On the Safe Side: Preventing Child Abuse in Residential Care

• NCJ Number: 120272
• Author(s): M S Carson
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 64 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Corporate Author: California Assoc of Services for Children
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Training (Handbook/Manual)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This manual explains the nature and signs of child abuse and neglect in residential child care facilities and presents guidelines for use by California program administrators and staff in preventing, detecting, and responding to problems.

Abstract

The guidelines are intended for use by staff of programs providing 24-hour group and residential care, foster family care, day treatment, and special education services. The text describes the nature and signs of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse and explains techniques for positive guidance and discipline. It emphasizes the stress that workers in residential care programs experience and discusses ways to find a balance that protects their health and energy. A discussion of management issues presents suggestions for effective hiring practices, orientation, training, supervision, grievance procedures, communications with the public, and accreditation and peer review. Other sections focus on the need to develop agency policies and procedures, to recognize responsibilities for reporting suspected cases within 24 hours of discovering the incident, the investigation of a report, and issues related to false allegations. The need to review substantiated cases to prevent future occurrences is also explained. Photographs and list of 13 suggested print resources.