Canadian Incidence Study (CIS) of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect — 2003

The first cycle of the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS-1998) was the first Canada-wide study to examine the incidence of reported child maltreatment and the characteristics of children and families investigated by Canadian child welfare services. Comparisons between the CIS-1998 and CIS-2003 will provide the opportunity for the first time in Canada to examine trends in child maltreatment such as the rates of child welfare services, maltreatment types, substantiation outcomes, and severity of maltreatment. Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect (CIS-2003) is designed to: • Produce national estimates of the incidence of investigated maltreatment in Canada in 2003; • Document changes from 1998 to 2003 and explore the reasons for change; • Examine variations in types and severity of maltreatment; and, • Explore the role of selected child and family characteristics on the incidence of maltreatment and on key service outcomes. This article introduces the methodology of the CIS-2003 study