Physical Abuse: The Most Varied Child Welfare Problem (From Alternative Models of Family Preservation: Family-Based Services in Context, P 58-72, 1992, Kristine E. Nelson and Miriam J. Landsman)

• NCJ Number: 141247
• Author(s): K E Nelson; M J Landsman
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 15 pages
• Sale Source: Charles C. Thomas
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

Data on physical abuse cases collected from nine family- based programs were used to identify both the family and case characteristics most significant in predicting placement, and services that made placement less likely.

Abstract

Unlike those families referred for sexual abuse or neglect, physical abuse cases usually involved families in which the primary caretaker was employed and married to an employed spouse; parents in about 25 percent of the families were in their second marriages with at least one stepchild. Fewer families lived below the poverty level and the children were generally older. About two-thirds of the families experienced marital stress, while 40 percent contained adults with physical or mental health problems. Most families referred to agencies because of physical abuse received services centered around their marital problems, although a majority also received family and individual counseling, child protective services, and information and referral services. Seven domains of variables related to placement were identified: demographics, characteristics of second adults, resource problems, adult problems, child problems, interventions, and involvement or empowerment issues. Caretaker functioning was the most significant factor in preventing placement of younger children while the involvement of child protective services was the best predictor of placement of older children. 6 tables