Sexual Abuse and Sexual Education in Child-Caring Institutions (From Social Work and Child Sexual Abuse, P 171-184, 1982, Jon A Conte and David A Shore, ed. - See NCJ-88183)

• NCJ Number: 88188
• Author(s): D A Shore
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 14 pages
• Sale Source: Haworth Press, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

In child-caring institutions such as treatment centers, temporary and long-term shelters, detention homes, youth correctional facilities, centers for the mentally retarded, and group homes, sexual activity, sexual acting out, and sexual abuse are rampant.

Abstract

The consequences of such behavior are long term and contagious. It is therefore essential for the residential family to recognize that either formally or informally, staff members are in the business of teaching sexual education, values, and expression. Information, attitudes, and societal expectations are continuously being disseminated on both a conscious and unconscious level in the classroom, dormitory, or on the playground. With regard to sexual victimization of juveniles in institutions, the problem has received virtually no attention in the professional literature except for victimization in correctional institutions. Solutions to the problem include punitive measures for offenders, privacy, conjugal visitation, and coeducational facilities. Specifically, a sex education program is considered one component of providing for the fullest possible living experience for the children assigned to institutions. In addition, institutions should establish guidelines addressing harmful sexual activities to ensure consistency of staff response to the problem. A training program should be developed to assist residents in their sociosexual development according to individual need. Forty-four references are provided.