ESTABLISHING RURAL CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT TREATMENT PROGRAMS (FROM CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT - ISSUES ON INNOVATION AND IMPLEMENTATION - V 2, 1978, BY MICHAEL L LAUDERDALE, ET AL - SEE NCJ-59285)

• NCJ Number: 59290
• Author(s): T R SEFCIK; N J ORMSBY
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE ESTABLISHMENT AND OPERATION OF PROJECT CHILDREN TO SERVE RURAL RESIDENTS IN THE SOUTH-CENTRAL PART OF INDIANA ARE DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT TREATMENT AND PREVENTION AND GOOD PARENTING.

Abstract

IN THE INITIAL STAGES OF SETTING UP THE RURAL CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PROJECT, STAFF DEVELOPED GOALS AIMED AT BECOMING VISIBLE IN THE COMMUNITY AND ACQUAINTED WITH INFLUENTIAL PERSONS, AND DETERMINING COMMUNITY ATTITUDES ABOUT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND ABOUT PROGRAM INNOVATION AND REPORTING RESPONSIBILITY. CONCURRENT WITH EDUCATION FOR THE LAY COMMUNITY WAS TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONALS. MEETINGS WERE HELD WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF CHILD ABUSE COUNCILS IN THE FIVE COUNTIES INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT AND ALSO WITH DIRECTORS OF COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OF WELFARE TO DISCUSS NEEDS AND IDENTIFY PROBLEMS. THE INITIAL RESULT OF THESE MEETINGS WAS A 2-DAY TRAINING SESSION FOR CHILD PROTECTION STAFF. PURPOSES OF TRAINING WERE TO BRING PROFESSIONALS UP TO A CERTAIN LEVEL OF EXPERTISE WITH REGARD TO VARIOUS ASPECTS OF CHILD ABUSE AND TO DETERMINE VARIOUS APPROACHES THAT WERE USED IN THE FIVE COUNTIES TO DEAL WITH CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. INDIVIDUAL COUNTY CHILD ABUSE CASE CONSULTATION CONTRACTS WERE DEVELOPED AS A RESULT OF TRAINING. PROJECT CHILDREN PROVIDES UP TO 56 HOURS OF CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE CONSULTATION ON A MONTHLY BASIS TO COUNTY DEPARTMENTS OF PUBLIC WELFARE. THE ESSENTIAL MEMBER OF THE CHILD PROTECTION TEAM IS A PHYSICIAN, PREFERABLY A PEDIATRICIAN. OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TEAM MAY INCLUDE PROFESSIONALS FROM WELFARE DEPARTMENTS, MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS (PSYCHOLOGISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS), POLICE DEPARTMENTS, PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, AND ATTORNEY OFFICES. THE CONCLUSION OF THE TEAM PROCESS IS A TEAM MEETING TO DISCUSS CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, WHETHER WARDSHIP/GUARDIANSHIP IS NECESSARY TO PROTECT CHILDREN, WHETHER CHILDREN NEED TO BE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOMES, AND WHAT THE TREATMENT PLAN SHOULD BE. IN ADDITION TO THE CHILD PROTECTION TEAM, A PARENT-AIDE PROGRAM HAS BEEN DEVELOPED. VOLUNTEERS ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK WITH ABUSING PARENTS ON A ONE-TO-ONE BASIS. THE PARENT-AIDE TRAINING PROGRAM COVERS THE ROLE OF PARENT AIDES, DYNAMICS OF CHILD ABUSE, HIGH-RISK INDICATORS, CRISIS INTERVENTION, CHILD ABUSE FROM THE CHILD'S PERSPECTIVE, WORKING WITH PARENTS, LEGAL ASPECTS, AND CONFIDENTIALITY. ATTENTION IS FOCUSED ON TWO IDENTIFIED PREVENTION NEEDS: (1) A CHILD CARE FACILITY TO SERVE CHILDREN UP TO 6 YEARS OF AGE; AND (2) AN EDUCATION-FOR-PARENTHOOD COURSE AS PART OF JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULUMS. ANOTHER AREA OF PREVENTION IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN EFFECTIVE PARENTING PROGRAM BASED ON THE SYSTEMATIC TRAINING FOR EFFECTIVE PARENTING APPROACH DEVISED BY THE AMERICAN GUIDANCE SERVICE. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)