The Relationship of Child Protection Service Caseworker Discipline-Specific Education and Definition of Sibling Abuse

Abstract

A rise in child abuse reports has been observed in Child Protection Service institutions. States differ in terms of defining sibling abuse as a form of child abuse, and, as a result, child protection caseworkers are called upon by their institutions to apply their own definitions of specific behaviors that constitute sibling abuse. This study investigated the relationship between child protection caseworker definition of one specific form of child abuse, sibling abuse, and caseworkers' discipline-specific educational background. A sample of seventy-seven (77) child protection caseworkers of various educational backgrounds were surveyed through qualitative and quantitative methods. These child protection caseworkers were involved in developing assessments in child abuse investigations. It was found that child protection workers' definitions varied widely in identification of behaviors constituting sibling abuse. Hiring practices can impact the disposition of a sibling abuse investigation through the employment of specific disciplines.

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