NCJ Number
61050
Date Published
1979
Length
19 pages
Annotation
THIS BOOKLET ON CHILD ABUSE, PREPARED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA BUREAU OF CHILD WELFARE, PRESENTS IN SIMPLE TERMS THE HISTORY AND NATURE OF CHILD ABUSE AND LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.
Abstract
THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE WORLD'S HISTORY, CHILDREN HAVE BEEN TREATED CRUELLY BY TODAY'S STANDARDS. THE MARY ELLEN CASE IN 1874 WAS THE FIRST TIME AN AMERICAN COURT INTERVENED TO PROTECT A CHILD FROM ABUSE. THIS CASE SPARKED A NEW AWARENESS OF THE NEED TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM SITUATIONS OF NEGLECT AND ABUSE. IN 1875, THE NEW YORK CITY SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN (SPCC) WAS INCORPORATED, FOLLOWED BY SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS IN NEW YORK STATE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, CALIFORNIA, MASSACHUSETTS, AND PENNSYLVANIA. DURING THE 1890'S, CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETIES WERE FORMED TO HELP BANDS OF HOMELESS YOUTHS WORKING AS NEWSBOYS OR BOOTBLACKS AND SLEEPING IN THE STREETS. HOWEVER, THESE HOMELESS YOUTHS USUALLY WERE SENT TO FARM FAMILIES, WHERE THEY WERE EXPLOITED AS CHEAP LABOR RATHER THAN BEING GIVEN SECURE AND LOVING HOMES. IN 1912, THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S BUREAU WAS FORMED TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND NATIONAL PLANNING ON CHILD-RELATED ISSUES. PRESIDENT WOODROW WILSON SIGNED THE FIRST CHILD LABOR LEGISLATION IN 1917. BY 1922, THERE WERE 57 SPCC CHAPTERS AND 307 HUMANE SOCIETIES IN THE U.S. TO PROTECT CHILDREN. BY 1968, ALL 50 STATES HAD ENACTED SOME FORM OF LAW REGARDING THE REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE CASES TO AUTHORITIES, USUALLY POLICE OR WELFARE DEPARTMENTS. THE CURRENTLY PREVAILING PHILOSOPHY AMONG EXPERTS ON CHILD ABUSE IS THAT BOTH THE PARENT AND THE CHILD ARE VICTIMS WHO NEED HELP IN ORDER TO STOP THE CYCLE OF ABUSE. PARENTS MAY ABUSE CHILDREN DUE TO UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS ABOUT CHILDREN, STRESS, IMMATURITY, OR THEIR OWN HISTORY OF CHILDHOOD ABUSE. FEW PARENTS SEEK OUT HELP BUT MOST WILL ACCEPT HELP OFFERED TO THEM. MOST ABUSED CHILDREN ACT PASSIVE, ACCEPTING OR FRIGHTENED, AND DENY THEIR ABUSE. THE SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY'S MAIN GOAL IS TO RESTORE, IF POSSIBLE, HEALTHY PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS RATHER THAN TO PUNISH ABUSING PARENTS. CITIZENS SHOULD REPORT ABUSE IN ORDER TO HELP PARENTS AND CHILDREN GET THE NEEDED HELP. PEOPLE WHOSE PROFESSIONS BRING THEM INTO CONTACT WITH CHILDREN ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE. ADDRESSES FROM WHICH TO OBTAIN MORE INFORMATION ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)