Risks, protective factors and strengths associated with child maltreatment: literature review

Investigators

Gabrielle Hunt, Professor Daryl Higgins, Dr Ulrike Marwitz ((Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University); Dr Carmela Bastain, Luke Cantley (Flinders University)

Funding

Victorian Government Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH)

Aims

To provide a literature review of risk, strength, and protective factors for families who are referred to and are receiving statutory child protection services.

Background

Implemented in 2021, the SAFER Framework supports the role of child protection by providing guidance to practitioners in identifying and assessing risk, planning for safety, development, needs, and wellbeing of children and families. The DFFH is committed to ensuring that the SAFER Framework is founded on a contemporary evidence base.

Project details

The DFFH commissioned a literature view to inform further versions of the SAFER Framework, along with education, practice and guideline development for child protection practitioners.

Research questions

We developed a series of research questions in consultation with DFFH to inform the review:

• What are the sources of evidence, or gaps in evidence in factors identified in the Essential Information Categories (EICs)? Are there other factors that are not represented in the EICs?
• What are strengths that are associated with positive outcomes, reduced risk of harm, and protection/safety?
• How does Aboriginal culture and knowledge inform our understanding of strengths and protective factors, and how can this be used to inform risk assessment processes?
• What are the factors that increase the risk of harm to children?
• How can we communicate the evidence in a way that is accessible to the workforce and meaningful to their decision-making process?

4 project stages

1. Revisited a comprehensive review of risks factors for child maltreatment in the family from 2023, to identify research published since July 2022
2. Replicated research strategy 1 but with a focus on strengths and protective factors
3. Gathered additional evidence and knowledge bases on strengths and protective factors for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations
4. Built on existing strategies but with a focus on grey literature. Search Strategies 1-3 focused on academic journals.

The research team consulted with Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) about the purpose and focus of the literature review. One ACCO agreed to participate in a subsequent virtual consultation session about:

• the cultural responsiveness of risk assessment and what this looks like in practice with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
• protective or safety factors they look for when supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and perceptions of how culture informs an assessment of strength and protective factors
• issues that the statutory workforce need to be attuned to.

Insights gained during the virtual session informed the development of research strategy 4, guided the interpretation of findings, and influenced the language used throughout the review to ensure cultural sensitivity and relevance.

Findings

The literature review highlighted an array of risk, strength, and protective factors to guide child protection workers in assessing the vulnerability and safety of children and families. It synthesised research to inform risk assessment practices, offering insights into both the complexity of maltreatment and the critical role of considering strengths and protective factors in best practice risk assessment.

Projected community impact

The team developed resources to communicate key findings from the review to the child protection workforce in an accessible and actionable way. The project outputs represent an important part of ongoing efforts to support and strengthen workforce capacity, stability, and skills that are essential for maintaining safe and best practice in child protection.

Links

SAFER children framework guide

Publications

Higgins, D. J., & Hunt, G. R. (2023). Child, parent and contextual factors associated with child protection system involvement and child maltreatment in the family: A rapid evidence review. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 59(2), 358-400. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajs4.306

Hunt, G., Bastian, C., Cantley, L., Marwitz, U. & Higgins, D. (2024). Risks, Protective Factors, and Strengths Associated with Child Maltreatment: A Review of the Literature. Report prepared for the Department of Families, Fairness & Housing, Victoria: Australian Catholic University.

Knowledge translation resources

Hunt, G., Bastian, C., Cantley, L., Marwitz, U. & Higgins, D. (2024). DFFH SAFER. The Bucket Analogy with Key Takeaways for Practitioners. Knowledge translation resource prepared for the Department of Families, Fairness & Housing, Victoria: Australian Catholic University.

Hunt, G., Bastian, C., Cantley, L., Marwitz, U. & Higgins, D. (2024). DFFH SAFER Protective Factors. Knowledge translation resource prepared for the Department of Families, Fairness & Housing, Victoria: Australian Catholic University.

Hunt, G., Bastian, C., Cantley, L., Marwitz, U. & Higgins, D. (2024). DFFH SAFER Strengths in Families. Knowledge translation resource prepared for the Department of Families, Fairness & Housing, Victoria: Australian Catholic University.

Hunt, G., Bastian, C., Cantley, L., Marwitz, U. & Higgins, D. (2024). DFFH SAFER Factors and Characteristics Associated with Risks. Knowledge translation resource prepared for the Department of Families, Fairness & Housing, Victoria: Australian Catholic University.

Organisational governance

The team worked closely with DFFH to define the research questions, determine the search strategies, establish the consultation process with ACCOs and define discussion topics for the consultation with an ACCO.

Project timeline

May 2024 to November 2024

Contact

For more information contact: icps@acu.edu.au