SERVICES FOR ABUSED AND BATTERED CHILDREN - PERSONAL SOCIAL SERVICES IN CANADA - A REVIEW, VOLUME 3

• NCJ Number: 51443
• Author(s): H P HEPWORTH
• Date Published: 1975
• Length: 103 pages
• Corporate Author: Canadian Council on Social Development
• Sale Source: Canadian Council on Social Development
• Language: English
• Country: Canada
• Note: ONE OF A TEN VOLUME STUDY OF PERSONAL SOCIAL SERVICES IN CANADA

Annotation

THIS REPORT REVIEWS THE ORGANIZATION AND PROVISIONS OF CHILD ABUSE SERVICES IN CANADIAN PROVINCES AND EVALUATES THEIR EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY.

Abstract

THIS REVIEW EXAMINED CHILD ABUSE SERVICES IN RELATION TO EXPLICIT AND IMPLICIT POLICY, LEGISLATION, AND GENERAL PROVISIONS; DESCRIPTIONS OF ACTUAL PROGRAMS IN OPERATION; ELIGIBILITY, COVERAGE AND ACTUAL USE OF SERVICES; SPECIFIC GEOGRAPHICAL SERVICE STUDIES; ILLUSTRATIVE RESEARCH AND EVALUATION OF PROGRAMS; AND GENERAL EVALUATIONS BY INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS. DATA WERE COLLECTED FROM RELEVANT MATERIALS PROVIDED BY PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS, NATIONAL AND PROVINCIAL VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, INDIVIDUALS, AND RESEARCHERS; INTERVIEWS WERE ALSO CONDUCTED WITH AGENCY STAFF. EXTENSIVE LEGAL PROVISION FOR THE PROTECTION AND CARE OF CHILDREN IS EXPLICIT IN THE CANADIAN CRIMINAL CODE AND IN PROVINCIAL CHILD WELFARE LEGISLATION. SPECIFIC LEGISLATIVE MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN ONTARIO, ALBERTA, MANITOBA, SASKATCHEWAN, BRITISH COLUMBIA, NOVA SCOTIA, NEWFOUNDLAND, AND QUEBEC. IN SOME PROVINCES REGISTERS ARE USED TO RECORD CASES OF SUSPECTED OR PROVEN CHILD ABUSE AND TO PROVIDE BASIC INFORMATION FOR THE SURVEILLANCE OF CHILDREN REPORTED TO THEM. EVEN IN PROVINCES WHICH HAVE CHILD ABUSE REGISTERS, REPORTING OF SUSPECTED INCIDENTS OF CHILD ABUSE PROBABLY DOES NOT REFLECT THE ACTUAL INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE. A LACK OF PRECISE DEFINITIONS OF WHAT CONSTITUTES ABUSE ALSO INHIBITS THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROTECTIVE AND PREVENTIVE TREATMENT SERVICES. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE THAT SUPPORT INTEGRATION AND COORDINATION OF CHILD WELFARE SERVICES WITH OTHER PERSONAL SOCIAL SERVICES; IMPROVEMENT IN DETECTION AND REPORTING SYSTEMS; PROMOTION OF PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS; ASSESSMENT OF PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES; AND FURTHER RESEARCH INTO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, WITH DUE REGARD TO INDIVIDUAL PRIVACY, AND WITH THE INTENT OF REMOVING THE STIGMA ATTACHED TO UTILIZATION OF CHILD WELFARE SERVICES. TABULAR DATA; FOOTNOTES; A BIBLIOGRAPHY; AND APPENDICES INCLUDING DATA ON THE STRUCTURE OF FAMILIES ACCORDING TO AGE, SEX, AND MARITAL STATUS, AND DOCUMENTS RELATING TO HOME ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES ARE PROVIDED. (JCP)