NCJ Number
60671
Date Published
1979
Length
94 pages
Annotation
THIS REPORT DESCRIBES AND EVALUATES AN AUSTIN, TEX., MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDED SERVICES TO 147 CHILD VICTIMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE DURING 1977 AND 1978.
Abstract
THE PROGRAM, SERVICES TO EXPLOITED YOUTH (SEY), WAS CONDUCTED BY THE AUSTIN CHILD GUIDANCE CENTER UNDER A GRANT FROM THE HOGG FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HEALTH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. ABOUT HALF OF THE GRANT MONEY MATCHED A SERVICE DELIVERY CONTRACT WITH THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES. THE OTHER HALF SUPPORTED PUBLIC AWARENESS EFFORTS, SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION, VOLUNTEER TRAINING, AND PROGRAM EVALUATION. DATA FOR THE PRESENT EVALUATION WERE OBTAINED THROUGH REVIEW OF CASE RECORDS, ESPECIALLY THE INTAKE AND TERMINATION SHEETS. THE SEXUAL ABUSE VICTIM TYPICALLY BECAME KNOWN FOLLOWING A REPORT BY THE VICTIM, OFTEN TO THE MOTHER. ABOUT HALF THE CASES WERE INCEST AND HALF WERE NONFAMILY ABUSE. INCEST CASES WERE USUALLY FIRST REPORTED TO THE WELFARE DEPARTMENT; OTHER CASES TO THE RAPE CRISIS CENTER OR THE POLICE. ABUSE USUALLY INVOLVED INTERCOURSE OR FONDLING; INCEST MOST OFTEN OCCURRED IN THE HOME; AND SEVEN-EIGHTHS OF THE VICTIMS WERE FEMALE. MOST WERE ANGLOS OF PRESCHOOL TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AGE. INCEST FAMILIES WERE LARGER THAN THOSE OF NONFAMILY ABUSE VICTIMS. INCEST OFFENDERS WERE USUALLY MALE AND WERE THE VICTIMS' NATURAL FATHERS (43.2 PERCENT) OR STEP/ADOPTED FATHERS (25.7 PERCENT). VICTIMS USUALLY KNEW THE NONFAMILY OFFENDER. COUNSELING WAS THE SERVICE MOST OFTEN REQUESTED OF PROJECT SEY STAFF, AND INDIVIDUAL OR FAMILY THERAPY WAS THE MOST FREQUENT TREATMENT. THE TIME LAG BETWEEN THE INCIDENT AND REPORTING TO PROJECT SEY WAS LONGER FOR INCEST THAN FOR NONFAMILY ABUSE; SERVICES LASTED FOUR MONTHS FOR INCEST CLIENTS AND 30 DAYS FOR NONFAMILY ABUSE CLIENTS. THERAPISTS GENERALLY REPORTED VICTIMS AS IMPROVED FOLLOWING TREATMENT. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT DATA COLLECTION BE IMPROVED THROUGH TRAINING OF THERAPISTS AND USE OF A COMPUTERIZED INTAKE FORM. IN ADDITION, MORE STUDIES OF INCIDENCE AND CLIENT FOLLOWUP ARE NEEDED. A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE ON CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE, HISTORY OF PROJECT SEY, EXTENSIVE TABLES, AND A REFERENCE LIST ARE INCLUDED. (CFW)