NCJ Number
68423
Date Published
1979
Length
39 pages
Annotation
TWO WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS WHICH FOCUS ON CONNECTICUT'S SEXUAL TRAUMA TREATMENT PROGRAM (STTP) ARE PRESENTED; SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN, THE TREATMENT PROGRAM RESPONSE, AND PROGRAM EVALUATION ARE EMPHASIZED.
Abstract
HEIGHTENED SENSITIVITY TO THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF THE PROBLEMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN HAS PRECIPITATED A DEMAND BY PROFESSIONALS FROM MANY SYSTEMS; I.E., CHILD PROTECTION, MENTAL HEALTH, AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE, FOR SOUND GUIDANCE ON HOW TO INTERVENE EFFECTIVELY IN CASES IN WHICH INCESTUOUS BEHAVIOR OCCURS. FOR THIS REASON THE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT RESEARCH UTILIZATION PROJECT OF COMMUNITY COUNCIL SPONSORED TWO WORKSHOPS IN NEW YORK STATE DURING 1978 FOR THE PURPOSE OF SHARING THE RESULTS OF THE INNOVATIVE STTP PLAN OF CONNECTICUT. APPROXIMATELY 170 SOCIAL WORKERS, NURSES, EDUCATORS, DOCTORS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, LAWYERS, POLICE OFFICERS, JUDGES, AND RESEARCHERS MET TO DISCUSS THE PROGRAM, OBSTACLES TO EFFECTIVE SERVICES DELIVERY, AND WAYS TO IMPROVE SERVICE APPROACHES. THE DYNAMICS OF THE SEXUAL ASSAULT OF CHILDREN AND STTP'S APPROACH TO THE IDENTIFICATION, ASSESSMENT, INVESTIGATION, AND TREATMENT OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WERE PRESENTED IN DETAIL. THE PRESENTATION INCLUDED SUGGESTED AREAS FOR MORE RIGOROUS RESEARCH EFFORTS; E.G., TESTING AND EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS TREATMENT MODALITIES AND DEVELOPMENT OF APPROPRIATE TRAINING METHODS FOR STAFF PROFESSIONALS. THE SECOND MAJOR PRESENTATION DESCRIBED THE STTP'S 'INTERACTIVE' APPROACH TO PROGRAM EVALUATION IN WHICH PROGRAM STAFF AND EVALUATORS WORKED TOGETHER IN DESIGNING THE FOCUS AND FORMAT OF THE EVALUATION AND RESULTS WERE SHARED WITH THE STAFF ON AN ONGOING BASIS. APPENDIXES DISCUSS INVESTIGATION OF CHILD SEXUAL ASSAULT AND PROVIDE A PROBLEM-ORIENTED RECORD AND A SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)