NCJ Number
69627
Date Published
1980
Length
121 pages
Annotation
This report to Congress by the Comptroller General states that increased Federal efforts are needed to better identify, treat, and prevent child abuse and neglect.
Abstract
The National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect is the focal point for Federal efforts to deal with child abuse and neglect. It was established by DHEW to help States develop programs to identify, treat, and prevent such abuse and neglect. The General Accounting Office reviewed the progress of the Center and the problems of States and localities who use its standards as criteria for child abuse and neglect programs. Although States and localities have made progress, there are still difficulties in the reporting, investigation, treatment, and prevention of the problem. The Center has not provided adequate leadership and assistance to the States. Professionals do not report suspected cases, because they are afraid of lawsuits or reprisals, do not realize they are required to report, are reluctant to get involved, or believe that reporting would only aggravate the situation. States and localities are not able to provide adequate treatment for abused and neglected children because of insufficient resources and personnel. The Center itself has given little attention to coordinating Federal child abuse and neglect programs, and there are problems in its leadership and assistance to States and localities. DHEW, moreover, has not adequately supported the Center financially nor increased its staff. Professionals need to be made more aware of their responsibility to report suspected cases. Investigations of cases need to be made promptly, and agencies' capabilities to treat abused and neglected children need to be improved. Emphasis on prevention must also be underlined, and DHEW and the Center should provide better leadership and assistance to State and local agencies. Tabular data and 10 appendixes accompany the report.