The Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS)

• Update
• What is the CIS?
• What are the objectives of the CIS?
• What is the scope of the CIS?
• Reports from the CIS

Update - Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect Second Cycle (CIS-2)

Data collection for a second cycle (CIS-2) will begin in the fall of 2003. The value of the CIS will increase with subsequent cycles as it becomes possible to monitor trends. CIS fills a knowledge gap and will contribute to evolution of policy and practice.

Agreement in principle to prepare for the second cycle has been obtained from the Directors of Child Welfare. Consultations with provincial and territorial partners and other stakeholders are ongoing. The data collection instrument is undergoing review by experts. A Request for Proposal (RFP) has been issued to solicit a research and management team.

What is the CIS?

The Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS) is the first nation-wide study to examine the incidence of reported child maltreatment and the characteristics of children and families investigated by Canadian child welfare services. The CIS addresses the four principal forms of maltreatment: physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and emotional maltreatment.

What are the objectives of the CIS?

The primary objective is to provide reliable estimates of the scope and characteristics of reported child abuse and neglect across Canada. Specifically, the CIS was designed to:

• examine the rates of physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional maltreatment, as well as multiple forms of maltreatment, reported to, and investigated by, child welfare services;
• examine the severity of maltreatment in terms of chronicity and evidence of harm/risk;
• examine selected determinants of health for investigated children and their families;
• monitor short-term investigation outcomes, including substantiation rates, placement in care, use of child welfare court, and criminal prosecution;
• understand the demographic characteristics of victims and alleged perpetrators.

What is the scope of the CIS?

The CIS examines cases that are brought to the attention of child welfare authorities. Cases investigated only by the police, cases that are known in the community but not reported, and cases unknown to community members or professionals are not included in this study.

Reports from the CIS

1.  Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS): Final  Report

This publication presents the major descriptive findings from the CIS. This report is directed to a professional audience. The goal of the document is to explain the methodology of the CIS and presents the study's findings in detail. Included in the CIS Final Report is an executive summary which provides a brief, accessible synopsis of the research results.

2.  Child Maltreatment in Canada: Selected Results from the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CMIC)

CMIC is a companion to the CIS Final Report and presents substantiated rates of reported child maltreatment in Canada from the CIS data set. This report is intended for a wider audience than the CIS Final Report. Information in the document is enriched with graphs and tables.

3.  At a glance . . . The Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect

The objective of this four page fact sheet, is to provide readers with a snapshot of the CIS.  At a glance ... outlines the goals, methods and key results from the study. Definitions of the four categories of maltreatment and the respective subcategories are given. This document is intended for educators, media, parent groups, and other interested parties.