NCJ Number
62623
Date Published
1978
Length
32 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT PRESENTS COMPARATIVE DATA ON 1975 AND 1978 POLICIES, STAFF TRAINING, PROGRAMS AND SERVICES RELATING TO CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, WITHIN 393 U.S. EDUCATIONAL AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
Abstract
DATA WERE COLLECTED VIA A TELEPHONE SURVEY. THE 393 RESPONDENTS INCLUDED STATE BOARDS AND DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION, THE LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT, A SMALL DISTRICT, LARGEST PRIVATE SCHOOL BY ENROLLMENT IN EACH STATE, AND STATE PROFESSIONAL AND PARENT ORGANIZATIONS. THE SAME RESPONDENTS WERE SURVEYED IN BOTH 1975 AND 1978. RESULTS SHOWED A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT HAVE POLICIES ON REPORTING SUSPECTED CASES OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT--AN INCREASE FROM 44 TO 80 PERCENT OF THE LARGE DISTRICTS IN 1978, WHILE 64 PERCENT OF SMALL DISTRICTS AND 16 PERCENT OF PRIVATE SCHOOLS ALSO HAD SUCH POLICIES. TRAINING PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP STAFF AWARENESS ALSO INCREASED GREATLY AMONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND STATE DEPARTMENTS OF EDUCATION, AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS AGAIN LAGGED BEHIND. A MAJORITY OF LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS PERCEIVED THE PROGRAM OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AS GROWING, WHILE SMALL DISTRICTS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS VIEWED THE INCIDENCE AS CONSTANT. FEWER SCHOOLS ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS IN DEALING WITH SUSPECTED CASES IN 1978 THAN IN 1975. TYPES OF PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED VARIED ACCORDING TO THE SIZE OR TYPE OF SCHOOL. REFERRAL AND COUNSELING SERVICES WERE PROVIDED BY 96 PERCENT OF THE LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS, 76 PERCENT OF THE SMALL DISTRICTS, AND 82 PERCENT OF THE PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN 1978. BREAKDOWNS AND DISCUSSIONS OF DATA FOR EACH RESPONDENT CATEGORY, TABLES, AND APPENDIXES SHOWING SURVEY RESPONSE FREQUENCIES AND SUGGESTED GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPING A CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTING POLICY, ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)