EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION WITH NEGLECTFUL FAMILIES

• NCJ Number: 141905
• Journal: Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 20 Issue: 1 Dated: special issue (March 1993) Pages: 66-89
• Author(s): J M Gaudin Jr
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 24 pages
• Grant Number(s): 90-CA-1400
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A review of research on approaches to intervention with neglectful families indicates that most outcome studies do not employ experimental designs with control groups, that definitions of neglect vary, and that child neglect intervention programs have been successful with less than 50 percent of the families served.

Abstract

Most reports of interventions with neglectful families provide limited information about effective interventions because they typically fail to differentiate between abusive and neglectful parents and between neglect subtypes. Effective interventions must be based on a comprehensive assessment of the neglectful family, with attention paid to the type of neglect and contributing causes at the individual, family, neighborhood, and community levels. Because of the close link between neglect and poverty, progressive social policies are needed that allocate greater funds for programs in the areas of housing, health care, education, and child care to reduce the child neglect epidemic. Intervention in child neglect cases should be based on the realization that neglectful parents are typically poor, lack access to resources, and suffer from psychological immaturity; most neglectful parents want to be good parents; and all parents have strengths that can be mobilized. Treatment goals for neglectful families must be relevant, realistic, clearly stated, and achievable. Further, legal authority is sometimes necessary to overcome the initial denial and apathy of neglectful parents. Group interventions with child and adolescent victims have proven to be relatively successful. Behavioral techniques have also been used to teach home management, parent-child interaction, and meal preparation skills to neglectful parents. Multiservice interventions are necessary to remedy the multiple problems presented by neglectful families. While short-term interventions have not been effective, group approaches, family treatment, the use of paraprofessionals, and social network interventions have been employed successfully with neglectful families. 58 references