NCJ Number
51894
Journal
CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (OCTOBER 1978) Pages: 28-33
Date Published
1978
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE OPERATION OF CEDAR HOUSE IN LONG BEACH, CALIF., TO TREAT AND PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
PLANNING INVOLVED IN THE EARLY DEVELOPMENT OF CEDAR HOUSE EVOLVED FROM ONE GOAL, TO PENETRATE THE ISOLATION OF ABUSIVE FAMILIES. IT WAS BELIEVED THAT PARENTS OF BATTERED CHILDREN TENDED TO FEEL ISOLATED FROM THOSE AROUND THEM AND COULD NOT REACH OUT FOR HELP. GROUP MEETINGS AT THE HOUSE TAKE PLACE AROUND A DINING ROOM TABLE, WITH COFFEE, JUICE, AND SNACKS AVAILABLE. OUTREACH IS A MAJOR TECHNIQUE EMPLOYED TO DECREASE ISOLATION THROUGH VISITS TO HOMES. IT IS ASSUMED THAT PARENTS DO NOT REALLY WANT TO HURT THEIR CHILDREN; THUS, WHEN A CHILD IS HURT, THE PARENTS ARE ALSO HURT. THE APPROACH OF THE HOUSE IS SUPPORTIVE RATHER THAN CONFRONTIVE. IT IS RECOGNIZED THAT MOST CHILDREN WHO ARE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT FOR REASONS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT LATER RETURN TO THEIR PARENTS. WORK IS UNDERWAY TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE COURT SYSTEM. IN SEEKING ANSWERS TO THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE, PARENTS BECOME PART OF THE HOUSE TEAM. BASIC COMPONENTS OF COUNSELING (GROUP THERAPY, INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, MARITAL COUNSELING, AND AN EXPERIMENTAL CLASS TEACHING PARENTS TO DO PLAY THERAPY WITH THEIR OWN CHILDREN) ARE UTILIZED. THE PROGRAM OF CEDAR HOUSE HAS A CONTRACT TO SERVE AT LEAST 30 FAMILIES, AND THE STAFF INCLUDES TWO SOCIAL WORKERS, A PSYCHOLOGIST, THREE PARAPROFESSIONALS, A SECRETARY, AND A NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS. CEDAR HOUSE PARTICIPATES IN THE GREATER LONG BEACH CHILD TRAUMA COUNCIL, AN ORGANIZATION WHICH AGENCIES AND INTERESTED PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ATTEND VOLUNTARILY. BETWEEN JANUARY 1975 AND EARLY JULY 1978 THE PROGRAM SERVED 116 FAMILIES (172 ADULTS AND 234 CHILDREN). CEDAR HOUSE DEALS WITH HIGH-RISK FAMILIES IN ALL CASES. (DEP)