NCJ Number
61567
Date Published
1978
Length
94 pages
Annotation
THE URBAN CHILD RESOURCES CENTER (CRC) IN CALIFORNIA USES INDIAN METHODS OF INTERVENTION IN DOMESTIC PROBLEMS.
Abstract
THE CRC WAS THE FIRST URBAN INDIAN PROJECT FUNDED BY THE NATIONAL CENTER ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. THE CRC DEVELOPED A MODEL OF INTERVENTION BASED ON ANTECEDENTS FROM TRADITIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE AND THE EXPERIENCES OF NATIVE AMERICANS. THE INDIAN PERSPECTIVE OF THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE IS THAT ABUSE IS THE RESULT OF A COMBINATION OF ABUSING PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS AND THE IMPOSITION OF ANGLO WAYS ON INDIAN LIFE. FAMILIES WHO COME TO THE CENTER FOR HELP TEND TO COME FROM MANY TRIBAL BACKGROUNDS AND HAVE LARGE FAMILIES AND FEW FINANCIAL RESOURCES. THE CENTER'S FUNCTION IS BASED ON THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH SEEMS TO BE THE DESTRUCTION OF FAMILIES; THEREFORE, THE CENTER PROVIDES SHELTER; FACILITATES FOSTER HOME PLACEMENT; PROVIDES ASSISTANCE WITH FINANCIAL PROBLEMS AND EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL AID; DEVELOPS RESPONSIBLE PARENTING SKILLS; AND ATTEMPTS TO REUNITE FAMILIES. AN ANALYSIS OF 194 CASES WHICH HAD COME TO THE CENTER FROM JUNE 1975 TO JUNE 1978 TO EVALUATE HOW WELL THE NEEDS OF THE FAMILIES WERE MET SHOWED THE CENTER TO BE 61.3 PERCENT SUCCESSFUL. THE LEAST SUCCESSFUL CASES INVOLVED TEENAGERS. THE PROGRAM IS ALSO COMPARED TO OTHER INDIAN PROGRAMS, AND TABLES ILLUSTRATE THE CASES COMPARED BY OUTCOME, TYPE OF SERVICE, AND THE PROBLEM REFERRED. RECOMMENDATIONS ENCOURAGE INDIAN CONTROL OF INDIAN PROGRAMS, TRIBAL-BASED FAMILY AND COMMUNITY STRUCTURES, COMBINED THERAPY AND OTHER SERVICES, TREATMENT GOALS THAT EMPHASIZE THE TRANSITION FROM INDEPENDENCY TO SOCIAL INTERDEPENDENCY, AND A SECURE FINANCIAL BASE. PICTURES, CHARTS, AND REFERENCES ILLUSTRATE THE TEXT. (RFC)