Incest Investigation and Treatment Planning by Child Protective Services (From Handbook on Sexual Abuse of Children: Assessment and Treatment Issues, P 152-174, 1988, Lenore E A Walker, ed. -- See NCJ-113856)

• NCJ Number: 113860
• Author(s): C C Spencer; M A Nicholson
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 23 pages
• Sale Source: Springer Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This chapter provides a step-by-step guide for a child protective services professional who must investigate a charge of incest and provide a treatment plan.

Abstract

The first event in the process is the disclosure of abuse. Once the abuse is reported, the social worker should interview the child victim and each of the victim's siblings. Interviews with the child should occur in phases in order to establish rapport with the child and to enable the child to feel comfortable. The social worker must decide who should be present at the interview. During the several phases of the interview process, the social worker must try to obtain from the child the identification of the perpetrator, what happened, and the nature and number of the abusive acts. The social worker should also interview the nonperpetrator spouse to further assess the family situation before interviewing the perpetrator. Interviewing the perpetrator is difficult both sociologically and legally, and the chapter offers particular guidance. After assessing the child's credibility and the possible psychological and physical dangers and consequences for the child, the social worker should assess the mother/child relationship. Treatment planning and implementation is discussed in detail. 11 references.