NCJ Number
212769
Journal
Child Abuse Review Volume: 14 Issue: 5 Dated: September-October 2005 Pages: 347-364
Date Published
September 2005
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This article describes a recently developed program, Partners for Protection, which fosters a working relationship with non-abusing mothers in cases involving child sexual abuse in England.
Abstract
Partners for Protection is both educational and therapeutic as it seeks to deliver an interagency approach to protecting children from sexual abuse. The group is driven by the principles of sensitive, non-judgmental, and anti-oppressive practice, which is often a unique experience for women who have been involved with child protection agencies. Eligibility criteria for participation in the program are described, as are the group dynamics and the group processes that emerged among the participants. The author contends that aspects of the traditional child protection process are potentially harmful to those who must participate in the child protection system, particularly to the mothers of abused children. Information gained from the mother participants in Partners for Protection indicated that many mothers felt patronized and blamed by the child protection process, which in turn led to alienation from the process. The author notes the significant amount of education on child protection that is required for the wide range of professionals who come into contact with the mothers of abused children. Table, references