SOCIAL WORK AND CHILD ABUSE - THE REASONS FOR FAILURE AND THE WAY TO SUCCESS (FROM VIOLENCE AND THE FAMILY, 1978, BY J P MARTIN - SEE NCJ-54634)

• NCJ Number: 54644
• Author(s): J ROBERTS
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 37 pages
• Corporate Author: John Wiley and Sons
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE COMPLEX NETWORK OF NEED WITHIN THE FAMILY WHERE CHILD ABUSE OCCURS IS DISCUSSED AS CONTRIBUTING TO FAILURE OF THE TRADITIONAL SOCIAL SERVICES APPROACH; ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES ARE SUGGESTED.

Abstract

THE MATERIAL PRESENTED IS DRAWN FROM CHILD ABUSE LITERATURE AND THE EXPERIENCE OF SPECIAL CHILD ABUSE UNITS IN ENGLAND, PARTICULARLY THE PARK HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN--A CHILDREN'S PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL IN OXFORD WHERE RESIDENTIAL ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT FOR ABUSED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES HAS BEEN CONDUCTED SINCE 1964. IN ENGLAND, THE STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE RESTS INITIALLY WITH SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. HOWEVER, THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH OF THESE AGENCIES IN DEALING WITH PROBLEMS IS INSUFFICIENT, AND THE CUSTOMARY CASEWORK APPROACH, WHERE A SINGLE SOCIAL WORKER ATTEMPTS TO RELATE TO EACH PERSON IN THE FAMILY IN A HELPING MANNER, IS VIEWED AS UNREALISTIC GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE NETWORK OF PROBLEMS USUALLY ACCOMPANYING CHILD ABUSE. A GENERAL MISTRUST OF INTERVENING OUTSIDERS, EMOTIONAL AS WELL AS PHYSICAL ILL HEALTH IN THE ABUSED CHILD, PARENTS' MARITAL DIFFICULTIES, THE EMOTIONAL DEPRIVATIONS OF INDIVIDUAL PARENTS, A PROBLEMATIC PARENT/CHILD RELATIONSHIP, AND GENERAL CHAOS IN THE FAMILY STRUCTURE ARE ELEMENTS COMMON TO THE COMPLEX NETWORK OF PROBLEMS ATTENDING CHILD ABUSE. FAILURE TO DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS SIMULTANEOUSLY IS VIEWED AS THE GENERAL REASON FOR THE BREAKDOWN OF SOCIAL SERVICE HELP TO SUCH FAMILIES. IT IS BELIEVED THAT A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO DEALING WITH ABUSIVE FAMILIES IS MOST LIKELY TO PRODUCE SUCCESS. THE SOCIAL WORKER WOULD COORDINATE THE SERVICES NECESSARY TO DEAL WITH EACH FACET OF NEED EVIDENCED IN THE FAMILY. RESIDENTIAL CARE FOR BOTH PARENTS AND CHILDREN, FOSTER CARE, FAMILY AIDES OR LAY THERAPISTS, PRACTICAL HELP, DAY CARE, AND GROUP THERAPY ARE DISCUSSED AS MEANS OF DEALING WITH THE VARIOUS PROBLEMS. MEANS FOR EARLY RECOGNITION AND PREVENTION ARE ALSO CONSIDERED. A FIGURE OF THE CRITICAL PATH OF A FAMILY IS INCLUDED. REFERENCES ARE LISTED. (RCB)