New research from COE teamInvestigators at the Vanderbilt Center of Excellence for Children in State’s Custody, including Director of Quality Improvement, Kathy Gracey, M.Ed., have shown new links between neighborhood factors and risk for child maltreatment.  The study combined census data with state administrative data and found that youth in the lowest income neighborhoods were 10 times more likely to enter an out-of-home placement. Higher employment rates, having health insurance, and greater educational attainment were protective factors.