NCJ Number
15338
Date Published
Unknown
Length
184 pages
Annotation
BASED ON A NATIONWIDE SURVEY, THIS REPORT DISCUSSES THE BACKGROUND OF THE CHILD ADVOCACY CONCEPT, THE BROAD GENERAL GOALS OF CHILD ADVOCACY, THE MAJOR TARGETS OF INTERVENTION, AND SPECIFIC PROJECT GOALS AND STRUCTURES.
Abstract
THE NATIONAL BASELINE STUDY WAS UNDERTAKEN TO 1) IDENTIFY WHAT WAS DEVELOPING UNDER THE LABEL OF 'CHILD ADVOCACY' AND 2) TO SEEK SOME CONCEPTUAL ORDER IN THIS AREA. THE FINDINGS ON THE NATIONWIDE ADVOCACY PHENOMENON ARE BASED ON DATA FROM THREE TYPES OF QUESTIONNAIRES, CASE STUDIES, INTERVIEWS, AND RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL LITERATURE. CROSS SECTIONAL VIEWS ON FEDERAL AND STATE CHILD ADVOCACY PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT ALTHOUGH BROAD SOCIAL ACTION AND POLICY INITIATIVES ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN ARE DESPERATELY NEEDED AND OF THE HIGHEST PRIORITY, MUCH OF THESE ACTIONS AND INITIATIVES WILL NOT BE CONTAINED WITHIN FORMAL STANDARDIZED ADVOCACY SYSTEMS AND THEREFORE CANNOT BE FUNDED BY GOVERNMENTAL PROGRAMS OR TAX-EXEMPT FOUNDATIONS. HOWEVER, MANY ADVOCACY FUNCTIONS CAN BE IDENTIFIED AND PROVIDED ON A REGULARIZED BASIS. SOME OF THESE REGULARIZED ACTIVITIES FOCUS ON ASSURING HELP OR SERVICE TO FAMILIES OR INDIVIDUALS (CASE ADVOCACY) WHILE OTHERS FOCUS ON CHANGING POLICIES, PROCEDURES, PERSONNEL, AND LAWS (CLASS ADVOCACY). CHILD ADVOCACY, THEN, IS DEFINED IN THIS SENSE AS INTERVENTION ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN IN RELATION TO THOSE SERVICES AND INSTITUTIONS THAT IMPINGE ON THEIR LIVES. SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS ARE INCLUDED. INCLUDED IN THE APPENDIXES ARE SEVERAL CHILD ADVOCACY REPORTS FROM THE FIELD, A LIST OF CHILD ADVOCACY PROGRAMS, AND A READING LIST ON CHILD ADVOCACY.