Health Highlight Report for Hidalgo County
Child Abuse and Neglect: Abuse Victims per 1,000 Population, 2017
Hidalgo County 57.395% Confidence Interval (42.9 - 71.6)Description of the Confidence IntervalThe confidence interval indicates the range of probable true values for the level of risk in the community.
A value of "DNA" (Data Not Available) will appear if the confidence interval was not published with the IBIS indicator data for this measure.Statistical Stability StableDescription of Statistical Stability- Stable = This count or rate is relatively stable and should provide a good estimate of your community risk.
- Unstable = This count or rate is statistically unstable (RSE >0.30), and may fluctuate widely due to random variation (chance).
- Very Unstable = This count or rate is extremely unstable (RSE >0.50). This value should not be used to represent your population risk. You should combine years or otherwise increase the population denominator in this calculation.
- DNA = Data Not Available. The required community value and/or confidence interval was not available for this measure.
New Mexico 17.6U.S. DNA DNA=Data not available.Hidalgo County Compared to State
Description of Dashboard GaugeDescription of the Dashboard Gauge
This "dashboard" type graphic is based on the community data on the right. It compares the community value on this indicator to the state overall value.- Excellent = The community's value on this indicator is BETTER than the state value, and the difference IS statistically significant.
- Watch = The community's value is BETTER than state value, but the difference IS NOT statistically significant.
- Improvement Needed = The community's value on this indicator is WORSE than the state value, but the difference IS NOT statistically significant.
- Reason for Concern = The community's value on this indicator is WORSE than the state value, and the difference IS statistically significant.
The community value is considered statistically significantly different from the state value if the state value is outside the range of the community's 95% confidence interval. If the community's data or 95% confidence interval information is not available, a blank gauge image will be displayed with the message, "missing information."NOTE: The labels used on the gauge graphic are meant to describe the community's status in plain language. The placement of the gauge needle is based solely on the statistical difference between the community and state values. When selecting priority health issues to work on, a community should take into account additional factors such as how much improvement could be made, the U.S. value, the statistical stability of the community number, the severity of the health condition, and whether the difference is clinically significant.
Why Is This Important?
In New Mexico, child maltreatment includes physical neglect, sexual abuse and physical abuse. Child maltreatment can range from relatively minor (bruises or cuts) to severe (broken bones, acute subdural hematoma, or even death). In addition to these physical effects, additional outcomes of abuse or neglect may include behavioral changes, developmental delays or life-long disabilities. Regardless of the physical effects, the emotional pain and suffering they cause a child should not be minimized. Additionally, adults who experienced abuse or neglect during childhood are more likely to suffer from physical ailments such as allergies, arthritis, asthma, bronchitis, high blood pressure, and ulcers. The effects vary depending on the circumstances of the abuse or neglect and personal characteristics of the child. Also impactful is the child's environment, including the array of services available to the child and family to address the underlying issues which lead to child maltreatment. Consequences of abuse might be mild or severe, may disappear after a short period or last a lifetime. Child maltreatment can impact the child physically, psychologically, behaviorally, or in some combination of all three ways. Ultimately, due to related costs to public entities such as the health care, human services, and educational systems, abuse and neglect impact not just the child and family, but society as a whole.Evidence-based Practices
New Mexico's Protective Services Division was selected by the Mountain and Plains Child Welfare Implementation Center (which is based at the University of Texas at Arlington) to receive Training and Technical Assistance to develop a new Practice model for the Division. The Practice Model project, called NM Pinon Project for CYFD, has been underway since November 2009 and it involves the entire Protective Services leadership team along with regional and field staff, foster parents, parents, children, youth, tribes, courts, providers and other stakeholders. The practice model is a framework of how Protective Services' employees, families, and stakeholders should unite in creating a physical and emotional environment that focuses on the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and their families. It contains definitions and explanations regarding how Protective Services as a whole will work internally and partner with families, service providers, tribes and other stakeholders in child welfare services. When Protective completes the Practice Model, we will: [[br]] * Define how Protective Services engages families, youth, and the community in developing and delivering services that meet the unique needs of those served by the agency. * Define standards of practice. * Define how outcomes will be measured both quantitatively and qualitatively. * Incorporate a clear, written explanation of how Protective Services will successfully function. * Promote practice that is evidence informed and guided by values and principles, therefore increasing the likelihood of positive outcomes for children, youth, families, and the community. * Link Protective Services? policy, practice, training, supervision and quality assurance with its mission, vision, agency values and strategic plan.Note
Data were compiled from the New Mexico Child Welfare data system for tracking reports and investigations of child abuse. Compiled data were obtained from CYFD Protective Services. It is possible that one investigated report may include multiple types of substantiated abuse of one or more children in a family. In addition, it is possible for an individual child to have more than one substantiated investigation of abuse or neglect for a single reporting period.Data Sources
New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department, PO Drawer 5160 Santa Fe, NM 87502-5160. Phone: (505)827-8400. Website: www.cyfd.org. Population Estimates: University of New Mexico, Geospatial and Population Studies (GPS) Program, http://gps.unm.edu/.Measure Description for Child Abuse and Neglect
Definition: The child abuse victims per 1,000 children under age 18.
Numerator: Number of substantiated individual victims of child abuse or neglect.
Denominator: Number of children in the population under age 18 years.
