NCJ Number
55467
Date Published
1978
Length
8 pages
Annotation
THE CURRENT STATUS OF TRAINING OF PROFESSIONALS TO DEAL WITH BOTH MARITAL VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE IS SURVEYED. THE PROBLEMS OF CURRICULUM EVALUATION ARE EXAMINED, AND POSSIBLE COMPONENTS FOR CURRICULA ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
THIS DISCUSSION CONCERNS LAW SCHOOLS, MEDICAL SCHOOLS, SOCIAL WORK SCHOOLS, PARAMEDICAL TRAINING COURSES, AND POLICE COLLEGES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. INSERVICE PROGRAMS ARE NOT REVIEWED. ALTHOUGH THE DISCOVERY OF FAMILY VIOLENCE AS A MAJOR SOCIAL ISSUE IS A FAIRLY RECENT PHENOMENON, SCHOOLS FOR SOCIAL WORKERS HAVE MADE GREAT EFFORTS TO DEVELOP INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS TO EQUIP STUDENTS TO DEAL WITH THESE PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, MEDICAL SCHOOLS AND POLICE COLLEGES DIFFUSE THE TOPIC, MENTIONING IT AT VARIOUS TIMES IN VARIOUS COURSES. AN ANALYSIS OF LAW SCHOOLS SHOWED THAT ONLY A MINORITY ADOPTED A CONTEXTUAL OR MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH. IN ADDITION, 45 PERCENT OF LAW SCHOOLS RESPONDING TO A QUESTIONNAIRE DID NOT TEACH THE RELEVANT CHILD PROTECTION LAW AND 28 PERCENT DID NOT TEACH THE RELEVANT LAW CONCERNING INTERSPOUSAL VIOLENCE. THERE WAS LITTLE CONTACT BETWEEN PROFESSIONAL SCHOOLS AT UNIVERSITIES. THE CRITERIA FOR A MULTIDISCIPLINARY APPROACH, AS DEVELOPED BY THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS, THE CENTRAL COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN SOCIAL WORK, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ARE GIVEN. A TABLE PRESENTS THE MAJOR SYSTEMS OF BELIEF AFFECTING CHILD ABUSE AND THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES TAKEN BY VARIOUS DISCIPLINES TOWARD THIS CRIME. THE VIEWS OF BOTH TRADITIONAL AND RADICAL SOCIOLOGISTS ARE SUMMARIZED IN THIS TABLE, ALONG WITH THOSE OF THE LEGAL SYSTEM AND THE MEDICAL COMMUNITY. THE BIBLIOGRAPHY CONTAINS BOTH SCHOLASTIC MATERIALS AND GOVERNMENT REPORTS. (GLR)