Canadian Incidence Study 2008
The CIS-2008 marks the third cycle of this national child maltreatment data collection. The CIS-2008 data was gathered from 114 child welfare agencies/offices in every Canadian province and territory and employed a similar methodology to the CIS-1998 and CIS-2003 studies, so comparisons can be made. The following sections provide specific information regarding the 2008 CIS cycle.
Oversampling studies are being conducted in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario. Additonal oversampling studies with specifically adapted procedures are being conducted in Quebec (EIQ-2008) and with selected First Nations' service providers (FNCIS-2008).
| Brief Description of the CIS-2008 | |
|---|---|
Methodology |
Survey |
| Coded by | Investigating worker |
| Level of measurement | Investigation |
Contact with Child Welfare System: Investigated Incident OR Risk Assessment |
Investigated incident of maltreatment |
| Risk Assessment: cases in which a child was investigated because of risk of maltreatment only (no allegation of maltreatment, no specific incident of maltreatment suspected) | |
| Number of forms of maltreatment Type of maltreatment |
Multiple forms, standardized |
| CIS: 5 main types | |
| Physical abuse (6 subtypes), sexual abuse (9 subtypes), emotional maltreatment (5 subtypes), neglect (8 subtypes), exposure to intimate partner violence (4 subtypes) | |
| Child demographics | Age, sex, Aboriginal status, living arrangements |
| Levels of substantiation / disposition | 3 levels defined by study: substantiated, suspected, unfounded |
| Severity of harm | Type of injury, chronicity, need for treatment for emotional and physical harm |
| Report makers | Multiple reporting sources allowed |
Child functioning / risk factors |
18 functioning issues captured for all investigated children |
| Prior reports to child welfare authorities for suspected maltreatment | |
| Parent / caregiver risk factors / characteristics |
Income, housing status and safety, other adults in home |
| 9 caregiver risk factors | |
| Custody dispute | |
| Perpetrators | Caregiver or other relationship to child; for non-parent perpetrators know only age, sex, and relationship |
| Receipt of services | Court, ongoing care, Out-of-home care, referrals made on family behalf, criminal court |
| Duplication | Partially unduplicated |
| Agency data | Size, location, annual caseload, screening practices etc. |
| Workers in study | Collected information on age, education, job status, caseload, years of experience |
