NCJ Number
141839
Date Published
1985
Length
60 pages
Annotation
In this study of child abuse and neglect in the U.S., the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges reviews the extent of the problem, the economic costs to society of child abuse, the social and psychological costs to children, the relationship of neglect and abuse to children's developmental disorders and to later juvenile delinquency and adult violence, and the intervention and prevention of future abuse.
Abstract
The second chapter of this booklet describes the development of the concept of children's needs throughout history, focusing on the role of child labor, the needs of children as defined in this century, acceptable community standards for child care, emotional needs of children, and children with special needs. There are numerous judicial procedures involved in child abuse and neglect cases including, inter alia, full due process, the right to counsel, guardians ad litem, no right to trial by jury, children's testimony, parental rights, accountability, and child welfare service responsibilities. A separate chapter deals with definitions of child neglect and abuse, covering abandonment, lack of supervision, nutritional and medical neglect, emotional neglect, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. In assessing the dynamics of child abuse and neglect, many factors must be considered: single mothers, characteristics of abusing parents, stepparents, siblings, baby sitters, family lifestyle, low-self esteem, mental illness, role reversal, alcohol, crisis and stress, and family support systems. The final chapters deal with reporting child abuse and with agency procedures for abuse reports: investigative procedures, intake, initial and diagnostic assessments, case planning, treatment, evaluation, and termination. Chapter references