NCJ Number
48813
Date Published
1977
Length
25 pages
Annotation
AN EVALUATION OVERVIEW OF THE PARENTS ANONYMOUS PROJECT, DESIGNED TO EXPAND THE SELF-HELP TREATMENT APPROACH FOR ABUSING PARENTS AND TO AID AGENCIES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO TREAT CHILD ABUSE, IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
A MAJOR GOAL OF THE PARENTS ANONYMOUS PROJECT WAS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION, CONSULTATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO AGENCIES AND COMMUNITIES ATTEMPTING TO UNDERSTAND AND REMEDY THE PROBLEMS OF CHILD ABUSE. THE STRATEGIES FOR ACCOMPLISHING THESE GOALS INCLUDED DESIGNING, DEVELOPING, AND DISSEMINATING MULTI-MEDIA MATERIALS; PROVIDING DIRECT STAFF CONSULTATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON A NATIONWIDE BASIS TO COMMUNITIES INTERESTED IN ESTABLISHING PARENTS ANONYMOUS TREATMENT PROGRAMS; AND SPONSORING AND PRESENTING WORKSHOPS, PROGRAMS, AND CONFERENCES. THE MAJOR PURPOSES OF THIS EVALUATION WERE (1) TO DOCUMENT THE ACCOMPLISHMENT OF PROGRAM GOALS, ESPECIALLY THOSE CONCERNED WITH PARENTS ANONYMOUS CHAPTERS; (2) TO COLLECT DATA ON CHAIRPERSONS, SPONSORS, AND MEMBERS; (3) TO ANALYZE THE FUNCTIONING OF CHAPTERS AND COLLECT INFORMATION TO PERMIT A MORE PRECISE DEFINITION OF TREATMENT STRATEGIES; AND (4) TO MEASURE THE IMPACT OF THE PROGRAM ON PARTICIPANTS. THE STUDY WAS BASED ON DATA COLLECTED FROM DOCUMENTATION RECORDS COMPLETED BY PARENTS ANONYMOUS NATIONAL OFFICE STAFF AND REGIONAL COORDINATORS; FROM PHONE INTERVIEWS WITH NEW CHAPTER CHAIRPERSONS AND SPONSORS; AND FROM WRITTEN QUESTIONNAIRES AND IN-DEPTH PERSONAL INTERVIEWS. THE PROGRAM HAS MET ITS MAJOR OBJECTIVE: TO DEVELOP NEW PARENTS ANONYMOUS CHAPTERS AND MAINTAIN EXISTING ONES. SINCE THE PROGRAM WAS HIGHLY EFFECTIVE, AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE DOCUMENTED CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR, ATTITUDES, AND KNOWLEDGE OF ITS PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND BY THE EXPRESSION OF CLIENT SATISFACTION, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PROGRAM BE CONTINUED. SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT CONCERN SEXUAL ABUSE PROBLEMS, PARENT TRAINING, CHILDREN'S TREATMENT SERVICES, PUBLICITY AND EDUCATION, STAFF TRAINING, CRISES REFERRAL, VOLUNTEER ENLISTMENT, MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES, AND LEGISLATION. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED-JCP)