An adage chides, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” In instances of child abuse, this expression hits the mark exactly. Child abuse is a problem across cultural lines, economic classes, religions, and education levels. Programs that intervene rather than prevent child abuse occur after the child was affected by maltreatment. These types of programs, including police intervention, mental and behavioral health treatment, medical attention, change in custody, and out of home care can be costly ineffective and create new problems. These problems indicate the need for expansion of preventative measures such as education, community support, mental health and rehabilitation services for parents, and elevation of living conditions. Going forward, prevention should be the first choice in approaching child abuse.
Child abuse is severe mistreatment of a child by an adult through physical violence, neglect, sexual abuse, or emotional cruelty. Every day approximately an average of 2,450 children are abused. Of those cases, 60% are victims of neglect, 20% experienced physical abuse and 10% are sexually. While children can be victimized at any age, 75% are younger than 3. Every day 2 children die of abuse and neglect.
Risk Factors
Child abuse can occur within every economic, ethnic, cultural or religious group, and at all levels of education. Some groups, however, have challenges that may increase the likelihood of abuse. Some indicators are:
•Families who are isolated, with fewer friends, relatives, religious or other support systems.
•Parents who were abused as children.
•Families often in crisis (have money problems, move often).
•Caretakers who abuse drugs or alcohol.
•Adults who are critical of their child.
•Parents who are rigid in disciplining their child.
•Adults who show too much or little concern for the child.
•Parents who feel they have a difficult child.
•Families under heavy stress.
Prevention and Protection
When possible, prevention methods can do the most good in terms of child welfare, community well being and long term cost. Protection and intervention methods often occur after the abuse, which may have already endangered a child’s physical and emotional well being. Additionally, protection and intervention programs are costlier, considering medical expenses, foster care, legal and court expenses and future criminality.
Child based education teaches children to identify abuse, understand that abuse is never acceptable recognize/ avoid potential dangers, communicate boundaries, and how to report abuse. One example is Boss of my Body, which helps children understand sexual abuse. Another program is the SAFE kids program focusing on managing healthy relationships, bullying, anger management and online safety.
Parental education programs approach prevention by training parents to recognize appropriate discipline patterns, anger and stress management, set boundaries appropriately, and build relationships with their children.
Community education programs create awareness using PSA’s, posters and brochures. Additionally, they work closely with members of the community to recognize at risk families and youth, mediate and provide guidelines for reporting abuse.
Parental supports can alleviate some conditions that can lead to abusive and neglectful situations through efforts to ease poverty, improve living conditions and work related skills, rehabilitate addictions, provide safe after school care, respite programs, and mental health assistance. Some examples are Boys and Girls Clubs, who provide inexpensive child care, food banks, the Federal Food Stamp Program, housing assistance, and recreation centers.
At times, a situation can become so dangerous that intervention becomes necessary. Some interventions include perpetrator removal from the home, family counseling, visits to the home, and removing children from home. The outlook for children in foster care is bleak, with high abuse rates, criminality, and feelings of guilt, isolation or abandonment. Problems in the foster care system have gained national attention, and community leaders struggle for solutions.
Counseling and victim advocacy can alleviate some negative effects of child abuse by helping victims cope with emotions, improve self esteem, create boundaries and develop healthy future relationships. Counseling can also provide the opportunity to detect problems early and maximize treatment possibilities.
Long Term Problems for Abused Children
Child abuse and neglect affect victims while they are young and throughout their lifetime. Abuse can trigger poor academic performance, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, risky sexual behavior, physical and mental health problems. It may even shorten life expectancy by heightening the risk of chronic and infectious disease. Likeliness of being arrested, committing suicide, killing or harming the abuser, or becoming a perpetrator is higher in those abused as children. Child abuse is also highly correlated to homelessness, divorce rate, and future income.
Outcomes
Reports of maltreatment are rising each year, except in sexual abuse cases. In a March 3, 2004 USA Today editorial, sociologist David Finklehor reported a 42% decline between 1992 to 2001 in child sexual abuse cases. Finkelhor identified possible causes for the decline: that many children have received preventive safety classes in school, making them potentially less-amenable targets, and that parents and organizations have become more educated and aware, making it difficult for child molesters to operate with impunity. Another possibility includes the national sex offender registry, created in 1994.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Annotated Bibliography
Prevent Child Abuse America Fact Sheet: An Approach to Preventing Child Abuse www.preventchildabuse.org viewed 11/17/09
The fact sheet was a compilation of data about how their program advocated the "prevention of child abuse before it occurs". The document lists many different techniques including: home visits to new parents, prenatal and post natal preparation for emotional stresses during medical visits, high risk group education programs, early treatment and counseling for post-abuse children (to prevent perpetration by the former victim), good quality child care,life skills training for children and young adults, and crisis support.
My reflection: this is exactly the type of information I was looking for, all rolled into one fully accessible paper! I was certain programs like these existed, but have had difficulty finding information (except home visiting). I'll probably use alot of the info from this page in my paper. I'm hoping the website has more similar resources, especially in areas of young adult life skills programs, which I would argue should be more required in school than Algebra. I have not and likely never will use any form of Algebra. Young adults need social education, anger management, and communication skills more. Back on point, am also looking for more information about high risk targeting and education.
#2.
AdministrAtion for Children And Families Stregnthening Families and Communities http://www.preventchildabuse.org/publications/downloads/2009_resource_guide.pdf published 2009
The 87 page document covered alot of information. It added specific plans of action, questions to ask parents, information pamphlets, with talking points aimed at parents, kids and community members. It outlined ideas for broaching prevention ideas to children, conflict resolution data, information on appreciating children, age development expectations for children, community engagement, and public service announcements.
My reflection was that the information will be rather helpful in writing the paper. It encompassed a broad range of prevention techniques, covering children, parents, caregivers and the community. Further, the fact sheets were helpful in analyzing how one might go about identifying a family at risk without using stereotypical information (poverty, family stress, substance abuse) that can both expend resources where unnecessary and leave gaps where stereotypes do not exist, but abuse may become present. Another thing I thought was admirable was the ability of the appoach technique to involve families in their own prevention (as in "parent partnerships" on page 12). Also I appreciated the position encouraging child welfare agencies to change their posture to support and mediate families in crisis, among case workers, foster parents, children and parents. When I was young, it seemed to be the child welfare system against the parents, and then against the child. It's progress that may actually solve something.
The fact sheet was a compilation of data about how their program advocated the "prevention of child abuse before it occurs". The document lists many different techniques including: home visits to new parents, prenatal and post natal preparation for emotional stresses during medical visits, high risk group education programs, early treatment and counseling for post-abuse children (to prevent perpetration by the former victim), good quality child care,life skills training for children and young adults, and crisis support.
My reflection: this is exactly the type of information I was looking for, all rolled into one fully accessible paper! I was certain programs like these existed, but have had difficulty finding information (except home visiting). I'll probably use alot of the info from this page in my paper. I'm hoping the website has more similar resources, especially in areas of young adult life skills programs, which I would argue should be more required in school than Algebra. I have not and likely never will use any form of Algebra. Young adults need social education, anger management, and communication skills more. Back on point, am also looking for more information about high risk targeting and education.
#2.
AdministrAtion for Children And Families Stregnthening Families and Communities http://www.preventchildabuse.org/publications/downloads/2009_resource_guide.pdf published 2009
The 87 page document covered alot of information. It added specific plans of action, questions to ask parents, information pamphlets, with talking points aimed at parents, kids and community members. It outlined ideas for broaching prevention ideas to children, conflict resolution data, information on appreciating children, age development expectations for children, community engagement, and public service announcements.
My reflection was that the information will be rather helpful in writing the paper. It encompassed a broad range of prevention techniques, covering children, parents, caregivers and the community. Further, the fact sheets were helpful in analyzing how one might go about identifying a family at risk without using stereotypical information (poverty, family stress, substance abuse) that can both expend resources where unnecessary and leave gaps where stereotypes do not exist, but abuse may become present. Another thing I thought was admirable was the ability of the appoach technique to involve families in their own prevention (as in "parent partnerships" on page 12). Also I appreciated the position encouraging child welfare agencies to change their posture to support and mediate families in crisis, among case workers, foster parents, children and parents. When I was young, it seemed to be the child welfare system against the parents, and then against the child. It's progress that may actually solve something.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Academic Source (2)
http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/newsletters/nl2006/winterab.pdf
Practical Abuse and Neglect Prevention Adam Blakester Pub: Austrailian Institute of Family Studies National Child Protection Clearinghouse NCPC NEWSLETTER VOL . 14 NO. 2 , WINTER 2006
Summary: The author begins with Austrailian Statistics involving the prevalence and challenges of child abuse cases as well as potential cultural miscommunications between indiginous groups and child advocay groups. While the introduction includes the broad statistics of Austrailia as a whole, the focus of the paper centers on indiginous aboriginee groups.
The author covers 3 types of preventative strategies; primary, secondary, and teriatery, which involve 1. Community practices and attitudes that lend themselves to familial wellness, 2. Strategies that target high risk groups, and 3. Strategies that react and protect after abuse occurs.
The paper uses several case studies; one using an ecological approach to community focused emphasis on improved child and maternal nutrition; one very successful case restructured a South Wales community with additional tools that assisted parents and community members; one in Sydney used children's art to portray a vision of a desirable society. The children returned to 4 basic premises, respect, multiculturism, access to services, and "friendly places" (parks, healthy environments, etc.); and a Queensland group that assembled an action plan for Child Protection Week.
Much of the focus of the article involved using holistic, ecopsychological approaches to improve children's and family wellness. In most of the cases, change was not forced, but collaberated with members of the community, possibly contributing to the outcome. I will probably not refer to the statistics, but the case studies were highly interesting weather I do or don't use them. Further, the article cited other articles I may be able to use. Notably, the approaches seemed to be both highly fiscally and socially effective, a point with which I intend to conclude on my own paper. The diagrams within the article were particularly interesting, because while the case studies or the aboriginees cannot easily cross cultural boundaries, the diagrams can be multiculturally effective.
Student Choice
I might throw the computer across the room at any moment now... because I can't access the articles I would like to use, have read too many articles that are irrelevant and the closest accessable articles I have read are from Australia. I have learned, however, that Australia has an extensive wealth of information and research on child abuse prevention, experimenting extensively with a variety of tequniques. The US, I have learned, has a wealth of intervention programs including foster care, how to report abuse, parental counseling for abuse related issues, and imprisonment. I have learned every single, full text journal method of calling 911, the abuse hotline, and anonomous computer reporting of child abuse; the pathway my report takes into the court system and what becomes of those children as adults. They roam the underworld commiting untold (ok somewhat told) treacheries, resorting to drugs, pregnancies, and crime, and all because nobody came up with a preventative solution. What I have been able to find is that some limited free full text sources refer to home visiting by nurses, as well as numerous sexual empowerment programs. We Americans may have an obsession with sex. We have sex abuse prevention education for the internet, the school, children's classrooms, adult education, parenting classes, counselors, teachers, sex educators, and of course police officers. Blog, board, journal, and periodicle all hail the merits of sex abuse prevention and prevention's sublime effectiveness. One might think then that some saavy pediatrition might carry his research into physical abuse and maltreatment in a free full text accessable article, or paper. . . but really that'd be too hopeful. It's not that I want to change the course of my topic... I just want to move to Australia.
Practical Abuse and Neglect Prevention Adam Blakester Pub: Austrailian Institute of Family Studies National Child Protection Clearinghouse NCPC NEWSLETTER VOL . 14 NO. 2 , WINTER 2006
Summary: The author begins with Austrailian Statistics involving the prevalence and challenges of child abuse cases as well as potential cultural miscommunications between indiginous groups and child advocay groups. While the introduction includes the broad statistics of Austrailia as a whole, the focus of the paper centers on indiginous aboriginee groups.
The author covers 3 types of preventative strategies; primary, secondary, and teriatery, which involve 1. Community practices and attitudes that lend themselves to familial wellness, 2. Strategies that target high risk groups, and 3. Strategies that react and protect after abuse occurs.
The paper uses several case studies; one using an ecological approach to community focused emphasis on improved child and maternal nutrition; one very successful case restructured a South Wales community with additional tools that assisted parents and community members; one in Sydney used children's art to portray a vision of a desirable society. The children returned to 4 basic premises, respect, multiculturism, access to services, and "friendly places" (parks, healthy environments, etc.); and a Queensland group that assembled an action plan for Child Protection Week.
Much of the focus of the article involved using holistic, ecopsychological approaches to improve children's and family wellness. In most of the cases, change was not forced, but collaberated with members of the community, possibly contributing to the outcome. I will probably not refer to the statistics, but the case studies were highly interesting weather I do or don't use them. Further, the article cited other articles I may be able to use. Notably, the approaches seemed to be both highly fiscally and socially effective, a point with which I intend to conclude on my own paper. The diagrams within the article were particularly interesting, because while the case studies or the aboriginees cannot easily cross cultural boundaries, the diagrams can be multiculturally effective.
Student Choice
I might throw the computer across the room at any moment now... because I can't access the articles I would like to use, have read too many articles that are irrelevant and the closest accessable articles I have read are from Australia. I have learned, however, that Australia has an extensive wealth of information and research on child abuse prevention, experimenting extensively with a variety of tequniques. The US, I have learned, has a wealth of intervention programs including foster care, how to report abuse, parental counseling for abuse related issues, and imprisonment. I have learned every single, full text journal method of calling 911, the abuse hotline, and anonomous computer reporting of child abuse; the pathway my report takes into the court system and what becomes of those children as adults. They roam the underworld commiting untold (ok somewhat told) treacheries, resorting to drugs, pregnancies, and crime, and all because nobody came up with a preventative solution. What I have been able to find is that some limited free full text sources refer to home visiting by nurses, as well as numerous sexual empowerment programs. We Americans may have an obsession with sex. We have sex abuse prevention education for the internet, the school, children's classrooms, adult education, parenting classes, counselors, teachers, sex educators, and of course police officers. Blog, board, journal, and periodicle all hail the merits of sex abuse prevention and prevention's sublime effectiveness. One might think then that some saavy pediatrition might carry his research into physical abuse and maltreatment in a free full text accessable article, or paper. . . but really that'd be too hopeful. It's not that I want to change the course of my topic... I just want to move to Australia.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
academic source & free choice
Schneider, Dona. American Childhood : Risks and Realities
New Brunswick, N.J. Rutgers University Press, 1995 pgs 187-198
The book might be an overview of the risks of childhood. The chapter I read largely dealt with a history of child abuse as it became a prominent issue and into the 1990's. It talks about cultural norms at different times, citing specific cases. One boy was soddomized by his stepfather and taken to the ER. When the Dr. reported the incident to the police, they referred to it as a "family issue" and not worth the paper work on charges that would only later be dropped. It gave some early statistics on who is abused. Some of the statistics are either outdated or inaccurate, more likely inaccurate. Thay may have been specific to sexual abuse as well, but hadn't said so. I think that the book might serve as a possible reference for the starting point of mass child abuse concern, but only if I can find another source to verify that.
Casey Family Programs and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2001). Key guide points for partnering with families. pub: Washington, DC http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/phd897/
The article had a lists of ideas on how best to approach preventative parental education targeting groups that may be at higher risk for abuse. The intended audience may have been social workers or community workers, and the article may be difficult to use in this repost. The site itself, however, had a wealth of obscure articles and information specifically related to child abuse. I saw alot of material that might be useful as I research further.
New Brunswick, N.J. Rutgers University Press, 1995 pgs 187-198
The book might be an overview of the risks of childhood. The chapter I read largely dealt with a history of child abuse as it became a prominent issue and into the 1990's. It talks about cultural norms at different times, citing specific cases. One boy was soddomized by his stepfather and taken to the ER. When the Dr. reported the incident to the police, they referred to it as a "family issue" and not worth the paper work on charges that would only later be dropped. It gave some early statistics on who is abused. Some of the statistics are either outdated or inaccurate, more likely inaccurate. Thay may have been specific to sexual abuse as well, but hadn't said so. I think that the book might serve as a possible reference for the starting point of mass child abuse concern, but only if I can find another source to verify that.
Casey Family Programs and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2001). Key guide points for partnering with families. pub: Washington, DC http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/phd897/
The article had a lists of ideas on how best to approach preventative parental education targeting groups that may be at higher risk for abuse. The intended audience may have been social workers or community workers, and the article may be difficult to use in this repost. The site itself, however, had a wealth of obscure articles and information specifically related to child abuse. I saw alot of material that might be useful as I research further.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Some questions about my topic
1. What are long term effects of child abuse?
2. What are some of the most common intervention methods?
3. Does the abuse continue after interventions, and if so, how effective is it?
4. What are some of the most common preventative measures?
5. How effective are they in preventing abuse?
6. What are long term societal costs of child abuse?
7. Do measures of prevention or intervention exist that are uncommonly used but significantly more effective?
8. How prevalent is child abuse?
2. What are some of the most common intervention methods?
3. Does the abuse continue after interventions, and if so, how effective is it?
4. What are some of the most common preventative measures?
5. How effective are they in preventing abuse?
6. What are long term societal costs of child abuse?
7. Do measures of prevention or intervention exist that are uncommonly used but significantly more effective?
8. How prevalent is child abuse?
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