NCJ Number
46786
Editor(s)
A RODRIGUEZ
Date Published
1977
Length
162 pages
Annotation
THIS MANUAL FOR HOSPITAL STAFF PROVIDES GUIDELINES FOR HANDLING INVESTIGATIONS OF SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE, INCLUDING MEDICAL EXAMINATIONS, INTERVIEWING PARENTS OR OTHERS WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE CASE, AND LEGAL ASPECTS.
Abstract
FOLLOWING A PROLOGUE WHICH POINTS OUT THE ADVANTAGES OF A TEAM APPROACH INVESTIGATION IN CHILD ABUSE CASES, THE MANUAL DISCUSSES THE QUALIFICATIONS OF EACH MEMBER OF THE CHILD ABUSE TEAM, GIVES A CHECKLIST FOR EARLY IDENTIFICATION OF CHILD ABUSE, AND DISCUSSES HANDLING OF THE ABUSED CHILD. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT WHEN ABUSE IS SUSPECTED THE CHILD SHOULD BE HOSPITALIZED FOR HIS OR HER PROTECTION. METHODS OF INTERVIEWING THE PARENTS ARE GIVEN. AN ILLUSTRATED CHAPTER DETAILS RADIOGRAPHIC MANIFESTATIONS OF CHILD ABUSE AND POINTS OUT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN X RAYS OF INFLECTED INJURIES AND NATURALLY OCCURRING CONDITIONS. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATIONS THAT ARE NECESSARY BEFORE LEGAL ACTION CAN BE TAKEN ARE LISTED WITH A DISCUSSION OF LIMITATIONS OF VARIOUS TECHNIQUES. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF ABUSIVE PARENTS ARE EXAMINED. TYPES OF POSSIBLE TREATMENT WITH GOALS ARE SET FORTH. THE PRACTICAL LEGAL ASPECTS OF CHILD ABUSE CASES ARE GIVEN FOR THE HEALTH PROFESSIONAL OR OTHER INVESTIGATOR. THE ROLES OF SOCIAL WORKERS AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES ARE EXAMINED AND A NUMBER OF CASE HISTORIES ARE DETAILED. AN APPENDIX GIVES MARYLAND LAWS RELATED TO CHILD PROTECTION, GUIDELINES FOR DETERMINING SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE, THE CHILD PROTECTION CHECKLIST OF THE JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL (BALTIMORE, MD.) DEPARTMENT OF PEDIATRICS, THE JOHNS HOPKINS GUIDELINES FOR HOSPITAL SOCIAL WORKERS, PROCEDURES FOR REPORTING CHILD ABUSE IN BALTIMORE AREA COUNTIES (BOTH ORAL AND WRITTEN REPORTS), A SAMPLE REPORT FORM FOR SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE CASES, AND STEPS TO FOLLOW TO OBTAIN AUTHORIZATION FOR SHELTER CARE. SOME CHAPTERS CONTAIN BIBLIOGRAPHIES AND THE MANUAL IS INDEXED. THOUGH THE HANDBOOK WAS DEVELOPED IN BALTIMORE, MD., MOST OF THE MATERIAL IS GENERAL AND APPLICABLE TO ANY JURISDICTION. FOR SELECTED READINGS SEE NCJ 46787-46789.) (GLR)