Examining Sexual Misconduct Incidents Reported to Title IX Coordinators: What Predicts Reporting Outcomes?

Although there has been much debate regarding the application of Title IX and the related reporting, investigation, and conduct processes at institutions of higher education (IHEs) in the United States, only limited prior research has examined incidents of sexual misconduct reported to Title IX offices. The existing studies rely on aggregate data, which restricts our understanding of the scope of case-level factors (e.g., complainant type, reporting source) and how case-level factors impact case outcomes. The present study uses three years (2017-2020) of case-level data for incidents of sexual misconduct (n = 664) reported to the Title IX office at a single, large 4-year university in the Western United States to explore the scope of case-level factors and outcomes and potential changes in the rate of reporting over time. Results first show that most complainants were identified as undergraduate students, while most respondents were identified as unknown/anonymous; nearly half of the reports stemmed from responsible employees, while almost 85% came from a source other than the complainant. More than 90% of incidents were resolved through informal resolutions (e.g., providing resources to the complainant) rather than formal resolutions (i.e., the investigation and conduct process). A greater percentage of incidents reported by complainants compared to other reporter types were resolved through a formal resolution. Finally, the rate of reporting to Title IX increased significantly over the study period, but only by the Student Services office and "other" reporters. Recommendations for IHEs and future research are discussed.

Native Missing Persons Cases Will Not be Solved by Police Alone: The Case for "Missing Persons Advocates".

This study explored the potential role of victim advocacy in Native American missing person cases. Interviews with 25 tribal and non-tribal victim/social service providers were conducted to assess their perspectives on the factors which make Native Americans vulnerable to going missing, the barriers and challenges regarding reporting and investigating missing persons, as well as how victim/social service providers might better support the families of missing persons. Findings suggest that advocates perceive that responding to and offering services for Native families who experience a missing loved one will be extremely difficult because of the intersection of isolation, poverty, and jurisdictional complexities among tribal lands, combined with social service providers and law enforcement officers' lack of resources and training regarding cultural sensitivity. At the same time, advocates suggest that additional training and resources could help overcome many of these barriers and see a role for victim service providers in responding to missing and murdered Native American persons. Implications and suggestions for practice are discussed.

Comparing sexual misconduct incidents in Annual Security Reports and Title IX coordinator data: Do policies increase reporting.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have compared measures of sexual misconduct reporting, and there are few assessments of campus policies on reporting. METHODS: Using data from New York institutions of higher education (IHEs) (N = 209) we compare the number of sexual misconduct incidents reported in Annual Security Reports (ASRs) and to Title IX coordinators, and explore the relationship between policies and reporting across both measures, while controlling for institutional factors. RESULTS: The majority of IHEs had higher numbers of sexual misconduct incidents reported to Title IX coordinators than reported in ASR data. Student bills of rights were associated with higher reporting in ASRs no policies were associated with reporting to Title IX coordinators. CONCLUSIONS: Campus sexual misconduct is both a public policy and a public health problem; we must advance the role of data and data-driven decision-making in crafting evidenced-based solutions.

Pelvic floor dysfunction in rural postpartum mothers in the United States: prevalence, severity, and psychosocial correlates.

Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a common gynecological problem; however, women residing in rural communities may refrain from seeking treatment for PFD. The purpose of this study was to characterize severity of PFD among postpartum women residing in rural communities (<50,000 residents) in the United States and explore the demographic and psychosocial correlates of PFD. METHODS: A survey packet comprised of the Pelvic Floor Disability Index (PFDI-20) and Prolapse and Incontinence Knowledge Questionnaire (PIKQ) as well as the Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Screening (EPDS), items from the Canadian Sexual Health Indicator (CSHI) survey, and demographic questions were distributed via electronic link following recruitment using social media. Descriptive statistics were calculated, and multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the factors associated with PFDI-20 score. RESULTS: Participants (n = 383) have limited pelvic health knowledge (PIKQ) despite self-reporting moderate symptoms of dysfunction (PFDI-20). Over half of women scored ≥14 on the EPDS, indicating probable depression. Women with high scores on the EPDS had greater odds of reporting moderate/severe PFD. Women that identified as Black and/or having a college degree were more likely to report moderate/severe PFD. CONCLUSION: Rural women require further support to improve their physical and psychological health in the postpartum period.

An updated examination of the predictors of running away from foster care in the United States and trends over ten years (2010-2019).

BACKGROUND: Among the more than 400,000 children in foster care, there is a small group who will run away from care and face increased risks of negative outcomes. Previous studies on the predictors of running away from care use limited samples or outdated data. OBJECTIVE: The present study replicates and extends prior research by presenting an updated analysis of predictors of running away from foster care as well as 10-year trends in the prevalence and predictors of running from care. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: This study uses the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System (AFCARS) data to assess the runaway status of 597,911 children who were involved in foster care in 2019. Longitudinal trend analyses utilize AFCARS data from 2010 to 2019. METHOD: Using chi-square/t-tests and binary logistic regression analyses, this study investigates individual- and case-level predictors of running away from foster care programs. RESULTS: Findings show that girls (OR = 1.29, p < .001), African American children (OR = 1.89, p < .001), and older children (OR = 1.61, p < .001) are at increased risk of running away from foster care. Removal reasons such as child substance abuse (OR = 1.65, p < .001), abandonment (OR = 1.38, p < .001), and child behavioral problems (OR = 1.31, p < .001) are also associated with an increased risk. Analysis of 10-year trends shows a steady decline in running from care: 1.40% in 2010 to 0.98% in 2019. The profile of risk factors is stable overall, with a few notable exceptions. CONCLUSIONS: The percent of children running from foster care is at a 10-year low. Prevention and intervention efforts regarding running from care must focus on the needs of African American and Hispanic children, especially girls, as well as children with substance use or behavior problems. Given that programs rarely have prospective information regarding why children leave care and the negative consequences of labeling children as "runaways," shifting language to "missing from care" should be considered.

Assessing States' Intimate Partner Violence Offender Treatment Standards using a Principles of Effective Intervention Framework.

Court-ordered treatment programs are a widely used response to intimate partner violence (IPV) and many states have developed standards to guide programs. The current study provides an update to Maiuro and Eberle's. (2008) review of states' standards and extends the literature by using the principles of effective intervention (PEIs; i.e., risk, need, responsivity, treatment, and fidelity) as an organizational framework to examine standards. Findings showed that 84% of states had standards in 2020, compared to 88% in 2007, and extensive changes both within and across states' standards had occurred. Regarding the PEIs, in line with the risk principle most states mandated the use of risk assessments; inconsistent with the needs principle, few states used these assessments to classify clients into risk levels or inform individualized treatment. The majority of standards addressed the treatment principle by outlining a required structure and duration, but few attended to responsivity factors (e.g., identifying treatment modalities, attending to specific client factors). Regarding the fidelity principle, most standards outlined education or training requirements for staff and required periodic program reviews or audits, but few standards were evidenced-based and only about half required that programs collect data to measure effectiveness. Taken together, findings suggest that standards have continued to evolve and that the integration of PEIs into IPV treatment is only just beginning. Standards provide a rich opportunity for future researcher-practitioner partnerships in the field of IPV intervention.