NCJ Number
64537
Date Published
1979
Length
11 pages
Annotation
THE LAW CANNOT PROVIDE A SOLUTION TO THE PHENOMENON OF CHILD ABUSE, BUT IT CAN BE A MEANS OF OFFERING A SERVICE AND A FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH ASSISTANCE CAN BE ADMINISTERED.
Abstract
SINCE THE LAW PRESCRIBES COMPULSORY NOTIFICATION BY DOCTORS OF CHILD ABUSE CASES, IT BECOMES POSSIBLE FOR FAMILIES TO OBTAIN HELP AND SERVICES OF WHICH THEY WOULD OTHERWISE NOT AVAIL THEMSELVES. THE CURRENT SERVICES AVAILABLE, HOWEVER, ARE INSUFFICIENT FOR DEALING WITH THE NEED. SOCIETY HAS ONLY RECENTLY RECOGNIZED THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN ABUSED BY THEIR PARENTS, PREFERRING TO IGNORE THE DESTRUCTIVE POTENTIAL OF PARENTAL MISTREATMENT. CHILD ABUSE USUALLY OCCURS IN THE SETTING OF A FAMILY WHICH IS PREDISPOSED TO ABUSING THEIR CHILD, AND DOES SO UPON CONFRONTING A CRISIS THAT PRECIPITATES MISTREATMENT. PREDISPOSING FACTORS ARE PARENTS' CHILDHOOD DEPRIVATIONS AND ABUSE, UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS FROM THE CHILD, AND THE FAMILIES' ISOLATION FROM EXTENDED FAMILY NETWORKS AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES. PRECIPITATING FACTORS MAY BE THE ACTUAL BIRTH OF THE CHILD WHICH INTERFERES WITH THE HABITUAL COPING MECHANISMS OF THE PARENTS, OR SOME ACCIDENTAL CRISIS. THE FIRST TAKS IN TREATMENT IS GAINING THE CONFIDENCE OF THE FAMILY. REMOVAL OF THE CHILD IS THE MOST DRASTIC MEASURE. ASSESSING CHILDREN AND THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO ABUSE SITUATIONS IS IMPORTANT, AND LONG-TERM INVOLVEMENT OF CONCERNED SOCIAL WORKERS IS NECESSARY. IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIALLY ABUSIVE MOTHERS BEFORE THE BIRTH OF THEIR BABIES WOULD EFFECTIVELY PREVENT THE CYCLE OF GENERATIONS OF CHILD ABUSERS. THE HELPING AND LEGAL PROFESSIONS SHOULD DEVELOP A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE TENSIONS INVOLVED, TO BETTER PROTECT THE CHILD FROM A POSITION OF NEUTRALITY IN THE FAMILY CONFLICT. (MRK)