PROTECTIVE CASEWORK AND CHILD ABUSE - PRACTICE AND PROBLEMS (FROM CHALLENGE OF CHILD ABUSE, 1977, BY ALFRED WHITE FRANKLIN - SEE NCJ-57643)

• NCJ Number: 57647
• Author(s): J PICKET; A MATON
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 25 pages
• Corporate Author: Academic Press Ltd
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

THIS PAPER IS A SUBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION OF THE MANCHESTER SPECIAL UNIT, A BRITISH CHILD ABUSE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED IN 1973. THE UNIT STAFF ARE MAINLY SOCIAL WORKERS.

Abstract

EVALUATION OF THIS PROGRAM SUGGESTS THAT THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION SHOULD CONCENTRATE ON DEVELOPING AND USING BETTER EVALUATIVE TECHNIQUES AND CREATING MORE TREATMENT PROGRAMS. FINDINGS IN THIS STUDY WERE BASED ON SUBJECTIVE ANALYSIS OF 20 FAMILIES ACCEPTED INTO THE PROGRAM FROM 1974 THROUGH 1975. MOST OF THE CHILDREN (85 PERCENT) WERE FIRST AND ONLY CHILDREN. THE PARENTS WERE USUALLY YOUNG, WITH 75 PERCENT OF THE MOTHERS UNDER 20 YEARS OF AGE AND 80 PERCENT OF THE FATHERS FROM 18 TO 22 YEARS OF AGE. THE PARENTS SHOWED SEVERE DEGREES OF IMMATURITY AND PERSONALITY DISORDER. FOR EXAMPLE, IN 45 PERCENT OF THE CASES THE HUSBANDS ABUSED THEIR WIVES AND IN 25 PERCENT THE WIVES ABUSED THE HUSBANDS; 30 PERCENT OF THE FATHERS HAD ALCOHOL PROBLEMS AND 35 PERCENT HAD CRIMINAL RECORDS. DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS ARE PROVIDED OF THE OPERATION OF THIS PROGRAM FROM INITIAL ENTRY THROUGH ENDING OF THERAPY. PROGRESS IS MEASURED BY SUBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF THE PARENTS' INTERACTION WITH THEIR CHILDREN. THE PROBLEMS OF DEALING WITH NORMAL CHILDHOOD INJURIES ARE COMPOUNDED WHEN WORKING WITH ABUSIVE PARENTS, SINCE THE PARENTS HAVE TO BE QUESTIONED ABOUT HOW EACH INJURY WAS CAUSED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF BETTER PROGRAMS WILL BE NEGATIVELY AFFECTED BY THE LACK OF TRAINED PERSONNEL AND MONEY. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (KCP).