Summary of predictor variables used in the statistical classification models.

Event variables are the numbers of various types of event that occurred for the focal child prior to the notification. Recorded relationship variables are based on relationships recorded prior to the notification (see Fig 1A–1C); whole-life relationship variables are based on close family relationships, whether they were recorded before or after the notification (see Fig 1D–1F). A target event is defined to be a serious intervention by child protection services or a substantiated finding of maltreatment. Abbreviations are included for reference for Table 2 and Figs 1 and 2.