Create Family Preservation Programs (From Child Abuse: Opposing Viewpoints, P 235-240, 1994, David Bender and Bruno Leone, eds. -- See NCJ-159823)

• NCJ Number: 159851
• Author(s): M Sauer
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: Greenhaven Press
• Publication Type: Program/Project Evaluation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Opposing Viewpoints Series

Annotation

In 1992, after accusations of destroying healthy families based on vague suspicions or unsupported abuse allegations, San Diego's Child Protective Services (CPS) implemented a new family preservation program.

Abstract

Before the family preservation program, CPS operated on the basis that concerns for the physical and emotional safety of children took precedence over all other issues. The new family preservation program follows a behavior modification model, and the idea is to change destructive behavior within the family and not necessarily remove the child from the family. Family preservation workers establish a close working relationship with the family for a relatively short period (3 months in most cases), teach families life skills, and encourage drug abuse treatment. The family preservation programs looks for strengths in people instead of focusing on their weaknesses.