NCJ Number
59298
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
COMPONENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE CHILD ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM ARE CITED, INCLUDING ATTENTION TO PERSONALITY TRAITS OF PARENTS, ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS, AND CHARACTERISTICS OF VULNERABLE CHILDREN.
Abstract
AN IDEAL CHILD ABUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM SHOULD PROVIDE BOTH PARENTS AND CHILDREN WITH A BROAD, COMPREHENSIVE, AND RELEVANT SPECTRUM OF SERVICES THAT WILL STRENGTHEN AND MAINTAIN THE FAMILY STRUCTURE. THIS REQUIRES A MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEAM APPROACH GEARED TO OFFERING FAMILIES A VARIETY OF HOME-BASED SERVICES. A COMPREHENSIVE TREATMENT PROGRAM FOR ABUSED CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AT THE DOWNSTATE MEDICAL CENTER IN BROOKLYN, N.Y., INCLUDES PEDIATRIC, PSYCHIATRIC, SOCIAL SERVICE, AND NURSING STAFF. CHILD ABUSE TREATMENT ISSUES EMBODIED IN THIS PROGRAM ARE INTERVENTION WITH PARENTS DESIGNED TO MODIFY THEIR IMPULSIVITY AND ABUSE PRONENESS (INDIVIDUAL THERAPY/COUNSELING AND GROUP THERAPY), ALLEVIATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS, TREATMENT OF ABUSED CHILDREN, TREATMENT OBJECTIVES FOR ABUSED CHILDREN, AND EFFECTIVENESS OF TREATMENT (CHARACTERISTICS OF ABUSIVE PARENTS, OBSTACLES TO TREATMENT AS DETERMINED BY PERSONAL ATTITUDES AND FEELINGS EXHIBITED BY PARENTS TOWARD THERAPISTS AND THE ACT OF CHILD ABUSE ITSELF, AND ADVERSE EFFECTS OF PLACEMENT OUTSIDE THE NATURAL HOME). IT IS CONCLUDED THAT THE PLACEMENT OF DEPENDENT CHILDREN IN INSTITUTIONS AND FOSTER HOMES POSES MAJOR ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS FOR CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND FOSTERING INDIVIDUALS. THE USE OF PLACEMENT AS A MAJOR THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION, THEREFORE, IS RECOMMENDED ONLY AS A LAST RESORT. CRISIS-ORIENTED SOCIAL AND PSYCHIATRIC SERVICES TO FAMILIES SHOULD BE THE MAIN THERAPEUTIC MODALITY, WITH EMPHASIS ON HOME INVOLVEMENT. REFERENCES ARE CITED. (DEP)