AFTER CHILD ABUSE REPORTING LEGISLATION - WHAT? (FROM HELPING THE BATTERED CHILD AND HIS FAMILY, 1972, BY C HENRY KEMPE AND RAY E HELFER - SEE NCJ-15310)

• NCJ Number: 49038
• Author(s): B OVIATT
• Date Published: 1972
• Length: 15 pages
• Corporate Author: J B Lippincott
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

QUESTIONS RAISED BY A 1967 NATIONAL SURVEY OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES ARE ADDRESSED, AND GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPING ADEQUATE SERVICES FOR NEGLECTED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE SUGGESTED.

Abstract

THE THEME OF THE DISCUSSION IS THAT PUBLIC POLICY MUST PROVIDE FOR A SYSTEM OF STATE FUNDING AND SUPERVISION OF PROTECTIVE SERVICES AND THAT THE HELPING PROFESSIONS--PARTICULARLY SOCIAL WORK--MUST EXAMINE THEIR METHODS OF PROVIDING SERVICES FOR NEGLECTED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION'S 1967 SURVEY FOUND THAT, ALTHOUGH LEGISLATION FOR REPORTING CHILD ABUSE EXISTS IN ALL 50 STATES, NO STATE OR COMMUNITY HAS A CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE PROGRAM ADEQUATE IN SIZE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ALL REPORTED CASES OF CHILD NEGLECT, ABUSE, AND EXPLOITATION. IN LIGHT OF THIS FINDING, THE FAILURE OF STATES TO IDENTIFY CHILD NEGLECT AS A MAJOR SOCIAL PROBLEM IS DISCUSSED, AND ELEMENTS OF AN ADEQUATE CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE PROGRAM ARE CONSIDERED. WAYS OF ACHIEVING A CLEAR PUBLIC MANDATE FOR PROTECTIVE SERVICES ARE NOTED, WITH REFERENCE TO THE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF CHILD ABUSE REPORTING LAWS. THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS ARE OFFERED: (1) EACH STATE SHOULD COMMIT ITSELF TO A PUBLIC POLICY (I.E., THE RECOGNITION THAT ALL PEOPLE MUST HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACHIEVE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL) THAT WILL INSURE THE AVAILABILITY OF PROTECTIVE SERVICES; (2) STATE PUBLIC WELFARE AGENCIES WITH AUTHORITY TO DEVELOP AND ADMINISTER PROTECTIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS SHOULD BE DESIGNATED; (3) THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND PROTECTIVE SERVICE AGENCIES SHOULD BE CLARIFIED; (4) PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ENGAGED IN DEVELOPING AND DEMONSTRATING PROTECTIVE SERVICES SHOULD BE INCREASED; (5) PROFESSIONALS WHO PROVIDE PROTECTIVE SERVICES SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD IN PROMOTING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR SUCH SERVICES AND SHOULD TEST, MODIFY, AND ADAPT SERVICE PRACTICES IN TERMS OF THEIR IMPACT ON CLIENTS; AND (6) CONTROLLED RESEARCH IN PROTECTIVE SERVICE METHODS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS PROVIDED. (LKM)