CHILD ABUSE TRAINING - A PRACTICAL STATE MODEL (FROM CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT - ISSUES ON INNOVATION AND IMPLEMENTATION - V 2, 1978, BY MICHAEL L LAUDERDALE, ET AL - SEE NCJ-59285)

• NCJ Number: 59287
• Author(s): J A LAKIN; G SOLOMONS; C M ABEL
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

A PROGRAM DELIVERY MODEL CALLED STATE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TEAMS (STAT) IS DESCRIBED; IT WAS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE PREVENTION, DETECTION, AND TREATMENT OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT.

Abstract

THE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT RESOURCE CENTER WAS ESTABLISHED ON JULY 1, 1975, IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE REGION VII TO SERVE RESIDENTS OF IOWA, KANSAS, MISSOURI, AND NEBRASKA. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CENTER, LOCATED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, FOCUS ON RURAL AND SEMIRURAL COMMUNITIES. THE CENTER ASSISTS AND PROVIDES SUPPORTIVE SERVICES TO PRACTICING PROFESSIONALS, COMMUNITY GROUPS, AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PROGRAMS. THESE SERVICES ARE PRIMARILY FOR PRACTITIONERS BEING IN DIRECT SERVICES TO CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. UNIQUE ASPECTS OF THE CENTER'S OPERATION HAVE BEEN ITS EFFORTS TO CONVERT THE IMAGE OF THE LAW FROM PUNITIVE TO THERAPEUTIC AND TO PROMOTE INTERDISCIPLINARY COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION IN ALL PROGRAMS. STATE-LEVEL INVOLVEMENT AND COOPERATION HAVE BEEN ACHIEVED THROUGH THE STAT MODEL. STAT UNITS PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO REPORTERS DESIGNATED BY STATE LAWS TO REPORT SUSPECTED ABUSE OR NEGLECT AND ASSIST COMMUNITIES IN IMPROVING THE COORDINATION OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT SERVICE DELIVERY SYSTEMS. EACH STAT UNIT IS TO PRESENT COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT ITS STATE AND MAY INCLUDE EXPENSES FOR TRAINING MATERIALS IN ITS BUDGET. SIX BENEFITS OF THE STAT MODEL ARE NOTED: (1) THE NATURE OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT REQUIRES AN INTERDISPLINARY APPROACH WHICH THE STAT MODEL REINFORCES; (2) STAT WORKSHOPS OFFER A NEUTRAL CONTEXT FOR COMMUNITY PROFESSIONALS TO DISCUSS ROLE PERCEPTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES; (3) STAT MEMBERS ARE LOCAL PROFESSIONALS AND WILL MOST LIKELY BE AVAILABLE TO OTHER COMMUNITIES AFTER TERMINATION OF A PROJECT; (4) EACH STAT UNIT ENJOYS A HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY IN DECISIONMAKING; (5) THE STAT MODEL ACHIEVES BOTH ECONOMY OF SCALE AND MAXIMUM RESOURCE UTILIZATION; AND (6) THE STAT MODEL HAS A CAPACITY FOR REPLICATION. OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE CENTER INVOLVE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMPREHENSIVE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT CURRICULUM FOR USE IN COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES, WORKSHOPS AND TRAINING SESSIONS FOR STAT PERSONNEL AND SELECTED GROUPS SUCH AS HEAD START, AND DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS FOR CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT INCIDENT REPORTS. ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE STAT MODEL ARE INCLUDED. (DEP)