NCJ Number
54716
Date Published
1977
Length
7 pages
Annotation
A MODEL FOR A CHILD ABUSE PROGRAM IS PROPOSED THAT INCORPORATES EMERGENCY RELIEF, THERAPEUTIC RELIEF, A FAMILY SYSTEMS APPROACH, AND PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES.
Abstract
ACCORDING TO ONE RESEARCHER, CHILD ABUSE IS PROBABLY THE CAUSE OF THE GREATEST NUMBER OF DEATHS OF CHILDREN IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE RANGES FROM 250 TO 300 REPORTED CASES PER MILLION POPULATION PER YEAR. ESTIMATES RANGE FROM 200,000 CHILDREN WHO REQUIRE PROTECTIVE INTERVENTION TO 4 MILLION CHILDREN WHO ARE AT RISK OF MALTREATMENT BY THEIR PARENTS OR OTHER ADULTS. PRESCHOOLERS, ESPECIALLY YOUNG TODDLERS AND INFANTS, ARE THE MOST USUAL VICTIMS OF CHILD ABUSE, AND BOYS SUFFER MORE PHYSICAL ABUSE THAN GIRLS. CHILD ABUSE HAS A NUMBER OF FORMS, THE MOST EASILY DETECTED OF WHICH IS ACTUAL PHYSICAL ABUSE AND INJURY. OTHER FORMS INCLUDE PHYSICAL NEGLECT OF SUCH THINGS AS NUTRITIONAL NEEDS AND PERSONAL HYGIENE, SEXUAL ABUSE, VERBAL ABUSE, AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE. IT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED THAT CHILD ABUSE IS A SELF-PERPETUATING PHENOMENON, I.E., ABUSED CHILDREN USUALLY GROW UP TO BECOME ABUSIVE PARENTS THEMSELVES. THE UNDERLYING PURPOSE OF THE PROPOSED MODEL, KNOWN AS THE PARENTS AND CHILDREN TOGETHER (PACT) PROJECT, IS TO PROVIDE A MEANS BY WHICH BOTH ABUSED CHILDREN AND ABUSIVE PARENTS CAN REMAIN IN THE FAMILY UNIT AND WORK THROUGH THEIR PROBLEMS TOGETHER. MAJOR OBJECTIVES OF THE MODEL APPROACH ARE TO PROVIDE A SOURCE OF EMERGENCY RELIEF FROM POTENTIALLY ABUSIVE PARENTS, TO EXTEND TO POTENTIAL ABUSERS AN APPROPRIATE FORM OF THERAPEUTIC RELIEF, TO FURNISH A NEUTRAL FACILITY TO ABUSED CHILDREN AND THEIR ABUSIVE PARENTS, AND TO ENGAGE IN PUBLIC SERVICE ACTIVITIES CONCERNED WITH EDUCATION AND INCREASED COMMUNITY AWARENESS OF THE CHILD ABUSE PROBLEM. DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THESE OBJECTIVES OF THE MODEL IS PROVIDED. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)