NCJ Number
48907
Editor(s)
M A THOMAS
Date Published
1977
Length
125 pages
Annotation
THIS COLLECTION OF REPORTS ON CHILD ABUSE FOLLOWS A NATURAL SEQUENCE BEGINNING WITH THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL NEGLECT AND SEXUAL ABUSE IN SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS.
Abstract
THE 'INVISIBLE COLLEGE' TOOK THE STAND THAT THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT BELONGS TO EVERYONE, AND THEREFORE ITS ALLEVIATION ALSO BELONGS TO EVERYONE. CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS WERE CHOSEN BASED ON THE NEED FOR MULTIPLE INTERVENTIONS FROM MEDICINE, THE LEGAL PROFESSION, EDUCATION, SOCIAL WORK, PSYCHIATRY, AND THE COMMUNITY. THE PUBLICATION ATTEMPTS TO SHOW THE WIDE ARRAY OF INTEGRATED SERVICES NEEDED TO INITIATE PROTECTIVE SYSTEMS FOR ABUSED, NEGLECTED, BATTERED, INJURED, AND MOLESTED INDIVIDUALS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS OF THE PUBLICATION IS TO SHOW WHAT SCHOOLS CAN AND SHOULD BE DOING IN THE TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THE SYMPTOMS OF WHICH THE TEACHER, AS OMBUDSMAN, SHOULD BE AWARE ARE DETAILED. IN DISCUSSING THE ABUSE OF ADOLESCENTS, ATTENTION IS DRAWN TO INDICATIVE SYMPTOMS IN BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS AND COPING ABILITIES. THE PHYSICAL, SEXUAL, AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE OF ADOLESCENTS AND THE MYTHS SURROUNDING SUCH ABUSE ARE TREATED IN DEPTH. ONE CHAPTER IS DEVOTED TO FAMILY STRUCTURE AND PROFESSIONAL ROLES. THE ROLE OF THE SCHOOL IS DISCUSSED, AS WELL AS OTHER SHIFTS AWAY FROM THE FAMILY'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR CHILD-REARING. EXTERNAL FACTORS AFFECTING SOCIALIZATION IN THIS AND OTHER SOCIETIES ARE DISCUSSED. REPORTING, BY EDUCATORS, OF CHILD ABUSE OR SUSPICION OF CHILD ABUSE IS VIEWED AS A RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SCHOOL IN ONE CHAPTER; THIS IS FOLLOWED BY A CHAPTER OFFERING AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING. SCHOOL REFERRAL PROGRAMS, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, AND THE CONCEPT OF THE INTERAGENCY TEAM ARE EXAMINED. OTHER CHAPTERS DEAL WITH THE REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE AND THE COST OF INVOLVEMENT TO THE INTERVENING PARTY, THE CONSEQUENCES OF NEGLECTED CASES, AND THE COST TO THE CHILD IF ABUSE IS NOT REPORTED. THESE CHAPTERS INCLUDE DISCUSSIONS OF CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITIES, THE RIGHTS AND LIMITATIONS ON THE USE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT, AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF ABUSE SUCH AS: ACADEMIC, PERSONALITY, AND ADJUSTMENT DEFICIENCES; RETARDATION; NEUROLOGICAL PROBLEMS, AND PERMANENT PHYSICAL INJURIES. THE NEXT TWO SELECTIONS COVER PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT IN CHILD ABUSE AND HOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND PROFESSIONAL AND CITIZENS' GROUPS SHOULD GET STARTED IN THE ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT OF ABUSED CHILDREN. CHILD ABUSE IN THE CONTEXT OF CHILDREN'S SERVICES IS DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT ON THE REGIONAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND FAMILY LEVELS. THE CHAPTER ON THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTIONS EXAMINES THE EVOLUTION OF THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION, TYPES OF INTERVENTION, TREATMENT APPROACHES, THE CHILD'S ROLE IN OUR CULTURE, BEHAVIOR CHARACTERISTICS OF MALTREATED CHILDREN, AND THE PARENTS' ROLE IN TREATMENT. THE FINAL CHAPTER DEALS WITH STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND REABUSE. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY PREVENTIONS ARE EXAMINED INDIVIDUALLY AND IN SUCH CONTEXTS AS THE SYSTEMS APPROACH AND THE TEAM APPROACH. EACH SELECTION IS FOLLOWED BY A LIST OF REFERENCES, AND SOME CHAPTERS CONTAIN CHARTS. (RBS)