NCJ Number
59634
Journal
Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Volume: 5 Issue: 1 Dated: (1977) Pages: 51-60
Date Published
1977
Length
10 pages
Annotation
ABUSED CHILDREN ARE OFTEN LEFT IN THE NATURAL HOME AND IN DANGER BECAUSE SOCIAL WORKERS AND COURTS ARE RELUCTANT TO INTERFERE WITH PARENTAL RIGHTS, AND LAWS ARE NOT UNIFORM ACROSS JURISDICTIONS.
Abstract
CHILD ABUSE TREATMENT IS FRAUGHT WITH CONTRADICTIONS. A CHILD MAY BE FORCED TO LIVE IN A SITUATION WHICH ENDANGERS LIFE AND HEALTH WHILE SOCIAL WORKERS DEBATE THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CHILD. OFTEN EFFORTS TO KEEP THE FAMILY TOGETHER ARE BEING MADE BY ONE AGENCY WHILE ANOTHER ATTEMPTS TO REMOVE THE CHILD FROM THE HOME. COURTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS OFTEN FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THAT LONG TERM FOSTER PLACEMENT AND A STABLE ENVIRONMENT ARE MORE SATISFACTORY THAN CONTINUAL EFFORTS TO TREAT THE FAMILY WHICH OFTEN INVOLVE MANY SHORT TERM PLACEMENTS FOR THE CHILD. FURTHER COMPLICATING THE MATTER IS THE FACT THAT ABUSING FAMILIES ARE OFTEN FREQUENT MOVERS AND LAWS ARE NOT UNIFORM FROM STATE TO STATE. SINCE MANY STATES DO NOT HAVE CENTRAL REGISTRIES FOR CHILD ABUSE, THE FAMILY CAN OFTEN REMOVE A CHILD FROM PROTECTIVE SERVICES SIMPLY BY MOVING WITHIN THE STATE. TO FULLY PROTECT ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN, COURTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS NEED TO BE MORE FORCEFUL IN REMOVING THEM FROM THE HOME. ALL 50 STATES SHOULD ADOPT UNIFORM LAWS REGARDING ABUSE, NEGLECT, CUSTODY, AND ADOPTION PROCEDURES, AND AGENCIES AND PROFESSIONALS NEED TO COORDINATE THEIR EFFORTS. CASE HISTORIES ILLUSTRATE THE ARTICLE, AND REFERENCES ARE APPENDED. (GLR)