NCJ Number
244324
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 22 Issue: 4 Dated: July-August 2013 Pages: 246-254
Date Published
August 2013
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This article focuses on responding to harmful sexual behavior by young people towards their siblings and other young children in their family network.
Abstract
This article will focus on responding to harmful sexual behavior by young people towards their siblings and other young children in their family network. It will explore a framework for practice of engaging children and their families following disclosure of sexual abuse, developed by the Sexual Abuse Counselling and Prevention Program at the Children's Protection Society (CPS) in Melbourne, Australia. This article will detail statutory and policy frameworks that provide a context for therapeutic intervention. This particularly applies to consideration of the separation of young people from their families, and where this occurs, to the matter of their reunification with their families. The CPS is particularly exercised by the challenge of achieving a balance in individual safety and the wellbeing of all family members. The article will look at examples of work in which balancing the best interests of different family members which at times are in potential if not actual conflict poses a challenge to counselling staff. The article will provide ideas and approaches to consider for those programs that walk this difficult journey with families. Abstract published by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons.