NCJ Number
65424
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 173-192
Date Published
1978
Length
20 pages
Annotation
A STUDY OF ADOLESCENT ABUSE IS CONDUCTED TO DETERMINE ITS INCIDENCE AND NATURE, PREVENTIVE AND REMEDIAL STRATEGIES USEFUL IN COMBATING IT, RELATED SERVICE ISSUES, AND APPROACHES TO COORDINATION OF SERVICES.
Abstract
THREE BASIC TYPES OF DATA COLLECTION WERE INVOLVED: 1) ANALYSIS OF EXISTING AGENCY DATA AND OF DATA COLLECTED THROUGH MASS MAILINGS TO HUNDREDS OF STATE AND LOCAL CHILD PROTECTION AGENCIES, 2) REVIEW OF THE PROFESSIONAL LITERATURE, AND 3) AN ANALYSIS OF EXISTING SERVICES AND APPROACHES TO ABUSED ADOLESCENTS IN 15 CITIES THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES. SURVEY DATA ON THE INCIDENCE OF ADOLESCENT ABUSE, ALTHOUGH INCOMPLETE, REVEAL THAT ALMOST AS MANY REPORTED CASES OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN EACH AGE GROUP FROM 10 TO 18 AS IN EACH AGE GROUP FROM 1 TO 9. THE NEED FOR A SEPARATED LEGAL DEFINITION OF ADOLESCENT ABUSE IS NOTED; AND SIGNIFICANT ISSUES ASSOCIATED WITH LEGAL DEFINITIONS OF ADOLESCENT ABUSE ARE IDENTIFIED. THESE ISSUES ARE SERIOUSNESS OF THE INJURY, JUDICIAL ATTITUDES TOWARD ADOLESCENT ABUSE, EMOTIONAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND 'PROVOCATION' AND 'JUSTIFICATION.' DISSIMILARITIES BETWEEN ABUSE ROLES AND ROLE RELATIONSHIPS IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT ABUSE ARE DESCRIBED. PRIMARY DIFFERENCES ARE THAT ADOLESCENT ABUSE DO NOT FIT THE ROLE OF VICTIM AND ARE AT A LESS DEPENDENT DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE. THE CAPABILITIES OF VARIOUS SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS FOR HANDLING ABUSE OF ADOLESCENTS ARE DISCUSSED. THE INADEQUACIES OF CHILD PROTECTION AGENCIES IN PROVIDING PROTECTION FOR ADOLESCENTS REVOLVES AROUND THE FACT THAT DIFFERENT PROCEDURES ARE REQUIRED FOR DEALING WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AND WITH ADOLESCENTS. THE SUBSTANTIAL OVERLAP BETWEEN ADOLESCENT ABUSE AND THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM, AS WELL AS THE LACK OF COORDINATION BETWEEN THE LATTER AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, ARE DESCRIBED. YOUTH SERVICES PROGRAMS, INCLUDING RUNAWAY PROGRAMS, ARE REVIEWED AS THE MOST EFFECTIVE VEHICLE FOR YOUTH SEVICES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OF SUCH AGENCIES TO REPORT SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE AND THEIR INABILITY TO PROVIDE COUNSELING TO FAMILIES INVOLVED IN CHILD ABUSE ARE CRITICIZED. SERVICE ISSUES IN ADOLESCENT ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE DISCUSSED IN RELATION TO IDENTIFICATION, REPORTING, HOTLINES, SHELTER HOMES/SHORT-TERM PLACEMENTS, RUNAWAY PROGRAMS/CRISIS THERAPY. CITIES AND COUNTIES WHERE COMMUNITY-BASED COORDINATION OF ADOLESCENT ABUSE AND NEGLECT HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED ARE IDENTIFIED. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE ON THE ROLE OF PROTECTIVE SERVICES AGENCIES IN ADOLESCENT ABUSE AND NEGLECT. SIX REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DEG)