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Educational Program on Evaluation of Alleged Sexual Abuse Victims

NCJ Number
108883
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 11 Issue: 4 Dated: (1987) Pages: 513-519
Author(s)
M Connolly
Date Published
1987
Length
519 pages
Annotation
Increased awareness of the child sexual abuse problem has resulted in increasing numbers of children presenting to professionals for the evaluation of possible sexual victimization, therefore a multidisciplinary project to develop professionals' knowledge and skills in identification and evaluation of possible victims was implemented and is described.
Abstract
The program focused on the child as a victim and emphasized developmental perspectives with regard to identification, interviews of children, the medical examination, and children in the legal system. Fifty-one medical and social work professionals from 10 Indiana counties attended the program and responsed to questionnaires about their experience and knowledge. Of 40 (78 percent) respondents, 63 percent had had no previous training in the medical evaluation for child sexual abuse. Alleged victims were primarily referred by child protective workers to the child's regular physician (37 percent) or emergency room (31 percent) for medical examination. Knowledge about child sexual abuse improved significantly at 2 weeks postsymposium and remained improved at 6 months postsymposium. Similar multidisciplinary programs have subsequently been organized by these original participants in their local communities for medical, social, law enforcement, and legal professionals; thus, they have been 'seeds' for further educational and cooperative efforts throughout the State. 3 tables and 22 references. (Author abstract modified)