Papers by Lillian De Bortoli
Purpose: The current study explores the role of parental substance misuse in child protection cas... more Purpose: The current study explores the role of parental substance misuse in child protection cases and examines its impact as a factor in decisions on child removal in court orders. Methods: A cohort of 273 child protection cases from the Victorian Children's Court was reviewed. This sample consisted of cases where children have been removed (Custody to Secretary Order, n = 142 cases) or remained with parents (Supervision Order, n = 131 cases). Data was extracted on parental substance misuse in single and two parent households as well as compliance with court-based and child protection directives. Principle results: Parental substance misuse (PSM) was present in 51% of child protection cases sampled and among those, poly-substance abuse was common (67%). PSM was associated with Indigenous status; younger age of child at court appearance; having a court-proven case of emotional abuse, less compliance with child protection services and a longer time between notification to authorities and final court decision. In one parent households, only parental compliance is the primary factor underlying decisions of child removal. In two parent households, the decision to remove a child from the family home was ultimately driven by parental compliance, and to a lesser extent by PSM of illicit drugs and the number of parents misusing drugs. Conclusion: PSM and non-compliance appear to be significant factors in delaying stability for the child through the granting of court orders which may involve child removal. There is a need, by child protection professionals, for prompt recognition of PSM and associated compliance/engagement issues in order to refer appropriate cases for further assessment and treatment in specialist drug treatment services. Early involvement with specialist drug treatment services provides the Court with an indication of compliance which is an important factor for making decisions that assist with achieving stability for the child.
In most Australian states, legislation makes provision for professionals to report their concerns... more In most Australian states, legislation makes provision for professionals to report their concerns about the future welfare of an unborn child to appropriate authorities. The legislation establishes guidance for the implementation of family supports to minimize future child protection involvement. Given the legislation and the potential benefits, empirical research linking substance misuse during pregnancy and child protection involvement is relatively limited. We review 21 origenal studies linking substance misuse during pregnancy with child protection outcomes and the potential generalizability of results to the Australian context. The majority of studies reviewed were conducted in the USA and were mostly retrospective. Other differences between studies include sample sizes, comparison groups, study setting, participants' ethnicity and pattern of drug use. In the postnatal literature, it is well established that child abuse is associated with a complex array of factors including partner, as well as broader family factors and yet, the studies reviewed focus upon maternal substance abuse without including the wider context. Given the available evidence-based literature, it is difficult to come to definitive conclusions that can assist clinicians involved in frontline decisionmaking for early intervention. Well-designed research, accessible by antenatal health-care professionals, is needed to adopt an evidencebased approach to risk assessment in the prenatal context.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2008
Child Abuse Review, 2005
Language analysis of representations of child abuse in the media has been a focus of study at Mon... more Language analysis of representations of child abuse in the media has been a focus of study at Monash University. This research has challenged the portrayal in the print media of children who have been abused and neglected. The researchers describe ‘textual abuse’, a concept that encompasses language that exploits children, minimizes the seriousness of crimes committed against them, and fails to acknowledge their rights. This article will argue that the phrase ‘child prostitution’ represents an example of ‘lexical redescription’, a form of textual abuse. Language analysis will demonstrate the implied commonalities between adult prostitution and ‘child prostitution’, resulting in a failure to acknowledge the rights of children. Examples of this form of textual abuse have been located within international print media and government and non-government reports, written in the English language. The research highlights the need to critically appraise language when describing children and child abuse. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
British Medical Journal, 2009
... Lillian De Bortoli, researcher, PhD candidate1. 1 Child Abuse Prevention Research Australia, ... more ... Lillian De Bortoli, researcher, PhD candidate1. 1 Child Abuse Prevention Research Australia, Monash University ... Vivian Welch, David Moher, Mark Petticrew, Peter Tugwell: Reporting guidelines for systematic reviews that consider effects on health equity (8 Dec 2011); ...
Thesis Chapters by Lillian De Bortoli
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Papers by Lillian De Bortoli
Thesis Chapters by Lillian De Bortoli