NCJ Number
68586
Date Published
1978
Length
203 pages
Annotation
TWO REPORTS PREPARED BY AGENCIES INVOLVED IN PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE IN THE RURAL AREAS OF APPALACHIA AND WYOMING ARE REPRINTED TO DISSEMINATE KNOWLEDGE OF THE IDENTIFICATION AND TREATMENT OF RURAL CHILD ABUSE.
Abstract
IN THE FIRST REPORT, TWO INTRODUCTORY SECTIONS DESCRIBE THE BASIC CONCEPTS USED IN DESIGNING THE APPALACHIAN CITIZENS FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS (ACCR) PROJECT, WHICH WAS AN INNOVATIVE DEMONSTRATION PROJECT UNDERTAKEN AMONG THE RURAL POPULATION OF APPALACHIA. INCLUDED IN THE FIRST SECTION ARE AN OVERVIEW OF COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITIES TOWARD CHILD ABUSE; A FUNDAMENTAL RATIONALE FOR SELECTING A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT APPROACH TO RURAL CHILD ABUSE; A DISCUSSION OF INDICATORS OF CHILD ABUSE; DIFFERENTIATION OF CITIZEN AND PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES; A CONCEPTUAL CHILD ABUSE MODEL THAT LINKS LEVELS OF ABUSE WITH LEVELS OF INTERVENTION; IDENTIFICATION OF SELF-HELP GROUPS ORIENTED TOWARD SOCIAL CHANGE, RATHER THAN THERAPY TOWARD CHILD ABUSE; AND A DISCUSSION OF CHILDREN'S RIGHTS AND THEIR IMPORTANCE IN MEDIATING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. A DESCRIPTION OF THE ACTUAL DEMONSTRATION PROJECT EXPERIENCE INCLUDES ANALYSES OF THE PROJECT LOCATION AND SETTING, THE FUNDING PROCESS, ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED BY THE PROJECT COMPONENTS, AND SUGGESTIONS FOR CHANGE IN PROJECT DESIGN. THE NEXT SECTION DISCUSSES THE ROLE OF VARIOUS FORMAL AND INFORMAL HUMAN SERVICE SYSTEMS IN MOST RURAL COMMUNITIES AND THEIR ROLES IN THE PREVENTION AND REMEDIATION OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THE LAST SECTION DESCRIBING THE ACCR PROJECT PROVIDES SUGGESTIONS ON HOW OTHER COMMUNITIES MIGHT ORGANIZE SELF-HELP PROGRAMS DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE. THE SECOND, RELATIVELY BRIEF, REPORT DESCRIBES OPERATION REACH IN WYOMING--AN EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT DESIGNED TO SOLICIT INCREASED PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN FIVE LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE. THE FORMATION OF SPECIFIC LOCAL GROUPS FOR IMPLEMENTING CHILD ABUSE PREVENTIVE MEASURES WAS REALIZED IN EACH PROJECT AREA. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMUNITY SELF-HELP CHILD ABUSE PROJECTS ARE INCLUDED. A RESOURCE LIST WITH 26 CITATIONS IS PROVIDED.