CHILD ABUSE TREATMENT (FROM CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ISSUES ON INNOVATION AND IMPLEMENTATION - V 2, 1978, BY MICHAEL L LAUDERDALE, ET AL - SEE NCJ-59285)

• NCJ Number: 59288
• Author(s): B BARRETT
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

TREATMENT APPROACHES TO DEAL WITH CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE EXAMINED THAT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE CAUSAL RELATION BETWEEN SOCIAL POLICY SYSTEMS AND CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND PROVIDE AN ACTION OR TREATMENT PLAN.

Abstract

THE TREATMENT APPROACHES ARE BASED ON THE FOLLOWING ASSUMPTIONS: CHILDREN HAVE A RIGHT TO THEIR NATURAL HERITAGE; ALL CHILDREN ARE OF EQUAL WORTH; ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE ENTITLED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE TOTAL SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PICTURE; PUNISHMENT SERVES NO PURPOSE FOR CHILDREN OR PARENTS; THE MEDICAL-PATHOLOGICAL MODEL IS NOT USEFUL IN DEALING WITH PEOPLE IN CRISIS AND IS LIMITED IN THE TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT; VOLUNTARY RATHER THAN COERCIVE SERVICES ARE PREFERRED; AND PEOPLE CAN CHANGE AND, WHEN GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, WILL MAKE CHOICES REFLECTING VALUE PREMISES OF OPTIMAL DEVELOPMENT AND SELF-ACTUALIZATION. THE FIRST TREATMENT APPROACH REPRESENTS A COMPREHENSIVE UNDERSTANDING OF SOCIAL AND FAMILY DYNAMICS AND IS DESIGNED TO MINIMIZE DISRUPTION OF FAMILIES AND MAXIMIZE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN. IT IS EMBODIED IN A DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE-FUNDED DEMONSTRATION PROJECT, THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION (YMCA) FAMILY STRESS CENTER. MAJOR TREATMENT COMPONENTS OF THE YMCA CENTER PROGRAM ARE POSITIVE PARENTING, PARENT AIDES, EMERGENCY CARETAKERS, CHILD CARE, INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING, MARRIAGE GROUP COUNSELING, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, A MOTHERS' GROUP, ADVOCACY, AND TRANSPORTATION. THE SECOND TREATMENT APPROACH IS A SYSTEM OF COORDINATED SERVICES INTENDED TO MEET EMERGENCY NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN CRISIS, PROVIDING OPTIONS IN CARE AND TREATMENT THAT PROTECT CHILDREN AND REDUCE TRAUMA. THE APPROACH IS REFLECTED IN THE COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY SERVICES SYSTEM IN NASHVILLE, TENN., AND INVOLVES A CONCENTRATED EFFORT TO PROVIDE HIGH-QUALITY SERVICES TO NEGLECTED, DEPENDENT, AND ABUSED CHILDREN ON A 24-HOUR BASIS, INCLUDING WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS. EMPHASIS IN THE APPROACH IS ON MAINTAINING CHILDREN IN THEIR OWN HOMES. WHEN REMOVAL IS NECESSARY, HOWEVER, SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT PROMOTE ORDERLY PLACEMENT AND MINIMIZE DAMAGE. BASIC COMPONENTS OF THE APPROACH ARE 24-HOUR EMERGENCY INTAKE, EMERGENCY CARETAKERS, EMERGENCY HOMEMAKERS, EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR FAMILIES, EMERGENCY FOSTER FAMILY HOMES, EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR ADOLESCENTS, AND OUTREACH AND FOLLOWUP. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)