FAMILY SYSTEMS APPROACH TO TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE (FROM CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT - ISSUES ON INNOVATION AND IMPLEMENTATION - V 2, 1978, BY MICHAEL L LAUDERDALE, ET AL - SEE NCJ-59285)

• NCJ Number: 59299
• Author(s): J M LEVITT
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE APPLICATION OF A FAMILY SYSTEMS MODEL TO CHILD ABUSE IS CONSIDERED, WITH EMPHASIS ON PATTERNS OF ABUSE AND EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL FORCES AFFECTING FAMILY BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

THE FAMILY SYSTEMS MODEL EVOLVED FROM THE TREATMENT OF ABUSIVE FAMILIES AT THE PHILADELPHIA CHILD GUIDANCE CLINIC IN PENNSYLVANIA. EVERY FAMILY TREATED IN THE CLINIC IS ASSIGNED A THERAPIST FROM ONE OF THE MENTAL HEALTH DISCIPLINES. THIS THERAPIST SEES THE FAMILY IN FORMAL SESSIONS THAT INVOLVE SIBLINGS, THE EXTENDED FAMILY, COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS WHEN APPROPRIATE. SEVERAL PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED AS AN ADJUNCT TO TREATMENT. THE THERAPIST REMAINS IN CHARGE OF TREATMENT IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THE FAMILY PARTICIPATES IN A PROGRAM. AMONG THE PROGRAMS ARE A SCHOOL THAT ACCOMMODATES 98 CHILDREN AND A RESIDENTIAL SETTING FOR 24 CHILDREN. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE 2 APARTMENT UNITS WHERE FAMILIES CAN RESIDE FOR UP TO 2 MONTHS. OTHER PROGRAMS INCLUDE AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR ADOLESCENTS, A PRESCHOOL PROGRAM, AND AN OUTREACH PROGRAM THAT EMPLOYS PARAPROFESSIONALS WHO ASSIST IN MANAGING PRACTICAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY FAMILIES. THE BASIC PREMISE OF THE FAMILY SYSTEMS MODEL IS THAT FAMILIES DEVELOP PATTERNS OF INTERACTION IN RELATION TO FAMILY ORGANIZATION. FAMILIES IN WHICH ROLE DEFINITIONS AND LINES OF POWER OR AUTHORITY ARE CLEAR ARE CONSIDERED FUNCTIONAL. IN CONTRAST, DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES ARE ONES WHERE RULES ARE TOO LOOSE OR TOO RIGID, NOT PERMITTING MEMBERS TO FEEL THEY HAVE A VOICE AND A PLACE IN THE FAMILY ORGANIZATION. ABUSIVE FAMILIES ARE HETEROGENEOUS IN COMPOSITION, INTERACTIONAL PATTERNS, BACKGROUND, AND EXTERNAL STRESSES, AND NO SINGLE TYPOLOGY ADEQUATELY ACCOUNTS FOR INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR OR FAMILY PATTERNS. PATTERNS THAT CAN LEAD TO ABUSE ARE SPOUSE CONFLICT, LACK OF ROLE RESOLUTION BETWEEN GENERATIONS, LOW FRUSTRATION TOLERANCE IN ONE OR BOTH SPOUSES, FAMILY DISORGANIZATION AS A FUNCTION OF DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE, ROLE OF THE SPECIAL CHILD, AND THE ONE-PARENT FAMILY. CHANGING THE FAMILY ORGANIZATION, THE USE OF MULTIPLE TREATMENT MODALITIES, AND THE ROLE OF THE FAMILY IN THE THERAPEUTIC PROCESS ARE ADDRESSED. EXAMPLES OF FAMILIES TREATMENT BY THE CLINIC IN PHILADELPHIA ARE CITED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)