Child Maltreatment Intervention - Directions and Issues (From Policy Studies, P 711-731, 1980, Bertram H Raven, ed. - See NCJ-74695)

• NCJ Number: 74700
• Author(s): P A Resick; J J Sweet
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 21 pages
• Sale Source: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Reprinted from Journal of Social Issues, V 35, N 2 (1979), P 140-160.

Annotation

Aimed at psychologists, the paper reviews current child abuse intervention strategies in five major areas (legal-correctional, social work, sociological, psychological-psychodynamic, and psychological-behavioral) and suggests directions and issues for further research.

Abstract

Currently, the five major fields discussed focus intervention strategies in separate but frequently overlapping directions. Legal-correctional interventions try to balance the rights of both parents and children, while at the same time ensuring that the possibly maltreated child's best interests are served. Social work interventions are extensive and interdisciplinary. The social worker often coordinates a number of social services to provide the best available care to both the child and the family. Sociological interventions are aimed at changing society, rather than focusing on individuals. Such interventions include educational and legal efforts to remove poverty, to educate for family life, and to coordinate community support services. Psychological interventions either focus on the sources of conflict believed to be the cause of maltreatment incidents or on using behavioral techniques to train parents in child management, in learning to control their anger, and in developing social skills. There is a need for psychologists to become involved in community and individual treatment of abusing parents and also to make serious contributions to research in the field. Issues which need further clarification and empirical testing include the problems of definitions; the determination of appropriate dependent measures such as self-reporting or behavioral observations; and the possibilities for controlled research using quasi-experimental designs, therapy outcome studies, analogue laboratory studies, and comparative psychology techniques. While conducting such research, the problems of confidentiality, the best interests of the child, and the problem of inadequate resources or social services must be considered. Over 100 references are included.