In new research published by the University of South Australia has highlighted the urgency of ensuring young victims of serious child abuse or neglect get the support they need before school commencement so that they can be as close to developmentally on track as possible.
Analysing the records of nearly 75,000 South Australian children (born between 2003 and 2014; mean age of 5.7 years; 50.7 per cent of boys), researchers identified 1345 who had suffered substantiated abuse before starting school, 666 of whom had entered foster, kinship or residential care.
Assessing developmental outcomes for children with substantiated abuse or neglect (prior to them starting school) researchers found that some children were at high risk of being significantly delayed across all aspects of development prior to starting school.
The study found that young boys, in particular, fare far worse than girls, and are more likely to be vulnerable on every developmental domain, at every level of child protection concern.
For example, across 2009 to 2018, 44 per cent of young boys with substantiated child abuse were emotionally vulnerable, compared with 21 per cent of girls with substantiated child abuse, and 14% of boys with no child protection contact.
Senior researcher, UniSA’s Professor Leonie Segal, says more must be done during the first five years to help children with serious child protection concerns, to be developmentally on track, especially boys.
“Being developmentally behind at the start of school is a predictive indicator of poor educational outcomes. It is also likely associated with poor emotional and social outcomes as a teenager or young adult,” Prof Segal says.
“If we don’t identify and respond to these risks early in life, these children will grow up within and perpetuate cycles of disadvantage.
“Placement in out-of-home care may better meet a child’s basic needs – for good nutrition, access to health care, sleep, and offer a more enriching and nurturing environment. It also improves access to schooling, with lower levels of absenteeism and truancy.
“But while our research suggests that out-of-home placement supports physical, communication and cognitive development, children’s social and emotional development may be compromised.”
UniSA researcher and PhD candidate Krystal Lanais says the research highlights the acute need for professional therapeutic support for children in care.
“Removing a child from their birth family, in over-riding parental rights, and separating children from their parents, is a serious and costly undertaking – and a last resort to address the most serious child safety concerns,” Lanais says.
“And yet, it cannot be expected that out-of-home care will resolve deep-seated serious early life trauma, evident in social and emotional distress, without professional support.
“This work confirms the unmet developmental needs in children with serious child protection concerns, and the urgency to provide appropriate, intensive services before school commencement, to give these children the best chance in life.”
In new research published by the University of South Australia has highlighted the urgency of ensuring young victims of serious child abuse or neglect get the support they need before school commencement so that they can be as close to developmentally on track as possible.
Analysing the records of nearly 75,000 South Australian children (born between 2003 and 2014; mean age of 5.7 years; 50.7 per cent of boys), researchers identified 1345 who had suffered substantiated abuse before starting school, 666 of whom had entered foster, kinship or residential care.
Assessing developmental outcomes for children with substantiated abuse or neglect (prior to them starting school) researchers found that some children were at high risk of being significantly delayed across all aspects of development prior to starting school.
The study found that young boys, in particular, fare far worse than girls, and are more likely to be vulnerable on every developmental domain, at every level of child protection concern.
For example, across 2009 to 2018, 44 per cent of young boys with substantiated child abuse were emotionally vulnerable, compared with 21 per cent of girls with substantiated child abuse, and 14% of boys with no child protection contact.
Senior researcher, UniSA’s Professor Leonie Segal, says more must be done during the first five years to help children with serious child protection concerns, to be developmentally on track, especially boys.
“Being developmentally behind at the start of school is a predictive indicator of poor educational outcomes. It is also likely associated with poor emotional and social outcomes as a teenager or young adult,” Prof Segal says.
“If we don’t identify and respond to these risks early in life, these children will grow up within and perpetuate cycles of disadvantage.
“Placement in out-of-home care may better meet a child’s basic needs – for good nutrition, access to health care, sleep, and offer a more enriching and nurturing environment. It also improves access to schooling, with lower levels of absenteeism and truancy.
“But while our research suggests that out-of-home placement supports physical, communication and cognitive development, children’s social and emotional development may be compromised.”
UniSA researcher and PhD candidate Krystal Lanais says the research highlights the acute need for professional therapeutic support for children in care.
“Removing a child from their birth family, in over-riding parental rights, and separating children from their parents, is a serious and costly undertaking – and a last resort to address the most serious child safety concerns,” Lanais says.
“And yet, it cannot be expected that out-of-home care will resolve deep-seated serious early life trauma, evident in social and emotional distress, without professional support.
“This work confirms the unmet developmental needs in children with serious child protection concerns, and the urgency to provide appropriate, intensive services before school commencement, to give these children the best chance in life.”
