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PROTECTING THE ABUSED CHILD (FROM NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON CHILD ABUSE, 1972 - SEE NCJ-09640)

NCJ Number
48638
Author(s)
V DEFRANCIS
Date Published
1972
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE CHARACTER OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, CHARACTERISTICS OF ABUSING PARENTS, AND THE NEED FOR A COORDINATED STATE AND COMMUNITY APPROACH TO THE TREATMENT OF BOTH THE PARENT AND THE CHILD ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
PARENTAL FAILURE TO MEET CHILDREN'S PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, AND GENERAL DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS CONSTITUTES CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, A SITUATION WHICH REQUIRES APPROPRIATE INTERVENTION BY THE STATE. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE NO UP-TO-DATE NATIONAL STATISTICS ON THE INCIDENCE OF EITHER PHYSICAL OR SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN, STATISTICS GENERATED BY THE LAST STUDY DONE REGARDING THE NATIONAL INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE -- A STUDY CONDUCTED BY BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY IN 1967, UNDER A GRANT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE -- SUPPORT THE GROWING BELIEF THAT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT IS A CONSIDERABLE NATIONAL PROBLEM REQUIRING THE DEVELOPMENT OF EFFECTIVE, COORDINATED TREATMENT PROGRAMS AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL. ABUSING PARENTS ARE DESCRIBED AS EMOTIONALLY IMMATURE, OF BORDERLINE INTELLIGENCE, TROUBLED BY MARITAL DISCORD AND FINANCIAL PROBLEMS, EMOTIONALLY DISTURBED, AND OFTEN THEMSELVES THE VICTIMS OF EARLY CHILD ABUSE. IT IS BELIEVED MOST OF THESE CONDITIONS ARE TREATABLE, AND IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT, THROUGH STATE AND LOCAL SUPPORT, COMMUNITY CHILD PROTECTIVE PROGRAMS BE ESTABLISHED TO DEAL NOT ONLY WITH THE NEEDS OF ABUSED CHILDREN, BUT ALSO WITH ABUSING PARENTS. LEGISLATION DESIGNED ONLY TO PUNISH ABUSING PARENTS IS CONSIDERED SUPERFICIAL AND INEFFECTIVE. THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES FOR TREATMENT AND BEHAVIORAL CHANGE IS DEEMED THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO CURB THE PROBLEM. ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF SEXUAL ABUSE ARE ADVISED, BECAUSE SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN MOST OFTEN INVOLVES PARENTS OR CLOSE RELATIVES AND THE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COURT PROCEDURES THAT CUSTOMARILY DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM TEND TO COMPOUND THE EMOTIONAL UPSET TO THE CHILD. NO REFERENCES ARE CITED. (RCB)

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