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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF CHILD ABUSE

NCJ Number
68500
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 2 Issue: 4 Dated: (1978) Pages: 261-267
Author(s)
C H KEMP
Date Published
1978
Length
7 pages
Annotation
SIX RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE FIELD OF CHILD ABUSE ARE REVIEWED BY THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.
Abstract
FIRST, THE SYSTEM OF CHILD PROTECTION HAS CHANGED FROM A CLOSED SYSTEM INVOLVING ONLY SOCIAL WORKERS TO AN OPEN SYSTEM INVOLVING MANY PROFESSIONS (MEDICINE, NURSING, LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND THE JUDICIARY) AND THE PUBLIC. USE OF LAY FAMILY AIDES HAS HELPED EXTEND SOCIAL WORKERS. PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT ARE NEEDED TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE. EVERY COUNTRY EXPERIENCES FIVE DEVELOPMENTAL STATES IN ADDRESSING THE CHILD ABUSE PROBLEM: DENIAL, AWARENESS OF SEVERE SEXUAL ABUSE, ATTENTION TO FAILURE TO THRIVE, RECOGNITION OF EMOTIONAL ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND AWARENESS OF SEXUAL ABUSE. THE SIXTH STAGE SHOULD BE THE GUARANTEEING OF PROPER PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL CARE FOR EACH CHILD. THE EARLY TREATMENT OF THE ABUSED CHILD AND THE SIBLINGS, RATHER THAN THE PARENTS ONLY, IS THE SECOND RECENT DEVELOPMENT. THE THIRD DEVELOPMENT IS THE GROWING RECOGNITION THAT SEXUAL ABUSE IS AS COMMON AND, IN MANY WAYS, AS SERIOUS AS PHYSICAL ABUSE IN CONSIDERING CHILDREN'S LONG-TERM WELFARE. FOURTH, INSTITUTIONAL ABUSE CAN OCCUR WHEN SOCIETY'S INTERVENTION IS MORE HARMFUL THAN IF INTERVENTION HAD NOT OCCURRED. FIFTH, LEGAL ADVANCES INCLUDE THE CONCEPT OF A GUARDIAN AD LITEM AND THE CONCEPT OF INVOLUNTARY TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS. SIXTH, THE NEED FOR EFFORTS TO PREVENT CHILD ABUSE THROUGH IDENTIFICATION DURING THE PERINATAL PERIOD OF FAMILIES AT RISK IS BEING INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZED. ALTHOUGH CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION OR TREATMENT PROGRAMS CANNOT ALWAYS BE TRANSFERRED FROM ONE COUNTRY TO ANOTHER, COUNTRIES CAN LEARN MUCH FROM INTERNATIONAL FORUMS.