NCJ Number
58704
Journal
Children Today Volume: 8 Dated: (JANUARY-FEBRUARY 1979) Pages: 22-27,35
Date Published
1979
Length
7 pages
Annotation
OFTEN, PROFESSIONALS CANNOT HANDLE CHILD ABUSE CASES, NOT BECAUSE THEY LACK KNOWLEDGE, BUT BECAUSE THEY CANNOT COPE WITH THE FEELINGS SUCH CASES AROUSE. A CONTINUING SUPPORT PROGRAM HAS HELPED TO OVERCOME THIS PROBLEM.
Abstract
THE TRAINING GROUP AND SUPPORT PROGRAM GREW OUT OF A MONTHLY PEDIATRIC CONFERENCE INITIATED IN 1975 AT THE DARTMOUTH-HITCHCOCK MEDICAL CENTER IN HANOVER, N.H. THE GROUP CONSISTED OF 2 COLEADERS AND 11 PARTICIPANTS, ALL PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED WITH CHILD ABUSE CASES. DURING DISCUSSIONS, THE PARTICIPANTS STRESSED THAT DELIVERY OF CARE IS OFTEN HAMPERED BY ANXIETIES ABOUT BEING PHYSICALLY HARMED BY ANGRY PARENTS, BY WORRIES ABOUT THE EFFECT OF A DECISION, BY AN INABILITY TO DEAL WITH THE ANGER THESE DIFFICULT FAMILIES OFTEN AROUSE, AND BY A LACK OF PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT. THE NEED FOR EMOTIONAL GRATIFICATION FROM CLIENTS, FEELINGS OF INCOMPETENCE, EITHER DENIAL OF RESPONSIBILITY OR ASSUMPTION OF TOO MUCH RESPONSIBILITY, AND AN INABILITY TO SEPARATE PERSONAL FROM PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITY ALSO PRESENT PROBLEMS. OCCASIONALLY, WORKERS FEEL THEY ARE BEING VICTIMIZED BY FAMILIES. THEY OFTEN HAVE AMBIVALENT FEELINGS ABOUT THE CLIENT AND ABOUT THEIR WORK. A FEW WORKERS ALSO EXPRESSED THE NEED TO CONTROL EITHER THE CLIENT OR THE SITUATION. FOR 6 MONTHS, THE SUPPORT GROUP MET ONCE A WEEK FOR ABOUT 90 MINUTES TO EXAMINE SUCH FEELINGS, TO DISCUSS HOW THESE FEELINGS AFFECTED TREATMENT, AND TO EXPLORE SOLUTIONS. NUMEROUS CASE STUDIES ILLUSTRATE EACH POINT, AND MANY SOLUTIONS ARE PROPOSED. SUCH TRAINING AND SUPPORT GROUPS ARE ESSENTIAL TO HELP CHILD ABUSE WORKERS COPE WITH THEIR DIFFICULT JOB. (GLR)