NCJ Number
59071
Date Published
1979
Length
58 pages
Annotation
FOCUSING ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, AND SEXUAL ABUSE IN PARTICULAR, THIS MANUAL EXPLAINS HOW A TELEPHONE SYSTEM CAN BE COMBINED WITH TAPE RECORDINGS TO MAKE SEXUAL ABUSE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.
Abstract
APPLICABLE TO ANY TOPIC AND ISSUE (CRISIS INTERVENTION, HEALTH INFORMATION, STUDENT COUNSELING, ETC.), THE TELE-TAPE IDEA BRINGS SERVICES AND OTHER FORMS OF HELP TO THE ATTENTION OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC OR PARTICULAR CONSUMER GROUPS, MAKES SERVICES MORE ACCESSIBLE AND TIMELY, AND ALLOWS THE CALLER A CHANCE TO PRESERVE ANONYMITY. BECAUSE SEXUAL ABUSE CAN, IN PART, BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE INFORMATION CONCERNING AREAS WHICH PERPLEX BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS, THE TELE-TAPE APPROACH IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO PROVIDE TOPICAL AND REFERRAL INFORMATION THROUGH IMPERSONAL AND CONVENTIENT MEANS. THE AIM IS TO PROVIDE CALLERS WITH PRERECORDED 'BASIC' INFORMATION WHICH THEY CAN USE WITHOUT DIVULGING THEIR IDENTITY. IF CALLERS WANT TO CONTACT THE OPERATOR OR COUNSELOR AFTER THE INITIAL CALL, THE TAPED SELF-HELP INFORMATION CAN INCLUDE THE TELEPHONE NUMBERS OF AGENCIES OR EVEN INDIVIDUALS TO CALL FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. THE INITIAL TAPE COULD ALSO INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS THAT HOLDING THE LINE OPEN WILL AUTOMATICALLY CUT INTO A 'LIVE' LINE. THERE ARE A VARIETY OF TELE-TAPE DESIGN OPTIONS OFFERING A RANGE OF CHOICES FOR THE CALLER AND RESPONSES BY THE TELEPHONE COUNSELOR. THREE TELE-TAPE VARIATIONS CAN BE IDENTIFIED: BASIC TELE-TAPE MODEL, IMPERSONAL AND INFORMATION ORIENTED; DIRECT CONTACT OPTION; AND COMPREHENSIVE DESIGN OPTION. IMPLEMENTATION REQUIREMENTS INVOLVING TELEPHONE LINES AND EQUIPMENT, STAFFING AND TRAINING, TELE-TAPE PROGRAMMING, SYSTEM INTEGRATION, STEERING COMMITTEES, COSTS, TELE-TAPE PRESENTATION, AND TELE-TAPE OWNERSHIP ARE BRIEFLY SKETCHED. APPENDIXES CONTAIN SAMPLE SCRIPTS AND A LIST OF TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE RESOURCES. (WJR)