NCJ Number
127566
Journal
Social Service Review Volume: 64 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1990) Pages: 60-78
Date Published
1990
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Efforts have been made over the past 30 years to define child maltreatment in terms of social policy and planning, legal regulation, research, and case management. These discussions have become increasingly important in light of debates over the child welfare system between opposing camps as a system that is either underprotective or over intrusive.
Abstract
Most theories have fallen into two categories: medical-psychological or sociological. Recently, several theoreticians have presented an interactionist or transitional approach which synthesizes the two focuses. Several important and complex issues must be resolved in conjunction with the definitional dilemma. These include who shall define, the factors used in the definition, scope of definition, and developmental level of the child. The author maintains that a narrow definition of what society is willing to label and enforce as child maltreatment is needed from both the legal and case management perspectives. The determining factor of this narrow definition would be the existence of serious or potential harm to the child. 72 notes (Author abstract modified)