WRMA was engaged by Westat in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to contribute to the project team to conduct the Fourth National Incidence Study on Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS-4) study.

The National Incidence Study (NIS) is a Congressionally-mandated, periodic effort of the Department of Health and Human Services. The NIS-4 estimates the scope of the maltreated child population by combining information about reported cases with data on abused and neglected children identified by professionals outside the Child Protective Services (CPS) system. WRMA contributed to the study design, OMB approval process, and the development of data collection procedures among 120 counties selected to participate in the study. In addition, this comparison study will help to develop reliable estimates of national trends in the rates, distribution and severity of child abuse and neglect.

The project team’s work on this project will contribute to the effort to identify child abuse and neglect at the community level. The final report detailing the results of the study will be used to inform the Congress about the current scope of the problem and will guide future child protection services programs and policies.