Table 1.
Variable Descriptions
| Variable | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Child Characteristics | ||
| Child age | Child age at index event in years (birth-11 years) | Child abuse reporting |
| Child Gender | Female (yes=1) | Child abuse reporting |
| Child Racial Category | Child is “of color”. (yes=1) | Child abuse reporting |
| Medical Risk in Infancy | Child was born low birthweight (<2500 grams), born with a serious condition, or was treated in the hospital for a condition within first 12 months that increased risk of ongoing delay, (yes=1) | Medicaid (hospital care only) & Birth Records |
| Family Characteristics | ||
| Caregiver HS Graduation | Caregiver graduated High School at time of start of AFDC. (yes=1) | AFDC/TANF |
| Number of Children | Number of Children in household prior to index (1=1–2; 2=3–5; 3=6 or more) | AFDC/TANF |
| Caregiver Foster Care | Caregiver was in foster care as a youth. (yes=1) | Foster Care |
| Teen Caregiver | Caregiver age at birth of oldest child (under19; over 19) | AFDC/TANF |
| Index Maltreatment Report Characteristics | ||
| Maltreatment Type | Neglect, Physical, Sexual or Mixed. | Child abuse reporting |
| Number of Victims | Number in index report (1;more than 1). | Child abuse reporting |
| Substantiation | Index event was substantiated (yes=1). | Child abuse reporting |
| Caregiver Service Sector Participation | ||
| Caregiver MH/SA1 Tx Prior | Caregiver Medicaid Treatment for MH/SA prior to Index (yes=1) | Medicaid (inpatient and outpatient) |
| Caregiver MH/SA1 Tx After | Caregiver Medicaid Treatment for MH/SA after but within one year of Index (yes=1) | Medicaid (inpatient and outpatient) |
| AFDC exit Prior | Permanent Exit from 1st known spell on AFDC shortly before Index (yes=1) | AFDC/TANF; Foster Care; Corrections; Death |
| AFDC exit After | Permanent Exit from 1st known spell on AFDC after but within one year of Index (yes=1)* | AFDC/TANF; Foster Care; Corrections; Death |
| Child Welfare Services At or Following Index and Prior to Recurrence | ||
| Unserved | Services need indicated but no services started (yes=1) | Child abuse reporting, In-home Services, Foster Care |
| FCS2 Only | Family Centered Services only (yes=1) | |
| FCS & FPS3 | FPS with or without FCS (no foster care) (yes=1) | |
| Foster Care | Foster Care (yes=1) | |
| None needed | No service need indicated or received (yes=1) | |
| Children’s Service Sector Participation | ||
| Child Special Education | Child has record of special education, prior or within 1 year of index (yes=1). Broken out by Disability type (Emotional Disturbance vs. Other disability) | Special Education |
| Child Medicaid MH/SA | Child Medicaid mental health or substance abuse treatment prior or within 1 year of index(yes=1). | Medicaid (inpatient and outpatient) |
| Child Chronic Health | Child Medicaid record for hospital care for a chronic condition (e.g., asthma, cerebral palsy, diabetes, etc.) prior or within 1 year of index (yes=1). | Medicaid (hospital care only) |
| Child Juvenile Court | Child had a juvenile court petition (status or delinquency) prior or within 1 year of index(yes=1). | Juvenile Court |
| Neighborhood Characteristics | ||
| Neighborhood Crime | Violent crime rate per 1000 people per year in tract. | Law Enforcement |
| Neighborhood Household Income | Median Income of Households in tract in thousands | 1990 Census |
| Neighborhood Mobility | Percentage moved within last 5 years in tract | 1990 Census |
1
= MH/SA is Mental Health and/or Substance Abuse;
2
=less intensive in-home child welfare services;
3
= more intensive family preservation services