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Abstract:
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Each year many school-age children are left to care for themselves. While this may be suitable for children with sufficient levels of maturity and the physical and mental abilities to execute appropriate judgment, for others it may constitute child neglect. This project examined the antecedents of inadequate supervision of children among families with prior allegations of child maltreatment. Using the Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN), the results indicated that mothers' maternal mental health, economic well-being (income and employment), and perceived social support were associated with neglectful supervision of children between ages 4 to 6 among families with previous involvement in the child protective system before age 4. Specifically, the likelihood of an inadequate child supervision allegation is greater among mothers with lower perceptions of social support, clinical levels of depression, who are unemployed, and have low incomes compared to their counterparts without these characteristics. The findings suggest that parents with histories of child maltreatment remain at risk of future allegations of neglectful supervision and that CPS agencies must seize opportunities to support mothers and families in hopes of preventing future maltreatment. |