NCJ Number
48642
Date Published
1972
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE ROLE OF PROTECTIVE OR PREVENTIVE SERVICES IN DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE IS DISCUSSED, WITH ATTENTION TO A CHILD PROTECTION AGENCY'S NEED FOR SUBSTANTIVE AUTHORITY.
Abstract
THE ROLE OF PROTECTIVE AND PREVENTIVE SERVICES TARGETED TOWARD CHILD ABUSE CONSISTS OF IDENTIFYING THE PRIORITY NEEDS OF THE FAMILY AND TAKING STEPS TO ELIMINATE OR CURTAIL THE CONDITIONS MOST DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTING TO CHILD ABUSE. A NUMBER OF FREQUENTLY OCCURRING CAUSES OF CHILD ABUSE ARE CITED, AND SPECIFIC STEPS THAT MIGHT BE TAKEN TO DEAL WITH EACH CIRCUMSTANCE ARE SUGGESTED. THE AUTHORITY NEEDED BY AN EFFECTIVE CHILD PROTECTIVE AGENCY INCLUDES: THE POWER TO SUMMARILY (OR WITH POLICE COOPERATION) REMOVE CHILDREN FROM AN ENVIRONMENT FOUND TO BE HAZARDOUS; THE LEGAL AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT TEMPORARY COMMITMENTS OF CHILDREN RESIDING IN THEIR OWN HOMES, AND WITH CONSENT, TO PLACE AND SUPERVISE THESE CHILDREN IN THE HOMES OF RELATIVES; THE POWER TO RESTRAIN PARENTS FROM REMOVING BATTERED CHILDREN FROM HOSPITALS AGAINST MEDICAL ADVICE; AND THE AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE AND A PLACEMENT FACILITY FOR CHILDREN IN NEED OF EMERGENCY CARE. IN ADDITION, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT A CHILD PROTECTIVE AGENCY INCLUDE ON ITS STAFF AN ATTORNEY EXPERIENCED IN SOCIAL WORK AND ABLE TO ACT AS A CHILD ADVOCATE IN COURT. ALSO, IT IS ADVISED THAT A CHILD PROTECTIVE AGENCY HAVE RECOURSE TO PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC CONSULTANTS CAPABLE OF PROVIDING, WITHIN THE HOME SETTING, COUNSELING AND TESTING OF FAMILY MEMBERS. (RCB)