CHILD ABUSE - A PROBLEM AND A SYMPTOM (FROM NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT - PROCEEDINGS, 1ST, ATHENS, GEORGIA, JANUARY 4-7, 1976 - SEE NCJ-42975)

• NCJ Number: 42976
• Author(s): S B THOMAS
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health and Human Services; Regional Institute of Social Welfare Research, Inc.
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE IS DISCUSSED AS A SYMPTOM OF THE EROSION OF SOCIAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR PARENTING. PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND EDUCATING PARENTS ABOUT BETTER PARENTING ARE EMPHASIZED.

Abstract

THE PRIMARY ROLE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE IS IN THE AREA OF CHANNELING RESOURCES INTO VARIOUS PROGRAMS AND RESEARCH EFFORTS. THE ULTIMATE SUCCESS OF THESE EFFORTS DEPENDS UPON THE COOPERATION AND JUDGMENT OF REGIONAL AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. RECOGNITION OF THE EXTENT OF THE CHILD ABUSE PROBLEM HAS BEEN SLOW. CHILDREN ARE THE MOST SOCIALLY IMPOTENT GROUP IN THE COUNTRY; THEY LACK THE CAPACITY TO CONCEPTUALIZE AND THE ABILITY TO ARTICULATE THEIR NEEDS AND CONCERNS. ADULTS MUST THEREFORE DEDUCE WHAT IS IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF AFFECTED CHILDREN. EFFORTS AT CORRECTING THE PROBLEM ARE ALSO HAMPERED BY A RESPECT FOR THE INTEGRITY AND SANCTITY OF THE FAMILY AND FOR THE PRIVACY OF ITS INTERRELATIONSHIPS. IN OPPOSITION TO THIS RELUCTANCE TO INTERVENE IN FAMILY LIFE IS AN EMERGING SENSE OF SOCIETAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF ALL CHILDREN. INTERVENTION IS A PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE ISSUE AS NO ONE YET KNOWS HOW TO RECONSTRUCT A COMPLETE AND FULFILLING ENVIRONMENT FOR A CHILD TOTALLY OUTSIDE THE FAMILY. THUS IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY SIMPLY REMOVING ALL ABUSED CHILDREN FROM THEIR FAMILIES AND PUNISHING THEIR PARENTS. TREATMENT AND PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE MUST BE DESIGNED TO HELP PARENTS FIND WAYS TO COPE WITH THEIR PROBLEMS. THE CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL CONTEXT IN WHICH PARENTS MUST REAR THEIR CHILDREN HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROBLEM; THE RAPID PACE OF SOCIAL CHANGE HAS ERODED MANY SOCIAL SUPPORT SYSTEMS FOR PARENTING. PARENTS OFTEN HAVE NO ONE TO CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN FOR A FEW HOURS AT A TIME AND SO HAVE LITTLE REFIEF FROM THE CONSTANT FRUSTRATIONS OF CHILD-REARING. MORE FRAGMENTED FAMILIES, LESS STABLE MARRIAGES, AND A LESS PREDICTABLE ECONOMY COMBINE TO PRODUCE VOLATILE SITUATIONS IN MANY HOMES. UNDERLYING THESE FACTORS IN THE TRADITIONAL ACCEPTABILITY OF THE USE OF A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE IN PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS. DEFINING PRECISE LIMITATIONS AND DETERMINING THE POINT AT WHICH OUTSIDE INTERVENTION BECOMES NECESSARY IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. IN ORDER TO BOTH TREAT AND PREVENT CHILD ABUSE, IT IS NECESSARY TO REBUILD SOCIAL SYSTEMS WHICH HAVE IN THE PAST SUPPORTED PARENTS AND ENABLED YOUNG PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT CHILDREN. THIS MUST BE DONE AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL; THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CANNOT DO IT. (VDA)