Child Maltreatment Evaluation Efforts: What Have We Learned? (From Coping With Family Violence: Research and Policy Perspectives, P 275-287, 1988, Gerald T Hotaling, et al, eds. -- See NCJ-114444)

• NCJ Number: 114461
• Author(s): D Daro; A H Cohn
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This paper summarizes the main findings of four federally funded evaluations of programs to address child abuse and neglect and discusses the studies' contributions to the field of child abuse and neglect treatment, prevention, and research.

Abstract

The studies included Berkeley Planning Associates' evaluation of 11 demonstration programs between 1974 and 1977, Abt Associates' evaluation of 20 projects between 1977 and 1981, E. H. White's evaluation of 29 service improvement grants between 1978 and 1981, and Berkeley Planning Associates' evaluation of 19 clinical demonstration projects. The evaluations used a variety of methodologies. Three evaluations used multivariate statistical techniques to identify the specific service and client characteristics accounting for positive outcomes. The studies produced data on the nature of the abusive population, service effectiveness for adults and for children, and treatment success rates for adults. The research and demonstration efforts have produced expanded intervention models for both adults and children, improved client outcomes, and notable success in eliminating reincidence of sexual abuse. However, treatment efforts in general are still not very successful, and increased efforts to identify and implement successful prevention strategies are needed. Notes and 11 references.