CONTROLLING CHILD ABUSE IN AMERICA - AN EFFORT DOOMED TO FAILURE (FROM NATIONAL CONFERENCE ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT - PROCEEDINGS, 1ST, ATHENS, GEORGIA JANUARY 4-7, 1976 - SEE NCJ-42975)

• NCJ Number: 42980
• Author(s): E ZIGLER
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 7 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 KNOWLEDGE BASE IN THE AREA OF CHILD ABUSE IS MUCH TOO LIMITED AND PRIMITIVE TO MAKE EFFECTIVE INTERVENTION POSSIBLE. THE AUTHOR PROPOSES MEASURES TO PREVENT AND REDUCE THE ABUSE OF CHILDREN.

Abstract

INADEQUATE, POOR-QUALITY THEORETICAL AND EMPIRICAL RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF CHILD ABUSE, RESTRICTIONS PLACED ON RESEARCH FUNDING BY THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT ACT OF 1974, AND SOCIETY'S LACK OF COMMITMENT TO REDUCE CHILD ABUSE ARE CITED AS SOME OF THE REASONS FOR THE LACK OF SUCCESS IN CONTROLLING THIS SOCIAL PROBLEM. TREATING THE SYMPTOMS RATHER THAN THE CAUSE OF CHILD ABUSE CONTRIBUTES TO SOCIETY'S INABILITY TO SOLVE THE CHILD ABUSE PROBLEM. VARIOUS ESTABLISHED FACTS ABOUT CHILD ABUSE ARE CONVEYED, AND SUGGESTED PROGRAMS TO PREVENT THE ABUSE OF CHILDREN ARE ENUMERATED. THESE MEASURES INCLUDE: A RESEARCH AND DATA-COLLECTION PROGRAM; INCREASED EFFORTS IN THE FAMILY PLANNING AREA TO REDUCE THE BIRTH OF UNWANTED CHILDREN; THE IMPLEMENTATION OF PARENTHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS; AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF PREMATURE BIRTHS (ACCORDING TO FINDINGS, PREMATURE CHILDREN EXPERIENCE A GREATER INCIDENCE OF ABUSE); AN INCREASE IN THE AVAILABILITY OF HOME-MAKER SERVICE TO AID IN CHILDREARING; AND AN IMMEDIATE INCREASE IN THE AVAILABILITY OF CHILD CARE. BESIDES IMPROVING GENERAL SOCIAL SERVICE PROGRAMS, SOCIETY SHOULD EXAMINE ITS VALUE SYSTEM. TOLERATING AND EVEN GLORIFYING VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION CAN ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO THE MALADY OF CHILD ABUSE.