Trigger Stories - Preventing Institutional Child Abuse Through the Development of Positive Norms for Staff

• NCJ Number: 95458
• Author(s): Anonymous
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 80 pages
• Grant Number(s): 90CA897/01
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A group of exercises is presented to help managers of juvenile secure care facilities explore the standards staff members place on their own interactions with residents, and to create and sustain positive norms for the staff.

Abstract

Hypothetical situations are used to address issues such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, failure to provide adequate supervision, racism, the possibility of abuse allegation by a resident, and other potential concerns. The first exercise, for example, describes a situation where a resident, known to be untrustworthy, tells a staff member that another employee is physically abusing a resident. The accused employee is highly respected and slightly feared by residents as well as other employees. The resident is close to the staff member and seems devoted to him. Persons completing the exercise must put themselves in the staff member's position and decide whether to ask the accuser for more information, investigate the situation, or ignore the allegation. Regardless of which action is chosen, related information supplied calls upon the respondent to make further decisions. At the conclusion of the exercise, six discussion questions are provided. Suggestions and discussion questions for the wrap-up session that follows the completion of the exercise are listed. Guidelines for changing negative staff norms are noted.