NCJ Number
45167
Date Published
1978
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE APPROACH TAKEN BY THE CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM IN SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF., TO WORKING WITH INCESTUOUS FAMILIES AND TO COOPERATING WITH CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
MOST OF THE 600 FAMILIES TREATED BY THE PROGRAM SINCE ITS INITIATION IN 1971 ARE WHITE AND MIDDLE CLASS. NO REAL PROFILE OF A TYPICAL INCESTUOUS FAMILY HAS EMERGED. OF ALL FAMILIES WHO WERE TREATED AND FORMALLY DISMISSED FROM THE PROGRAM, NON REPORTED REPEATED INCIDENCES OF INCEST. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN SECURING EARLY TREATMENT FOR OFFENDERS AND IN RETURNING CHILDREN TO THEIR FAMILIES SOONER. IN MOST FAMILIES, REESTABLISHMENT OF A NORMAL FATHER-DAUGHTER RELATIONSHIP HAS BEEN POSSIBLE. GREATER COORDINATION AND COOPERATION AMONG PREVIOUSLY COMPETITIVE AND FRAGMENTED SERVICES HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED. THE PROGRAM PLACES PRIMARY EMPHASIS ON MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF THE FAMILY, OFTEN COMBINING INITIAL INDIVIDUAL THERAPY AND SUBSEQUENT GROUP THERAPY IN COUNSELING VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE AUTHORITY OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS PROVED ESSENTIAL IN TREATING INCEST. THE FEW DROPOUTS FROM THE PROGRAM HAVE BEEN FAMILIES WHO WERE NOT INVOLVED WITH THE POLICE. THE PROGRAM'S APPROACH TO WORKING WITH CHILD VICTIMS, MOTHERS, FATHERS, AND WHOLE FAMILIES IN DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF INCEST IS OUTLINED. GUIDELINES FOR STARTING SIMILAR PROGRAMS IN OTHER COMMUNITIES ARE OFFERED. THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA'S FUNDING OF A TRAINING PROGRAM ON INCEST COUNSELING METHODS IS NOTED.