Child Sexual Abuse Case Handling Through Public Social Agencies in the Southeast

• NCJ Number: 74054
• Author(s): C L Johnson
• Date Published: 1980
• Length: 232 pages
• Grant Number(s): 90-C-392
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Corporate Author: Regional Institute of Social Welfare Research, Inc.
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A mailed questionnaire was used to survey the handling of child sexual abuse cases by public social agencies located in the eight southeastern States which constitute Region IV of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.

Abstract

The States surveyed included Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Questionnaires were sent to local staff responsible for child protective services; responses came from over 80 percent of the region's counties. Respondents included 1,045 workers, mostly females, who had direct experience in handling child sexual abuse cases. The typical case involved a parent or close relative as perpetrator, had occurred over time, and involved actual penetration and/or fondling with sexual overtones. Workers' methods of handling sexual abuse cases were determined in part by their perceptions of the nature of the problem. Workers in the largest counties were more likely to have handled such cases. An assessment of workers' involvement in performing specific treatment tasks with the abused child showed that too few of the workers have performed tasks which can aid the child in intrapersonal and interpersonal insights and growth. In addition, the offending parent/substitute has been ignored in the treatment process through services provided by the public social agency. In addition, most workers desired further training to perform both broad tasks and specific treatment tasks with the child. Workers indicated less desire for training related to working with the perpetrator or with the uninvolved spouse. Improved training for all workers is recommended; workers in communities which do not have available resources beyond the public agency should receive this training first. Additional recommendations concern agency and community roles and the Federal role regarding child abuse for additional research. Tables, footnotes, and an appendix presenting the survey instrument are included.