CHILD ABUSE - THE ROLE OF COMMUNITY (FROM CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT - ISSUES ON INNOVATION AND IMPLEMENTATION - V 1, 1978, BY MICHAEL L LAUDERDALE, ET AL - SEE NCJ-59268)

• NCJ Number: 59270
• Author(s): J W POLIER
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE COMMUNITY'S ROLES IN DEALING WITH INDIVIDUAL CHILD ABUSE BY A PARENT OR CUSTODIAN, INSTITUTIONAL CHILD ABUSE , AND COMMUNITY ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE CRITIQUED IN TERMS OF PAST PERFORMANCE, AND PROPER ROLES ARE DEFINED.

Abstract

IN THE AREA OF INDIVIDUAL CHILD ABUSE CASES, THE COMMUNITY HAS TENDED TO ACCEPT THE TRADITIONAL AMERICAN CHILDREARING PHILOSOPHY BASED ON THE RIGHT OF PARENTS TO DO AS THEY SEE FIT WITH THEIR CHILDREN, INCLUDING THE USE OF FORCE. AT THE SAME TIME, COMMUNITIES ARE READY TO PUNISH PARENTS WHOSE ACTIONS ARE SO EXTREME AS TO BE REPUGNANT. THE APPROPRIATE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY IS TO BECOME SUPPORTIVE TOWARD ABUSING PARENTS TO THE EXTENT OF TRYING TO HELP THEM DEAL WITH PROBLEMS WHICH RESULT IN CHILD ABUSE, WHILE TAKING STEPS TO ASSURE THAT THE RIGHTS OF ABUSED CHILDREN ARE PRESERVED IN THE PROCESS OF HELPING THE PARENTS. WHEN PERSONS OR INSTITUTIONS HAVE AUTHORITY TO CARE FOR CHILDREN OUTSIDE THEIR HOMES, THE COMMUNITY ROLE THUS FAR HAS BEEN MINIMAL, EXCEPT AS IT HAS RESPONDED TO SPECIFIC CASES OF SERIOUS INSTITUTIONAL ABUSE PRESENTED BY CHILD ADVOCATES. TWO FACTORS APPARENTLY INFLUENCE THE UNWILLINGNESS OF THE COMMUNITY TO CHALLENGE CHILD ABUSE WHEN SCHOOLS, FOSTER CARE AGENCIES, HOSPITALS, MENTAL INSTITUTIONS, OR CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE AUTHORITY OVER THE LIVES OF CHILDREN. FIRST, AS IN THE RELUCTANCE TO INTERFERE WITH PARENTAL CONTROL, THERE IS A RELUCTANCE TO INTERFERE WITH THE AUTHORITY OF INSTITUTIONS IN CONTROLING CHILDREN, EVEN TO THE EXTENT OF USING FORCE. SECONDLY, COMMUNITIES ARE RELUCTANT TO CHALLENGE EXISTING INSTITUTIONS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE UNDER THE AUSPICES OF POWERFUL ESTABLISHMENTS. HOWEVER, COMMUNITY CONCERN MUST FINALLY DETERMINE THE RATE AT WHICH INSTITUTIONAL ABUSES OF CHILDREN ARE ENDED. COMMUNITY FACTFINDING AND ACTION THEREFORE ARE CRUCIAL IN THIS AREA. THE FAILURE OF COMMUNITIES TO CORRECT CONDITIONS IN WHICH HEALTHY CHILD DEVELOPMENT IS AT GREATEST RISK ALSO IS PREVALENT. THE COMMUNITY ROLE IN THIS REGARD SHOULD INCLUDE A DETERMINATION TO END PRACTICES INVOLVING UNJUSTIFIED SNOOPING OR THE IMPOSITION OF MORAL STANDARDS NOT APPLIED TO ALL CITIZENS IN DEALING WITH LOW INCOME FAMILIES. AT THE SAME TIME, THE COMMUNITY MUST OVERCOME CALLOUSED, PREJUDICED, OR INDIFFERENT ATTITUDES THAT DENY ADEQUATE SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES BECAUSE THEY ARE POOR. REFERENCE NOTES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)