NCJ Number
160773
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 20 Issue: 1 Dated: (January 1996) Pages: 63-68
Date Published
1996
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study identified the characteristics of children who are at risk for not receiving mental health services following sexual victimization.
Abstract
A total of 972 children were seen by the Los Angeles County- University of Southern California Suspected Child Abuse and Neglect Team for a sexual abuse evaluation between January 1, 1989, and December 31, 1990. A total of 511 of these children were analyzed in this study. Descriptive information about the nature of the abuse was collected from the social workers, law enforcement official, or other referring party at the time the child was referred to the clinic. After each child was medically evaluated, telephone follow-up interviews were conducted with social workers, law enforcement officials, and parents/guardians. At the 2-week, 6-week, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up interviews, information regarding whether the child was in therapy, the extent of the involvement of the Department of Child Services (DCS), the current child placement, and the extent of law enforcement involvement was obtained. The study found that those children who were most likely to enter therapy were Caucasian, between the ages of 7 and 13, had cases in which DCS or law enforcement were involved, were placed outside the home, and experienced abuse of greater frequency. Implications of this study for intervention with child sexual abuse victims are discussed, and recommendations are offered for future research. 2 tables and 10 references