METHODOLOGY

A number of reasons. First, they were never intended to be

studies of the true occurrence of child maltreatment but, rather,
to reflect reports of maltreatment coming to the attention of
child protective services and other designated personnel.
Second, they set no admission criteria for cases, relying instead
on varying agency definitions of maltreatment and individual
caseworker applications of those definitions. Consequently, the
precise nature of the incidents included in the reports is difficult
to judge and is subject to multiple sources of bias. Third, the
studies include all reported cases, including those that are
duplicated or unsubstantiated. Fourth, there are historical
inconsistencies in the data. For example, a report that is labeled
unsubstantiated was either investigated and the evidence for
maltreatment was not present, or the report was still under
investigation and had not, at the time of the report, been
confirmed.
 ENTRY PROTOCOL,ORIENTATION AND
ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
RESEARCH DESIGN

Data from child protective services agencies indicated that the

reported incidence was 17.8 per 1,000 children with 42.7 percent
of these reports substantiated, for a substantiated incidence rate
of 7.6 per 1,000 children per year. Fifty-three percent of these
substantiated cases did not meet the NIS-1 maltreatment
definition that required moderate or severe harm, for a corrected
incidence of 3.4 per 1,000 children per year. When data from
other community agencies are added to the data from child
protective services, the incidence increased to 10.5 per 1,000
children per year.The second National Incidence Study (NIS-2)
was compiled in 1986. Using the same design as NIS-1, NIS-2
estimated the current incidence of maltreatment and documented
changes in the frequency, character, or severity of maltreatment
since the completion of NIS-1 (NCCAN, 1988; Cicchetti and
Barnett, 1991). NIS-2 employed two sets of operational
standards. The first conformed to NIS-1 standards and required
identifiable harm to establish maltreatment. The second set of
standards was broader and included "endangered" children at
risk for harm.
 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE STUDY
SITE
COLLECTION AND PREPARATION
OF DATA

His work was commissioned by the International Society for the

Prevention of Child Abuse and
Neglect (ISPCAN) as a contribution to the important area of
collecting, analyzing and publishing
child maltreatment data. It is intended to provide a resource for
researchers, commissioners of
research, administrators, policy makers and members of Institutional
Review Boards. Its
preparation was supervised by: John Fluke, Associate Director for
Systems Research and
Evaluation, Kempe Centre, Department of Pediatrics, University of
Colorado School of
Medicine, Denver, USA, Jenny Gray, the then President of ISPCAN,
and
Lil Tonmyr, Senior
Researcher, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Canada. The
report was written by Carrie
Smith, Sessional Instructor, Kings University College, London,
Canada. Photos are from World
Bank.
 PHOTO DOCUMENTATION
DATA ANALYSIS

A picture, so the saying goes, is worth a thousand words.

In the case of the investigation of a charge of child abuse,
a picture can determine the eventual case result.
To do the task of documentation properly, child abuse
investigators require the right tools and the right techniques.
Photodocumentation is one of the most important of these tools.
This guide provides valuable pointers regarding the selection
and use of camera equipment, film, and photographic techniques
that are most appropriate for use in cases of suspected child
abuse. Proper photographing of the child’s physical condition
will help provide evidence integral both to the investigation
and to the courtroom presentation, should formal charges ensue.
It is my hope, therefore, that this guide will help protect
children from abuse through the enhancement of investigative
techniques.
FLOW CHART OF ACTION FOR REPORTING
CHILD ABUSE

Student discloses abuse

or abuse is suspected

If immediate danger or
safety is an issue,act
with urgency

Listen to the student and reassure them

they have acted correctly
. Document incident after speaking with
student

Inform the Principal and give

written report of incident

Discuss with School Inform CYFS or Inform BOT

Guidance councelor
Police

Await further contact form CYFS

or police before taking action