NCJ Number
99457
Journal
New Designs for Youth Development Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: (March-April 1985) Pages: 21-25
Date Published
1985
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes the beginnings of the Massachusetts statewide effort to provide mental health services to families at risk of child abuse and neglect and focuses on the Child Abuse and Neglect Treatment Team (CATT) of Somerville, Mass., one of the seven demonstration programs. The statewide program for families at risk of child abuse and neglect began in 1980. It aims to provide 24-hour emergency assistance to clients through interagency cooperation. All seven demonstration programs have common mandates and target populations, but different program designs. CATT's centerpiece, the Interagency Child Abuse and Neglect Committee, identifies service needs and designated roles and responsibilities for each service provider. A description of CATT covers development of the team, including the administrative structure, case processing, and characteristics of client families. Some suggestions for CATT's next developmental stage are (1) define child abuse as a community problem, (2) include in the interagency network all agencies that deal with client families, and (3) increase communication among members of the community treatment team.