Family Risk Factors Present in Hispanic Latine Children Who are Undergoing an Extended Forensic Interview

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Degree type
Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
Graduate group
Discipline
Social Work
Subject
Sexual Abuse
Hispanic Latine
Child
Forensic Evaluations
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Copyright date
2025-08-06
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Author
Howell, Sarah K
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Abstract

Background. According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (2018), approximately 57,000 cases of sexual abuse of Hispanic Latine children are reported to child protective services and law enforcement annually (Luken et al., 2021). Reports of child sexual abuse (CSA) may lead to a forensic evaluation to determine the likelihood of abuse, and particularly complex or inconclusive cases may be referred for an extended forensic evaluation. Among the literature on forensic evaluations, very little has focused on the Hispanic Latine community. This study addresses that gap by exploring factors associated with case substantiation in a sample of Hispanic Latine referred for extended forensic evaluations. Methods: Data from 59 Hispanic-Latino CSA cases, involving youth aged 4 to 17, referred for extended forensic evaluations of CSA allegations in upstate New York, were collected using a retrospective chart review. Data included demographic variables, abuse characteristics, and four standardized measures: the Trauma Symptom Checklist for Young Children (TSCYC), Trauma Symptom Checklist for Children (TSCC), Child Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI) and Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test Second Edition (KBIT 2). Results: In this study, over eighty-five percent of the cases were female, and the average age of victims was nine years old. Three quarters of the non-offending parents reported a family history of any kind of abuse. The only factor associated with substantiation was abuse involving penetration. Conclusions: In an extended forensic interview context, the trauma and sexual behavior standardized measures may not have been culturally relevant, and only the presence of relatively severe abuse involving penetration was predictive. Recommendations include validating trauma measures on Hispanic-Latine samples, using precise acculturation measures, ensuring assessments are culturally informed, and addressing intergenerational trauma. The study highlights the urgent need for more rigorous, culturally grounded research to inform equitable responses to CSA within Hispanic Latine populations.

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Corcoran, Jacqueline
Date of degree
2025-08-08
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