CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN NEW JERSEY - ESTIMATING THE INCIDENCE PER COUNTY - PROJECTING TREATMENT NEEDS DESCRIPTIONS OF MODEL TREATMENT PROGRAMS, REV ED., 1977

• NCJ Number: 46947
• Author(s): H TRITREMMEL; D FERRARA
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 57 pages
• Corporate Author: New Jersey Dept of Human Services
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program Description (Model)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT SERVICE NEEDS IN NEW JERSEY ARE PROJECTED, THE EXISTING SERVICE SYSTEM IS ASSESSED, AND A MODEL FOR AN IMPROVED SYSTEM IS PRESENTED.

Abstract

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT AT LEAST HALF OF ALL CHILDREN WHO BECOME VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT IN ANY GIVEN YEAR IN NEW JERSEY DO NOT COME TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DIVISION OF YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES. INCREASED OUTREACH EFFORTS ARE EXPECTED TO NARROW THE GAP BETWEEN REPORTED AND UNREPORTED CASES OF NEGLECT AND ABUSE. HOWEVER, CASELOAD GROWTH IS EXPECTED TO REVEAL A SECOND GAP -- THAT BETWEEN TREATMENT NEEDS AND TREATMENT RESOURCES. SINCE 1975, NEW JERSEY HAS EXPANDED THE PROVISION OF PROTECTIVE SERVICES TO CHILDREN THROUGH NEW LEGISLATION, EXPANDED REPORTING MECHANISMS, ACCELERATED PROGRAM DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT, AND IMPROVEMENTS IN SERVICES AND RESOURCES. IT IS NOTED THAT PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT MUST BE BALANCED WITH EVALUATION AND CONTROL OVER THE QUALITY AND IMPACT OF SERVICES. A TREATMENT NETWORK THAT INCLUDES PREVENTIVE AND REHABILITATIVE PROGRAMS, COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY SERVICES, AND MEASURES TO DEAL WITH PROBLEMS UNDERLYING CHILD ABUSE IS PROPOSED. DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF PROGRAMS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE NETWORK ARE PROVIDED. SUPPORTING TABULAR DATA ARE APPENDED. (LKM)