Reframing Child Protection in Emergency Medicine
Child maltreatment remains a concerning source of morbidity and mortality in the United States, where more than 600,000 children are victims of abuse each year, with well-described, long-term consequences for physical and mental health. However, the US child welfare system is characterized by system...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eScholarship Publishing, University of California
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/88j1303s |
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| author | Joseph P. Shapiro Genevieve Preer Caroline J. Kistin |
| author_facet | Joseph P. Shapiro Genevieve Preer Caroline J. Kistin |
| author_sort | Joseph P. Shapiro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Child maltreatment remains a concerning source of morbidity and mortality in the United States, where more than 600,000 children are victims of abuse each year, with well-described, long-term consequences for physical and mental health. However, the US child welfare system is characterized by systemic racism and inequity. Black and Native American children are more likely to be evaluated and reported for suspected abuse despite evidence that race does not independently change their risk of being abused. Once reported to child protective services (CPS), these children are more likely to be removed from their homes and less likely to be reunited with their families than White children. Much of the inequity in this system starts at the front door, where a growing body of research demonstrates that bias regularly infiltrates decision-making in the initial clinical evaluation and management of suspected abuse. Minority children presenting to emergency departments (ED) are more likely to receive diagnostic testing and are more likely to be referred to CPS. In this editorial, we argue for the application of an equity lens to child protection in the ED. We discuss how emergency physicians can balance efforts to protect children from abuse with the imperative to protect children and families from the harms of an inequitable child welfare system. Our discussion concludes with concrete recommendations for emergency clinicians to participate in active bias mitigation and thoughtfully navigate their responsibilities as mandated reporters. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e96000addcea4ce39454d14d16855244 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1936-900X 1936-9018 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | eScholarship Publishing, University of California |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-e96000addcea4ce39454d14d168552442025-08-20T02:50:36ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaWestern Journal of Emergency Medicine1936-900X1936-90182024-10-012561020102410.5811/westjem.1848118481Reframing Child Protection in Emergency MedicineJoseph P. Shapiro0Genevieve Preer1Caroline J. Kistin2Children’s National Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine and Trauma, Washington DCBoston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MassachusettsBrown University, School of Public Health, Hassenfeld Child Health and Innovation Institute, Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Providence, Rhode IslandChild maltreatment remains a concerning source of morbidity and mortality in the United States, where more than 600,000 children are victims of abuse each year, with well-described, long-term consequences for physical and mental health. However, the US child welfare system is characterized by systemic racism and inequity. Black and Native American children are more likely to be evaluated and reported for suspected abuse despite evidence that race does not independently change their risk of being abused. Once reported to child protective services (CPS), these children are more likely to be removed from their homes and less likely to be reunited with their families than White children. Much of the inequity in this system starts at the front door, where a growing body of research demonstrates that bias regularly infiltrates decision-making in the initial clinical evaluation and management of suspected abuse. Minority children presenting to emergency departments (ED) are more likely to receive diagnostic testing and are more likely to be referred to CPS. In this editorial, we argue for the application of an equity lens to child protection in the ED. We discuss how emergency physicians can balance efforts to protect children from abuse with the imperative to protect children and families from the harms of an inequitable child welfare system. Our discussion concludes with concrete recommendations for emergency clinicians to participate in active bias mitigation and thoughtfully navigate their responsibilities as mandated reporters.https://escholarship.org/uc/item/88j1303s |
| spellingShingle | Joseph P. Shapiro Genevieve Preer Caroline J. Kistin Reframing Child Protection in Emergency Medicine Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| title | Reframing Child Protection in Emergency Medicine |
| title_full | Reframing Child Protection in Emergency Medicine |
| title_fullStr | Reframing Child Protection in Emergency Medicine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reframing Child Protection in Emergency Medicine |
| title_short | Reframing Child Protection in Emergency Medicine |
| title_sort | reframing child protection in emergency medicine |
| url | https://escholarship.org/uc/item/88j1303s |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT josephpshapiro reframingchildprotectioninemergencymedicine AT genevievepreer reframingchildprotectioninemergencymedicine AT carolinejkistin reframingchildprotectioninemergencymedicine |