An organizational analysis of sibling abuse policy implementation

This study provides a sociological theory and analysis of the determinants of how social service agencies deal with sibling abuse. Specifically, the analysis measures the effects of organizational and individual factors on the degree and type of sibling abuse policy implementation in child protection agencies and the perceived success of those policies.;Original data were collected through qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys. Qualitative interviews were conducted in Indiana county offices of the Child Protection Service of the Division of Family and Children. Quantitative surveys were used during the qualitative interviews and mailed to the remaining county organizations. Participants included employees on all organizational levels. Qualitative software was used to analyze the interview data. The quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and logistic regression.;The analyses show that the following characteristics have an effect on sibling abuse policy implementation: (a) the broadness of the definition of sibling abuse; (b) the workers' beliefs about whether sibling abuse is a form of child abuse; and (c) the number and type of change agents dealing with sibling abuse policy. The research shows that there is great variability across the state of Indiana in these factors and in the way sibling abuse cases we handled. Policy implications of these findings are discussed.