NCJ Number
133604
Date Published
Unknown
Length
21 pages
Annotation
The South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency (SPIPA) in Washington is proposing a model project to facilitate the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of child sexual abuse cases, while reducing trauma to the victim.
Abstract
The SPIPA is an intertribal consortium formed in 1975 by the Chehalis, Nisqually, Squaxin Island, and Skokomish Indian tribes to provide planning, technical assistance, and human service program delivery to the four reservations. One of the most insidious problems faced by the tribal communities is that of child sexual abuse. The Intertribal Family Services (IFS) program has been instrumental in increasing community awareness of the problem, although many cases of child sexual abuse go unreported and time delays occur in the investigation, treatment, and prosecution of cases. Child sexual abuse cases are presently accepted by the IFS program on referral from an authorized individual in each of the member tribes. The IFS program works with a wide range of tribal, State, and Federal programs on abuse cases and issues including tribal child protective teams (CPT's), the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and tribal and State courts. Four specific work components have been identified for the model project: (1) training of CPT's in upgrading methods for handling and investigating child sexual abuse cases; (2) development of protocols among the various agencies with which the IFS program coordinates services; (3) development and implementation of treatment plans that recognize the special needs of child sexual abuse victims; and (4) development of recommendations for upgrading tribal codes to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of child sexual abuse cases. The program design for the model project is described along with management and staffing issues.