NCJ Number
168321
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 6 Issue: 1 Dated: (1997) Pages: 81-89
Date Published
1997
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The first paper is a commentary on an earlier article in this volume (see NCJ 168320) that deals with case workers' frequent assumption of mother blame in cases of child sexual assault. The second paper also comments on the earlier article and goes on to suggest remedial changes to case worker training and preparation.
Abstract
The concept of parental responsibility is pervasive in the child protection literature, and central to this issue is the notion of failure to protect. The earlier (Breckinridge and Baldry) article moves from the arena of failure to protect to the assignment of culpability and discusses the notion of blaming a non-offending parent. Education of caseworkers may help reverse the trend; however, careful exploration of the factors surrounding the abuse is critical. In addition to in-service training for caseworkers, public education about parents' fundamental responsibility to protect their children is also important. Education about the rights of all human beings, begun in childhood, would go a long way toward reducing the sexual victimization of children and could help caseworkers protect children from all types of violence. References