Children With Disabilities Are 1.4 Times More Likely To Be Re-Referred To Child Protective Services

Unsubstantiated maltreatment allegations involving children with disabilities are 1.4 times likely to be re-referred to child protective services than children without disabilities. A review of 489,176 unsubstantiated maltreatment reports from 33 states (including Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia) found that 45% of those involving children with disabilities were later re-referred for maltreatment. About 36% of reports involving children without disabilities were re-referred for maltreatment.

These findings were reported in “Subsequent Maltreatment in Children With Disabilities After an Unsubstantiated Report for Neglect” by Caroline J. Kistin, M.D., M.Sc., of Boston Medical Center . . .