Background
North American studies find that geographic indicators of disadvantage, such as concentrated poverty, significantly increase the risk of child protection involvement. Despite having one of the most extensive family support systems and progressive income redistribution policies in North America, the Canadian province of Québec still faces geographic variations in socioeconomic conditions that remain a major risk factor for child protection involvement.
Objective
This study asks how child protection involvement is distributed across socioeconomically distinct geographic areas of the province. Drawing from prior literature, we hypothesize that the highest level of child protection involvement across childhood (age 0–17) is found in the lowest socioeconomic areas.
Participants & setting
This is a population-based prevalence study using administrative child protection data spanning the years 2000 to 2017 across Québec.
Methods
We constructed cumulative risk life tables of first instances of child protection events (report confirmation, compromised security or development, and out-of-home placement). Prevalence rates were mapped onto 10,650 Census dissemination areas divided into three tiers according to a validated socioeconomic status (SES) index.
Results
The highest childhood prevalence of confirmed child protection reports, finding of compromised security or development, and out-of-home placement was found in the lowest SES areas. Rates in low SES areas can be over twice the rates in high SES areas.
Conclusions
Area-level socioeconomic vulnerability remains a robust predictor of child protection involvement even in a socially progressive context. Our findings underscore that without targeted pediatric and family services, as well as poverty-alleviation programs for high-need families in high-need areas, even well-intentioned systems may fall short of reaching the families most in need.
North American studies find that geographic indicators of disadvantage, such as concentrated poverty, significantly increase the risk of child protection involvement. Despite having one of the most extensive family support systems and progressive income redistribution policies in North America, the Canadian province of Québec still faces geographic variations in socioeconomic conditions that remain a major risk factor for child protection involvement.
Objective
This study asks how child protection involvement is distributed across socioeconomically distinct geographic areas of the province. Drawing from prior literature, we hypothesize that the highest level of child protection involvement across childhood (age 0–17) is found in the lowest socioeconomic areas.
Participants & setting
This is a population-based prevalence study using administrative child protection data spanning the years 2000 to 2017 across Québec.
Methods
We constructed cumulative risk life tables of first instances of child protection events (report confirmation, compromised security or development, and out-of-home placement). Prevalence rates were mapped onto 10,650 Census dissemination areas divided into three tiers according to a validated socioeconomic status (SES) index.
Results
The highest childhood prevalence of confirmed child protection reports, finding of compromised security or development, and out-of-home placement was found in the lowest SES areas. Rates in low SES areas can be over twice the rates in high SES areas.
Conclusions
Area-level socioeconomic vulnerability remains a robust predictor of child protection involvement even in a socially progressive context. Our findings underscore that without targeted pediatric and family services, as well as poverty-alleviation programs for high-need families in high-need areas, even well-intentioned systems may fall short of reaching the families most in need.
Citation
Kristen Walker, “Socioeconomic Risk and the Longitudinal Child Lifetime Prevalence of Child Protection Involvement,” ICMGLT Digital Library, accessed June 11, 2026, https://icmglt.org/library/items/show/506.