CHILD ABUSE - THE UNITED KINGDOM - ANOTHER COUNTRY, ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE (FROM CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ISSUES ON INNOVATION AND IMPLEMENTATION - V 1, 1978, BY MICHAEL L LAUDERDALE, ET AL - SEE NCJ-59268)

• NCJ Number: 59273
• Author(s): R L CASTLE
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS BRITISH PAPER HIGHLIGHTS RESEARCH FACTORS AND CHILD ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAMS. FAMILY PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IS CONSIDERED AND PREVENTION METHODS ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

FOLLOWING A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF CHILD ABUSE TREATMENT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, IT IS NOTED THAT ALTHOUGH STATUTORY WELFARE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AS A RIGHT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, THEY HAVE NOT PROVEN ADEQUATE TO MEET THE NEEDS OF DEPRIVED CHILDREN, DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGES AND A CONSEQUENT MULTIPLICITY OF DEMANDS ON STAFF TIME. THE NATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO CHILDREN, THE OLDEST ENGLISH ORGANIZATION DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE, HAS A 24-HOUR ON-CALL SERVICE PROVIDED FOR THE HOSPITALS AND COMMUNITIES OF FOUR LONDON BOROUGHS. FAMILIES ARE REFERRED FOR HELP AT ANY TIME OF DAY OR NIGHT, AND SELF-REFERRALS ARE ENCOURAGED. SERVICES PROVIDED, ALONG WITH RESEARCH ENDEAVORS, ARE DESCRIBED FOR THIS ORGANIZATION. GENERAL FINDINGS FROM BRITISH RESEARCH ON ABUSED CHILDREN AND ABUSING PARENTS ARE DISCUSSED. RESULTS ARE SIMILAR TO FINDINGS FROM UNITED STATES STUDIES, NOTABLY THE VERY YOUNG AGE OF MANY OF THE ABUSED CHILDREN AND THE LOW POINTS OF TOLERANCE SHOWN BY THEIR PARENTS. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT APPROXIMATELY 3,500 TO 4,000 CHILDREN UNDER 4-YEARS OLD SUFFER NONACCIDENTAL INJURY INFLICTED BY THEIR PARENTS ANNUALLY IN GREAT BRITAIN. LACK OF COMMUNICATION, CHANGES OF WORKER DURING THE EARLY STAGES OF TREATMENT, A PRIMARY WORKER OVERBURDENED AND NOT SURE OF HER ROLE, INADEQUACY OF THE CASE CONFERENCE, AND INADEQUACY OF THE JUVENILE COURT ARE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT HAVE REDUCED THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SERVICE DELIVERY. WAYS OF REDUCING THESE PROBLEMS ARE OUTLINED. MODELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY CURRENTLY USED IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ARE (1) CRISIS NURSERIES, WHICH PROVIDE STAFFS GEARED TO COPE WITH CHILDREN AT-RISK BROUGHT IN FOR VARYING PERIODS AND AT ANY TIME; (2) DROP-IN FOSTER MOTHERS, WHO ARE PAID A SMALL RETAINER TO PROVIDE SHORT-STAY EMERGENCY PLACEMENTS FOR CHILDREN; AND (3) FAMILY DEVELOPMENTAL CENTERS, WHICH PROVIDE RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR WHOLE FAMILES WHERE SIGNIFICANT CHILD ABUSE HAS OCCURRED. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (RCB)