PREVENTION AND/OR TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IN HEAD START - AN ECLECTIC, ECOLOGIC HYPOTHESIS (FROM CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT - ISSUES ON INNOVATION AND IMPLEMENTATION - V 2, 1978 - SEE NCJ-59285)

• NCJ Number: 59286
• Author(s): G B MCLAIN
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE ROLE OF HEAD START IN PREVENTING CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT BY INTEGRATING PRESCHOOL CHILDREN INTO A COMPREHENSIVE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND PRESCHOOL CLASSES IS CONSIDERED.

Abstract

THREE THEMES IN AMERICAN SOCIAL HISTORY ARE RELEVANT TO THE DYNAMICS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT: (1) THE USE OF PHYSICAL DISCIPLINE IN CHILDREARING HAS A LONG AND RESPECTABLE HISTORY IN THE AMERICAN HERITAGE OF VIOLENCE; (2) AMERICA HAS BECOME A MOBILE SOCIETY, WITH THE STRESS OF CHILDREARING FOCUSED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON THE PARENT(S) IN THE NUCLEAR FAMILY, IN THE UNSUPPORTIVE CONTEXT OF A MULTIFACETED AND SHIFTING SOCIAL VALUE SYSTEM; AND (3) A SEXUAL REVOLUTION HAS OCCURRED WHERE MARITAL STABILITY AND CHILDREARING HAVE BECOME SECONDARY VALUES AND DIVORCE RATES HAVE INCREASED GEOMETRICALLY. FACTORS THAT MUST BE PRESENT FOR ABUSIVE/NEGLECTFUL BEHAVIOR TO OCCUR ARE PARENTAL PREDISPOSITION, A PERCEIVED 'DIFFERENT' CHILD, AND PRECIPITATING STRESS. AS A COMPREHENSIVE FAMILY-ORIENTED CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, HEAD START HAS A WEALTH OF RESOURCES TO ASSIST DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES INVOLVED IN ABUSE/NEGLECT. IT PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE INDIVIDUALIZED PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL, AND COGNITIVE GROWTH OF PRESCHOOL CHILDREN. FULL DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT SERVICES FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL, AUDITORY, VISUAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN ALSO ARE PROVIDED. BY ACCEPTING THE FAMILY, HEAD START IS ABLE TO OFFER A REALITY-ORIENTED, NONTHREATENING, NONPUNITIVE, SUPPORTIVE, AND SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE MILIEU IN WHICH PARENTS CAN RECEIVE TRAINING IN EFFECTIVE PARENTING, NUTRITION, HEALTH, CHILD DEVELOPMENT, FAMILY ECONOMICS, AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES. IN ADDITION, HEAD START FURNISHES SOCIALIZATION SERVICES, ACCESS TO FAMILY THERAPY AND COUNSELING SERVICES, AND ADVOCACY AND SUPPORT TO OVERCOME THE ALIENATION AND MISTRUST OF OTHER AGENCIES AND THUS MEET SELF-PERCEIVED NEEDS. THE VULNERABLE CHILD PROJECT INITIATED BY HEAD START INVOLVED THE COORDINATION OF HEAD START ACTIVITIES WITH A CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICE AND THE INCLUSION OF OTHER SOCIAL AND HEALTH AGENCIES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES SUSPECTED OF ABUSE/NEGLECT. THIS PROJECT IS DETAILED WITH REGARD TO ASSESSMENT, BENEFITS TO FAMILIES, PROBLEM IDENTIFICATION, RESOURCE UTILIZATION, AND PARENT SERVICES. A FLOW CHART OF THE PROJECT DEPICTING THE DECISIONMAKING PROCESS FOR FAMILIES IS INCLUDED. (DEP)