NCJ Number
60999
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect, the International Journal Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: SPECIAL ISSUE PART 2 (1979) Pages: 491-496
Date Published
1979
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS 40-MONTH STUDY OF 11 CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT DEMONSTRATION SERVICE PROGRAMS EVALUATES ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT PROGRAMS FOR ABUSING PARENTS.
Abstract
TO STUDY TREATMENT EFFECTS, ALL ADULTS RECEIVING TREATMENT SERVICES FROM THE DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS WERE INCLUDED IN THE STUDY POPULATION. DATA ON THESE 1,724 CLIENTS, RECORDED BY CASE MANAGERS, INCLUDED CASE HISTORIES, NATURE AND SEVERITY OF MALTREATMENT, EXTENT OF REINCIDENCE DURING TREATMENT, SERVICES RECEIVED, AND OUTCOME ASSESSMENT. THE STUDY POPULATION REPRESENTED A HETEROGENEOUS GROUP OF FAMILIES, NOT UNLIKE THOSE REPORTED TO PUBLIC PROTECTIVE SERVICE AGENCIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. CLIENTS ON THE AVERAGE WERE IN TREATMENT 6 TO 7 MONTHS AND HAD CONTACT WITH A SERVICES PROVIDER ONCE A WEEK. FINDINGS SHOWED THAT (1) 30 PERCENT SEVERELY REABUSED OR NEGLECTED THEIR CHILDREN WHILE IN TREATMENT; (2) CLIENTS RECEIVING LAY SERVICES HAD REDUCED PROPENSITY FOR FUTURE ABUSE; (3) UNREMEDIATED PROBLEMS THAT TRIGGERED ABUSE WERE NOT ALLEVIATED; AND (4) ONLY 28 PERCENT OF THE CLIENTS SHOWED AN IMPROVEMENT IN BASIC PROBLEMS. THE STUDY ALSO FOUND THAT CLIENTS RECEIVING A SERVICE PACKAGE WHICH INCLUDED LAY SERVICES, SUCH AS PARENTS ANONYMOUS, HAD CONSISTENTLY GREATER SUCCESS WITH THEIR PROBLEMS THAN THOSE RECEIVING SERVICES BASED ON INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING. TABULAR DATA ARE INCLUDED. (MJW)