FLEXIBILITY AND INNOVATION IN MULTI-DISCIPLINARY MANAGEMENT OF CHILD ABUSE IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

• NCJ Number: 47098
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (1977) Pages: 217-239
• Author(s): J HAMORY; M JEFFERY
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 23 pages
• Corporate Author: Pergamon Press, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE GROWTH OF SERVICES FOR THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE IS TRACED AND THEIR FUNCTION AND RELATIONSHIP TO VARIOUS SOCIAL SERVICE COMPONENTS ARE EXAMINED.

Abstract

THE EARLY HISTORY OF COOPERATION AMONG AND COORDINATION OF CHILD ABUSE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION EFFORTS ARE DISCUSSED. THE ROLE OF THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND OF THE CHILD LIFE PROTECTION UNIT OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR COMMUNITY WELFARE IN THE TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF ABUSE IS EXAMINED. THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARALLEL RESOURCES IS DISCUSSED; AN EXTENSIVE VISITING NURSE PROGRAM WAS DEVELOPED, AND THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY DEPARTMENT OF THE HOSPITAL WAS RECRUITED TO PROVIDE COUNSELING SERVICES. THE RESPONSE OF OTHER COMMUNITY AGENCIES TO THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE IS DISCUSSED; THE STATE CHILD HEALTH SERVICES UNIT UNDERTOOK THE DEVELOPMENT OF PARENTHOOD PREPARATION COURSES AND PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS WERE ALERTED TO THE SIGNS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THE FUNCTION OF THE CHILD LIFE PROTECTION UNIT IS DETAILED; THE UNIT'S CASE INTAKE IS DISCUSSED, AS ARE ITS FLEXIBILITY, SOCIAL WORK ROLE, THE WORK OF UNIT PSYCHOLOGISTS, THE ROLE OF LAY WORKERS, INTERACTION WITHIN THE UNIT, THE DAY-TO-DAY NATURE OF THE UNIT'S RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF ACTUAL OR POTENTIALLY ABUSING FAMILIES, INTERACTION WITH OTHER AGENCIES, AND THE OUTCOME OF UNIT CASEWORK. INNOVATIVE PRACTICES ADOPTED BY THE UNIT ARE ALSO DEVELOPMENT OF A PARENTS' HELP CENTER -- A CLIENT ORIENTED PROGRAM THAT INCORPORATES BOTH ABUSING AND NONABUSING PARENTS IN SERVICE PLANNING EFFORTS. PROGRESS IN COOPERATION AND COORDINATION IS BRIEFLY ASSESSED, AND A RETROSPECTIVE VIEW OF WHAT HAS BEEN GAINED IN THE COURSE OF THIS ENHANCEMENT EFFORT IS PRESENTED. GRAPHIC REPRESENTATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE DATA ARE PRESENTED. APPENDIXES PROVIDING A GRAPH OF DATA ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF SOURCES OF NOTIFICATION OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE AND A KEY DIFERENTIATING THE CHARACTERISTICS OF DEGREES OF ABUSE ARE INCLUDED. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (KBL)