Community Basis for Protecting Handicapped Children (From Special Children -- Special Risks: The Maltreatment of Children With Disabilities, P 231-243, 1987, by James Garbarino, et al, -- See NCJ-117601)

• NCJ Number: 117606
• Author(s): K J Authier
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 13 pages
• Sale Source: Aldine de Gruyter Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This discussion focuses on the rationale and implementation issues related to the use of model community approaches that bring together a variety of systems that currently and separately address the problems of child abuse and neglect and the handicapping conditions of children.

Abstract

Although some communities may need to develop new services to deal with the abuse of handicapped children, most communities can modify or expand existing efforts to avoid the unnecessary fragmentation of community resources. Informal networks will also make important contributions to a family's ability to cope successfully with the challenges of the childrearing role. The three essential components of a community focus on child abuse and neglect are prevention, identification, and intervention. Communities should use the approaches that the research and clinical literature have identified as holding promise for effectiveness. They should move beyond case-by-case interactions among service providers, however. Joint efforts are needed that involve communication, coordination, and planned creativity. These efforts can be maintained through activities such as policy formulation, lobbying efforts, media campaigns, program development, training efforts, and the provision of direct services to families and children.