DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN'S ADVOCATES, A COMMUNITY APPROACH (FROM CHILD ABUSE - INTERVENTION AND TREATMENT, 1975, BY NANCY B EBELING AND DEBORAH A HILL - SEE NCJ-32566)

• NCJ Number: 48068
• Author(s): D A HILL
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: Publishing Sciences Group, Inc
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A BOSTON, MASS., AGENCY ESTABLISHED TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN REFERRING HOSPITALS AND PROTECTIVE AGENCIES IN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CASES IS DESCRIBED.

Abstract

THE AGENCY GREW OUT OF A SMALL GROUP OF PROFESSIONALS WHO MET INFORMALLY TO WORK ON COMMUNICATION PROBLEMS BETWEEN A HOSPITAL AND A PROTECTIVE AGENCY. THE GROUP BECAME CHILDREN'S ADVOCATES, INC., A MULTIDISCIPLINARY ORGANIZATION COMPOSED OF 23 AGENCIES CONCERNED WITH PROVIDING SERVICES TO THE FAMILIES OF ABUSED CHILDREN. IN ADDITION TO IMPROVING COMMUNICATION AND UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN HOSPITALS AND PRIVATE AGENCIES, CHILDREN'S ADVOCATES, INC., HAS PROVIDED A CHANNEL FOR THE SHARING OF INFORMATION. AGENCY DELEGATE WORK ON COMMITTEES OF THEIR CHOICE TOWARD DEVELOPING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO SERVE FAMILIES. THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE HAS SPONSORED SYMPOSIUMS AND DEVELOPED A SPEAKER'S BUREAU IN ORDER TO DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF FAILURE TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE. THE RESOURCE COMMITTEE HAS ARRANGED FOR A TELEPHONE INFORMATION AND REFERRAL SERVICE AND HAS SPONSORED A LOCAL SELF-HELP GROUP CALLED PARENTS' ANONYMOUS. THE PUBLIC RELATIONS COMMITTEE HAS PUBLISHED A BROCHURE DESIGNED TO ENCOURAGE FAMILIES WITH CHILD ABUSE PROBLEMS TO SEEK HELP. THE LEGAL ISSUES COMMITTEE IS SEEKING OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE HELPFUL PROGRAMS IN COURT SETTINGS, WHILE ANOTHER GROUP -- THE PRACTICE COMMITTEE -- EXPLORES CASE MANAGEMENT ISSUES. (LKM)