NCJ Number
59268
Editor(s)
M L LAUDERDALE,
R N ANDERSON,
S E CRAMER
Date Published
1978
Length
383 pages
Annotation
WRITTEN BY LEADERS IN THE FIELDS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT RESEARCH, SOCIAL WELFARE, AND GOVERNMENT, THESE PAPERS FROM THE SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHILD ABUSE DISCUSS ABUSE AT THE SOCIAL SYSTEM LEVEL.
Abstract
ACKNOWLEDGING THAT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS BY ITSELF NOT A PREEMINENT CONCERN AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT, THE PAPERS EXAMINE THE POTENTIAL OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES TO SUPPORT AND STRENGTHEN FAMILIES AND TO SET GOALS FOR THE RESPONSIBLE EXERCISE OF POLITICAL POWER AT LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL LEVELS. THESE CONSIDERATIONS ARE COMPLEMENTED BY OVERVIEWS OF THE SOCIAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, AND CULTURAL ECOLOGY OF ABUSE. AMONG THE TOPICS EXPLORED IN THE INITIAL SECTION ARE THE FAMILY SYSTEMS IN SOCIETY, CULTURAL AND CROSS-CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES, CHILD ABUSE RESEARCH, EMOTIONAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN, NEGLECT, PREVENTION, PUBLIC AWARENESS, AND REPORTING SYSTEMS. PAPERS DISCUSS POVERTY-LEVEL SURVIVAL OF FAMILIES AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO ABUSE, THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN STRENGTHENING THE FAMILY, THE COMMUNITY ROLE IN ABUSE PREVENTION, CHANGING FAMILY ROLES, FAMILY MOVES, AND CHANGES INSIDE THE FAMILIES AND THEIR PART IN ABUSE, CHILD ABUSE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO CORPORAL PUNISHMENT, AND CAUSES OF ABUSE. TYPES OF RESEARCH INTO CHILD ABUSE ARE DISCUSSED AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHILD ABUSE ARE DOCUMENTED. ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF CENTRAL CHILD ABUSE REGISTRIES ARE CONSIDERED. PAPERS IN THE FINAL SECTION FOCUS ON GOVERNMENTAL INTERVENTION AND DELINEATE FEDERAL STATE, AND LOCAL ROLES FOR THE PLANNING AND PROVISION OF SERVICES FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, INCLUDING THAT OF FACILITATOR AND FINANCIER, CREATOR AND ADMINISTRATOR OF SERVICE DELIVERY PROGRAMS, AND PROVIDER OF SERVICES TO FAMILIES IN NEED. LEGISLATORS ARE CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CREATION OF AN EFFECTIVE REPORTING ACT AND FUNDING CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND PROGRAMS FOR PRIMARY PREVENTION. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. SEE ALSO NCJ 59285. (DAG)