A new study has highlighted the urgency of ensuring young victims of serious child abuse or neglect get the support they need prior to starting school.
The study, published by researchers at the University of South Australia, analysed the records* of nearly 75,000 South Australian children (born between 2003 and 2014; mean age of 5.7 years; 50.7% boys), identifying 1,345 who had suffered substantiated abuse before starting school, 666 of whom had entered foster, kinship (usually with grandparents) or residential care.
Assessing developmental outcomes** for children with substantiated (proven) 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.
However, for children removed into out of home care they were:
- 27% less likely to be vulnerable on Physical Health and Wellbeing (including gross and fine motor skills, readiness for school, being tired or hungry);
- 21% less likely to be vulnerable on Language and Cognitive Skills; and
- 19% were doing better in Communication Skills and General Knowledge.
Yet it is also the case that children who were removed from their homes were more likely vulnerable in other areas:
- 14% were more likely to be very behind in Social Competence (how they get on with other children); and
- 20% were more likely to display poor Emotional Maturity (ability to control their emotions, sense of wellbeing).
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% of young boys with substantiated child abuse were emotionally vulnerable, compared with 21% 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,” Professor Segal said.
“If we don’t identify and respond to these risks early in life, these children will grow up within and perpetuate cycles of disadvantage.”
Professor Segal said 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,” she said. “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 said. “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.”
Lanais said this work confirms the unmet developmental needs in children with serious child protection concerns.
“It also emphasises the urgency to provide appropriate, intensive services before school commencement, to give these children the best chance in life.”
The original version of this article appeared as a media release from UniSA.