NCJ Number
117297
Journal
Child and Youth Care Quarterly Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: (Fall 1988) Pages: 169-184
Date Published
1988
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article focuses on the goals and rationale of therapeutic child care and the approaches to building interpersonal competence.
Abstract
The goal of "therapeutic" child care is to cultivate the psychological and emotional well-being of children, and to promote their developing competencies, particularly interpersonal competencies. Child care workers can play a crucial role at a critical time in the lives of these troubled children, for they often provide the first salient, long-term, out-of-home relationship, particularly in the case of neglected and abused pre-school children. The relationship between the worker and child is the heart of "therapeutic" day care and must be cultivated and vigorously supported. A technique called "life-space interview" is a tool to help children develop the skills for getting along well with peers and adults in the world at large. Such ego-supporting or competency-enhancing help on the part of child care workers is an example of treating illness by promoting health. "Therapeutic" child care views child abuse ecologically, and its goal is simultaneously to help the child become more acceptable and the parents more accepting. The relationship between child care workers and parents need not be adversarial; the basis exists for a mutually satisfying and helpful relationship. The hidden financial costs as well as the human costs of a high turnover rate dictate that therapeutic child care work be recognized for its difficulty and complexity and be given support commensurate with its vital importance. 5 notes and 13 references.