NCJ Number
54819
Date Published
1977
Length
16 pages
Annotation
THE MILWAUKEE, WIS., MIDWEST PARENT-CHILD WELFARE RESOURCE CENTER REVIEWS THE LITERATURE ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AND ADVOCATES THE USE OF A MULTIDISPLINARY APPROACH TO TREATMENT.
Abstract
ALTHOUGH CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REPORTING LAWS HAVE SERVED USEFUL PURPOSES, THEY HAVE ALSO ENCOURAGED THE PUBLIC TO BELIEVE THAT PROFESSIONALS ARE EFFECTIVELY TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM. REPORTING LAWS HAVE ENCOURAGED BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PROFESSIONALS TO BELIEVE THAT ONCE THEY HAVE REPORTED, THEY HAVE ABSOLVED THEMSELVES OF FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PROBLEM DEMANDS MULTIDISCIPLINARY, MULTIAGENCY ACTION IN WHAT MAY BE IDENTIFIED AS A COMMUNITY TEAM APPROACH. A RECENT STUDY, CONDUCTED IN 1972, POINTS OUT THAT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT LAWS WERE ENACTED IN 50 STATES WITHIN THE PERIOD OF 5 YEARS BETWEEN 1962 AND 1967 BECAUSE OF THE INFLUENCE OF THE FOLLOWING FACTORS (1) MASS MEDIA, (2) INDIVIDUAL PROFESSIONALS OR ACTIVE LAYPERSONS, (3) VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATIONS, AND (4) AGENCIES OF THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT OF STATES. IF THESE FACTORS HAVE BEEN EFFECTIVE IN AROUSING COMMUNITIES TO ADVOCATE AND SUPPORT PASSAGE OF REPORTING LEGISLATION, SURELY THEY CAN MOBILIZE COMMUNITIES TO ADOPT THE TEAM APPROACH. THE EXPERIENCE IN MILWAUKEE SHOWS THAT PROBLEMS OF VIOLENCE TOWARD CHILDREN CAN BE COPED WITH EFFECTIVELY ONLY IF CITIZENS AND PROFESSIONALS CONTRIBUTE THEIR EXPERTISE AND COMMITMENT TO A GENUINELY COOPERATIVE EFFORT TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM DEATH OR PERMANENT DAMAGE AND TO ENHANCE FAMILY FUNCTIONING. BIBLIOGRAPHY IS APPENDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--MLC)