NCJ Number
44939
Date Published
1977
Length
123 pages
Annotation
THE OPERATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY SERVICES SYSTEM FOR THE CARE OF ABUSED CHILDREN IN NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, IS EVALUATED AND COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS SYSTEM IN TERMS OF QUALITY AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS.
Abstract
IN 1970, EFFORTS WERE BEGUN TO IMPROVE THE CARE OF NEGLECTED, DEPENDENT, AND ABUSED CHILDREN IN NASHVILLE AND SURROUNDING DAVIDSON COUNTY. FEDERAL FUNDS WERE PROVIDED FOR A THREE-YEAR DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM OF THE COMPREHENSIVE EMERGENCY SERVICES (CES) SYSTEM. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CES WERE: (1) REDUCING THE NUMBER OF NEGLECT AND DEPENDENCY PETITIONS FILED AND THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN SUBJECTED TO THE SYSTEM BY SCREENING OUT THOSE CASES IN WHICH A PETITION IS NOT JUSTIFIED; (2) KEEPING THE CHILD IN HIS OR HER OWN HOME OR IN A FAMILY ENVIRONMENT WHEN POSSIBLE UNTIL A THOROUGH STUDY CAN BE CONDUCTED AND THE DISPOSITION OF THE COURT CASE DECIDED; (3) PLACING THE CHILD IN A STABLE ENVIRONMENT TO WHICH HE OR SHE CAN ADJUST AND WHERE THE POSSIBILITY OF FURTHER NEGLECT OR FUTURE DELINQUENCY IS ELIMINATED; AND (4) OPERATING THE SYSTEM EFFICIENTLY SO AS TO MINIMIZE THE COST OF ACHIEVING ALL OF THE PRECEDING OBJECTIVES OR TO ACHIEVE THESE OBJECTIVES FOR THE LARGEST NUMBER OF CHILDREN WHEN RESOURCES ARE LIMITED. THE WAYS IN WHICH COMPONENTS OF THE NEW SYSTEM FUNCTIONED TO IMPROVE SERVICES ARE DESCRIBED, AND HOW AN ACTUAL CASE WAS HANDLED BY CES IS CONTRASTED WITH HOW SUCH A CASE WOULD FORMERLY HAVE BEEN HANDLED. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE SYSTEM TO CHILDREN FOR WHOM FILING OF NEGLECT AND DEPENDENCY PETITIONS WAS AVOIDED ARE ALSO EXPLAINED. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE CES PROGRAM FULFILLED ALL OF ITS OBJECTIVES. DATA SUPPORTING THIS CONCLUSION ARE PRESENTED, AND EVALUATION METHODOLOGY IS DESCRIBED. DATA COLLECTION FORMS USED ARE REPRODUCED IN AN APPENDIX. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM BE CONTINUED, PERIODICALLY EVALUATED, AND IMPLEMENTED IN OTHER COMMUNITIES.