PERSPECTIVES ON THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE - CAN IT BE DONE? (FROM CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT - ISSUES ON INNOVATION AND IMPLEMENTATION - V 1, 1978, BY MICHAEL L LAUDERDALE, ET AL - SEE NCJ-59268)

• NCJ Number: 59278
• Author(s): D L WILLIAMS
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

STUDIES ON THE CAUSES AND PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE ARE IDENTIFIED AND THEIR FINDINGS SUMMARIZED.

Abstract

FOLLOWING A LIST OF VARYING DEFINITIONS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT PROPOSED BY A NUMBER OF RESEARCHERS, THE RELIGIOUS, LITERARY, AND LEGAL ORIGINS ARE DISCUSSED AS THEY BEAR UPON THE GENESIS, CONTINUANCE, AND INCREASE OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. CAUSES OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE EXAMINED AS IDENTIFIED IN A NUMBER OF RESEARCH STUDIES. FINDINGS FROM NATIONWIDE SURVEYS TEND TO SUGGEST THAT CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT ARE RELATED TO THE FOLLLOWING FACTORS: (1) ENVIRONMENTAL CHANCE FACTORS; (2) ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS FACTORS; (3) DEVIANCE OR PATHOLOGY IN AREAS OF PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, INTELLECTUAL, AND EMOTIONAL FUNCTIONING ON THE PART OF CARETAKERS AND/OR THE ABUSED CHILDREN THEMSELVES; (4) DISTURBED INTRAFAMILY RELATIONSHIPS INVOLVING CONFLICTS BETWEEN SPOUSES AND/OR REJECTION OF INDIVIDUAL CHILDREN; AND (5) COMBINATIONS OF THESE SETS OF FORCES. A SYNTHESIS OF RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PREVENTION DERIVED FROM THOSE STUDIES DISCUSSED INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS: (1) SHORT, INTERMEDIATE, AND LONG RANGE INTENSIVE ACTIVITIES AND EFFORTS TO MAKE ALL CITIZENS AWARE OF THE DAMAGING EFFECTS OF CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT; (2) A MASS INFUSION OF CHILDREN'S WORTH AND DIGNITY, AND THEIR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS INTO THE EDUCATION AND TRAINING EXPERIENCES OF ALL AMERICANS AT EVERY LEVEL; (3) A WELL-DEFINED, CLOSELY LINKED COOPERATIVE PROGRAM OF PREVENTION AMONG ALL AGENCIES WHICH DEAL WITH PEOPLE AND THEIR CONCERNS TO INSURE CONTINUITY IN RESOLVING ISSUES AFFECTING THEIR CLIENTS; (4) THE ENACTMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF LEGISLATION TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN AND PROVIDE THE BEST POSSIBLE SITUATIONS FOR NURTURING THEIR DEVELOPMENTAL NEEDS; (5) THE PROVISION OF THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES NEEDED TO ALLEVIATE ALL OF THE CONDITIONS WHICH CREATE THE POTENTIAL TO ABUSE AND NEGLECT CHILDREN; (6) A REDEFINITION AND REFOCUSING OF THE BASIC ATTITUDES, VALUES, AND PRACTICES OF MEMBERS OF SOCIETY IN THEIR INTRAPERSONAL AND INTERPERSONAL ACTIVITIES; AND (7) CREATION OF NEW ROLES FOR CHILDREN IN SOCIETY SO THAT THEY BECOME PREPARED FOR FUTURE ROLES. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED (RCB).