NCJ Number
51536
Date Published
1975
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN PARENT RIGHTS AND BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD AND BETWEEN WORKING WITH A FAMILY IN THE HOME AND FOSTER HOME PLACEMENT ARE EXPLORED. PROBLEMS IN COORDINATING WITH OTHER EXPERTS ARE ALSO PROVIDED.
Abstract
PUBLIC HYSTERIA HAS LED SOCIAL SERVICES WORKERS TO DEVOTE AN UNBALANCED AMOUNT OF TIME AND RESOURCES TO POTENTIAL CHILD ABUSE CASES, THUS NEGLECTING LEGITIMATE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY AND OVERREACTING TO POTENTIALLY THREATENING SITUATIONS. CASES IN WHICH A CARE ORDER WAS SOUGHT, BUT THE COURT DID NOT UPHOLD THE ORDER ARE MENTIONED. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THIS IS NOT TO DENY THE LEGITIMATE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN, BUT TO SUGGEST THAT SOCIAL SERVICE WORKERS MUST ASK IF THE POSSIBILITY OF ABUSE WARRANTS THE TRAUMA WHICH THE CHILD MIGHT ENCOUNTER IF REMOVED FROM THE HOME. A TRAIL OF FOSTER HOMES MAY BE WORSE THAN OCCASIONAL EPISODES OF VIOLENCE IN THE CHILD'S OWN HOME. THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE SOCIAL WORKER'S PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ORGANIZATIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY CAN FORCE COMPROMISES IN CONSIDERING THE BEST INTERESTS OF A CHILD VICTIM. IT IS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT SOCIAL SERVICES PROFESSIONALS ARE SUPPOSED TO SEEK ADVICE FROM OTHER EXPERTS. A CURRENT SURVEY OF SUCH COORDINATION MEETINGS HAS FOUND, HOWEVER, THAT THE SOCIAL WORKERS GENERALLY TAKE THE LEAD IN SUGGESTING COORDINATION AND THAT MEDICAL PERSONNEL TEND TO FOLLOW THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE SOCIAL AGENCIES. THE ONE EXCEPTION OCCURS WHEN A CHILD HAS BEEN HOSPITALIZED, AND HOSPITAL WORKERS TAKE THE INITIATIVE. A SERIES OF QUESTIONS CONSIDER THE USE MADE OF CASE CONFERENCE PROCEDURES FOR DIFFERENT PURPOSES AND THE MANNER BY WHICH THESE PURPOSES ARE ACHIEVED, AS PART OF A BROADER STUDY OF INTERPROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION. ISSUES OF ACCURATE RECORDING OF INFORMATION, THE PASSING ALONG OF ROUTINE INFORMATION, AND THE LACK OF CONTACT WITH PHYSICIANS IN GENERAL PRACTICE ARE DISCUSSED. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT UNTIL RECORDKEEPING AND COORDINATION IMPROVE, THE DANGER EXISTS THAT A TRIVAL MUDDLE MAY RESULT IN A CHILD ABUSE DISASTER. REFERENCES ARE LISTED. (GLR)