Re-envisaging child protection contacts as an early prevention opportunity to support child development and well-being: an Australian data linkage study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To quantify developmental vulnerability at age 5 by child protection contacts before school in two Australian states.

Methods

All children with birth, child protection and/or 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018 Australian Early Development Census (AEDC) data in New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia (SA) were grouped according to child protection contact before school: no contact, child protection reports, screened-in reports, investigations, substantiations and out-of-home care (OOHC). The outcome was developmental vulnerability on ≥1 AEDC domains or medically diagnosed conditions with support needs at school entry.

Results

56 650 (14.2%) NSW children and 12 617 (15.6%) SA children had ≥1 child protection contact before school. Developmental vulnerability on ≥1 d

SUBMITTER: Falster K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12322469 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature