NCJ Number
80308
Journal
Social Casework Volume: 62 Issue: 10 Dated: (December 1981) Pages: 594-600
Date Published
1981
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This paper argues for a close working relationship between police and social workers, mobilization of extensive community resources, and the extension of police crisis intervention into immediate outreach and longterm intervention.
Abstract
A holistic approach recognizes the interdependence of family and community systems. Just as community violence develops out of the violent family, the elimination of domestic violence necessitates change at every level of the broader system, from legislative change to work with individual victims. Most police social work programs function in one of three ways: (1) police officers are trained to perform the counseling role, usually operating in a team with a social worker; (2) police officers mediate the crisis and then offer referral to a counseling agency; or (3) social workers are hired by the police department to counsel referrals from within the department. Police-social-work cooperation in providing crisis intervention services to violent families is illustrated by examples of several demonstration projects. The paper describes the Family Trouble Clinic in Detroit, including the composition of clinic staff and use of telephone counseling and community resources by the clinic. The paper notes that outreach to violent families involves selling social services to these clients, many of whom may be initially hostile and abusive. Six footnotes are included.