Social-environmental Characteristics of Neighborhoods: Advancing ecologically oriented research on child maltreatment prevention

Monday, April 10th, 2017

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Kempe Center Grand Rounds

Anschutz Medical Campus, Gary Pavilion, Kempe Education Center

If you cannot join in person: Video Conference  303-864-5201

Amy S. He, PhD, MSW, LCSW

Assistant Professor
University of Denver, Graduate School of Social Work

While much research on child maltreatment has examined individual and family level predictors of abuse and neglect, less emphasis has been placed on examining social contextual factors that shape its occurrence. This presentation is of a mixed-methods study which explored social dynamics of local community environments that may explain differences in maltreatment referral rates above and beyond known individual-level family predictors. Maltreatment referral data from Los Angeles and San Diego Counties in 2012 and 2013 were linked with American Community Survey data from the US Census to map community areas at the census tract level having unusual rates of child maltreatment referrals. The findings of this study expand knowledge of social-environmental dynamics that explain community variations in risk for and protection from child maltreatment. Implications for community-focused child maltreatment prevention interventions will be discussed.

Dr. Amy He serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Denver, Graduate School of Social Work. Dr. He's research and scholarship focuses on both local and national cross-systems collaboration between child welfare and specialized service systems (e.g. substance abuse, mental health, juvenile justice). Her current research examines the impact of social dynamics on neighborhood rates of child maltreatment. Through this research agenda, Dr. He strives to develop collaborative practices aimed towards child maltreatment prevention and intervention at the community level.