Child abuse and neglect investigations in Canada: Comparing 1998 and 2003 data

The 1998 and the 2003 Canadian Incidence Studies of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS-1998 and CIS-2003) are the first and second nation-wide studies to examine the incidence of reported child maltreatment and the characteristics of the children and families investigated by Canadian child welfare services. In the fall of 1998, the CIS-1998 tracked 7,672 child maltreatment investigations in a representative sample of 51 child welfare service areas across Canada and in the fall of 2003, the CIS-2003 tracked 14,200 investigations in a representative sample of 63 child welfare service areas. In all jurisdictions, excluding Quebec, child welfare workers completed a three-page standardized data collection form; in Quebec, information was extracted directly from an administrative information system. Weighted national annual estimates were derived based on these investigations.