NCJ Number
48639
Date Published
1972
Length
5 pages
Annotation
PROBLEMS OF COORDINATION BETWEEN COMMUNITY AGENCIES DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE, AND SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF ABUSIVE PARENTS AND ABUSED CHILDREN ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
COMMUNITY AGENCIES THAT MAY BE INVOLVED IN ANY GIVEN CHILD ABUSE CASE INCLUDE: CHILDREN SERVICES, A PROTECTIVE AGENCY WHICH MAY TAKE CARE OF THE SITUATION EXCLUSIVELY; THE LOCAL HOSPITAL, WHICH MAY BE CALLED UPON FOR DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND PROTECTION; THE POLICE, WHO ARE INVOLVED WHEN CHARGES ARE FILED AGAINST THE PARENTS; AND THE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER, WHICH MAY BE ASKED TO PSYCHIATRICALLY EVALUATE THE PARENTS AND CHILD AND OFFER TREATMENT TO THE FAMILY. A CASE HISTORY IS RECOUNTED IN AN EFFORT TO ILLUSTRATE COOPERATION OR LACK OF EFFECTIVE INTERACTION BETWEEN THESE AGENCIES. GENERAL FRUSTRATION ON THE PART OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER STAFFS IS OFTEN GENERATED WHEN CHILD SERVICE AGENCIES DISAGREE WITH OR FAILS TO ACT UPON STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS. CHILD SERVICE AGENCIES ALSO TEND TO OVERESTIMATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE MENTAL HEALTH CENTER SERVICES IN TREATING ABUSIVE PARENTS AND SOMETIMES FAIL TO PROTECT THE CHILD DURING THE TREATMENT PROCESS. THE TREATMENT OF ABUSIVE PARENTS IS EXTREMELY DEMANDING AND FREQUENTLY UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF SUFFICIENT TREATMENT TIME. IN SUMMARY, IT IS ADVISED THAT ABUSIVE PARENTS ARE 'CHILD-PARENTS' WHOSE TREATMENT OF THEIR CHILDREN IS MOST LIKELY TO CHANGE WHEN THE PARENTS THEMSELVES ARE CARED FOR EM0TIONALLY BY AN ADULT. DURING THE PERIOD WHEN PARENTS ARE BEING NURTURED TO EMOTIONAL ADULTHOOD, REALISTIC LIMITS MUST BE SET ON THEIR DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR TOWARD THEIR CHILDREN. (RCB)