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The article focuses on the underestimation of the risk of family and domestic violence (FDV) in child protection cases. The study compares the data collected through fixed-field methods and narrative data, revealing that the extent of children's exposure to FDV is higher when using narrative data, highlighting the limitations of fixed-field data in capturing the complete picture of FDV.

Key Practitioner Messages: There is a well‐established link between animal‐ and human‐directed violence.Reports of animal abuse in child protection referrals may indicate more severe cases of child abuse.Cross‐reporting of abuse is important, both in the context of child protection and animal welfare. 'There is a well‐established link between animal‐ and human‐directed violence' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeated reporting to child protection is common. One approach to early intervention is for jurisdictions to receive and respond to child protection concerns raised before children are born. Despite this, little research has comprehensively examined subsequent child protection contact for those first reported prenatally. This study aimed to examine the subsequent child protection contact for up to a two‐year period for a cohort of children who were reported about prebirth. Child protection administrative data were extracted for 640 children reported for a concern about an unborn child in a single jurisdiction during 2014. Data about child protection contacts included reports, investigations, substantiations and out‐of‐home placements for children reported prenatally. Of the 640 children, 79% reported about prenatally also had contact with child protection between birth and age two. From birth and up to age two, children reported prenatally had between zero and 21 reports. Twenty‐two per cent of the children reported prenatally were removed from their birth parents and placed in out‐of‐home care prior to age two. These findings highlight the importance of intervening and supporting families prior to and during pregnancy to reduce harm to children and reduce the need for contact with child protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prenatal substance use, specifically opioid and excessive alcohol use, can cause significant adverse effects for the unborn foetus in both the short‐and long‐term. Responses by state social systems occur on a spectrum of prevention and early intervention to support mothers. Some but not all states include reporting duties, so that professionals made aware of the situation may alert agencies that can intervene to provide appropriate support. This article will review legal duties to report maternal substance use during pregnancy in the US and Australia. We identify variations in these laws regarding who is required to report, what circumstances must be reported and what indicates child abuse or neglect. Inconsistencies in laws raise questions about the nature of different approaches, and how reforms might be made to improve provision of support. Informed by the medical literature, the contemporary context and federal policy in the US, we make recommendations for reform, and for the appropriate response to such reports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the results of an exploratory study aimed to provide policymakers with a rapid analysis of the extent of child protection involvement for individual children and their families, and the characteristics of families reported. Topics covered include the sources of data utilized, the research in partnership towards system improvement and the extent and patterns of involvement with child protection over the life of the family.

Abuse is a frequent cause of infant subdural haemorrhages, retinal haemorrhages and neurological dysfunction. Confessed shaking, without impact, is one reported injury cause. However, this remains legally controversial. We evaluated whether witnessed shaking alone can cause typical abusive head trauma (AHT). Cases were collected by Helfer Society list‐serve solicitation for infants who developed signs and symptoms of AHT after independently witnessed shaking. We also reviewed a cross‐sectional observational, multi‐centre study (Examining Siblings to Recognize Abuse (ExSTRA)) of 2890 children evaluated for abuse between January 2010 and April 2011 who experienced independently witnessed shaking. Four children identified by the Helfer Society experienced witnessed shaking and developed clinical and radiological evidence of AHT, including subdural and retinal haemorrhages. Another two had neurological symptoms, but normal imaging. Nineteen (0.7%) ExSTRA subjects experienced witnessed shaking without impact injuries. Among them, one (5.9%) of the 17 subjects who were neuroimaged had AHT findings and additional abusive injuries. Three had neurologic symptoms but normal neuroimaging. Although shaking is rarely witnessed, these cases support that shaking alone can cause typical AHT injuries, including, but not limited to, acute neurological impairment, subdural haemorrhages and retinal haemorrhages. This information is important to the legal management of abused children. Key Practitioner Messages: Confessions document that infant shaking can cause abusive head trauma (AHT); however, this is disputed in courtrooms and by some physicians.Ten infants developed clinical neurologic symptoms with or without radiologic findings of AHT after independently witnessed shaking. None had a history of cranial impacts, and all lacked physical findings suggesting impacts. They provide support for isolated shaking as a cause of AHT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]