NCJ Number
56401
Date Published
1978
Length
0 pages
Annotation
AIMED AT THE BEGINNING SOCIAL WORKER, THIS FILM USES THREE TYPICAL CHILD NEGLECT CASES TO DRAMATIZE THE REALITIES, FRUSTRATIONS, AND OCCASIONAL SUCCESSES INVOLVED IN CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES WORK.
Abstract
A NEW, OVERWORKED AND UNDERTRAINED CASE WORKER LEARNS IN THE FIRST CASE A COMMON PATTERN OF NEGLECT--A FAMILY OVERWHELMED BY ECONOMIC STRESS--AND FINDS THAT HE MUST RESCUE THE CHILD BY HELPING THE FAMILY, DESPITE THE PROUD REFUSAL OF ASSISTANCE BY THE CHILD'S PARENTS. IN A SECOND CASE, THE AFFLUENT MOTHER OF AN ABANDONED 4-YEAR OLD FRANKLY STATES THAT SHE DOES NOT WANT HER CHILD. THE SOCIAL WORKERS, RECOGNIZING THAT SHE CAN AFFORD MORE PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING, GUIDES HER TO A PSYCHIATRIST. IN THE THIRD CASE, THE WIDOWED MOTHER OF A SERIOUSLY MALNOURISHED CHILD IS FOUND TO BE AN ALCOHOLIC AND UNABLE TO COPE WITH THE DEMANDS OF MOTHERHOOD. AGAIN PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING IS SUGGESTED. (KBL)