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This publication presents three papers from a 1999 conference on criminal justice research and evaluation. The papers reveal real-life implications of research for a situation of growing urgency. Research has uncovered a link between the victimization of women and their criminal behavior. The papers propose that justice system practice can be enhanced if policymakers and the practitioners who operationalize their decisions redefine justice to take this special condition into account. The first paper, "Exploring the Link between Violence against Women and Women's Involvement in Illegal Activity" (Beth E. Ritchie), discusses the extent of the problem (domestic violence, sexual assault, and patterns of violence); women involved in illegal activity; women in the criminal justice system; and public policy and programmatic recommendations. The second paper, "One Judicial Perspective on the Sex Trade" (Kay Tsenin), discusses judicial approaches, the sex worker (victim and survivor), courts and the communities they serve, interventions, and future needs. The third paper, "Childhood Victimization and the Derailment of Girls and Women to the Criminal Justice System" (Cathy Spatz Widom), discusses the role of childhood victimization in the development of criminal behavior, mechanisms in derailment, and the female criminal (opportunities for intervention). (SM)

This monograph presents excerpts from discussions with participants in the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Planning Council 1990 retreat, which focused on the creation of effective safeguards for people with developmental disabilities. The discussions note: the increased vulnerability of such people to neglect, abuse, and mistreatment; the shortcomings of unregulated relationships between people with disabilities and their caretakers; and the limitations of systematic efforts to keep people safe through professional, bureaucratic methods. David B. Schwartz in "Quality Assurance in the Asylum" looks at historical aspects of this question. The discussion first focuses on identifying what makes people vulnerable (e.g., lack of power, isolation, lack of alternatives, poverty). Next the contrasting approaches of administrative regulation and related legal advocacy versus lifesharing and other personal commitments are analyzed in terms of their contributions, limits, costs, and effectiveness. Covered next are strategies for increasing safety (such as supporting the contribution of families and friends) and options for actions that make families more powerful, reduce isolation, demonstrate effectiveness, yet minimize the costs of regulation. (DB)

What does it take to develop an asynchronous curriculum for social work students, with attention to precision, policy accuracy, and community accountability? We attempt to answer the question by documenting our process of community collaboration and partnership to develop a gamified case study on the Indian Child Welfare Act. The curriculum was developed in one year and is currently being evaluated for efficacy. Lessons learned in the process are consistent with the literature including honoring community timeframes, responsibility, transparency, and openness to change. Future development of similar curricula that incorporates tribal partnerships requires relational accountability with attention to respect and reciprocity. [For the full proceedings, see ED656038.]

This paper explores the factors involved in the adjustment of children who must live with grandparents. Some studies indicate these children may be at higher risk for the development of psychopathology and pre-delinquent behavior. In contrast, other studies seem to indicate the love and care of supportive grandparents can lessen the impact of a previously discordant family. The paper summarizes three themes from the literature concerning grandparents: (1) When children with absent parents live with their grandparents, they are much more vulnerable to emotional and behavioral problems; (2) high quality parent-child relationships reduce the impact of stress on children; and (3) the grandparent-grandchild relationship may provide a significant nurturing and buffering environment for children living with them. Recent studies explored the adjustment of grandchildren being raised by grandparents and found two important factors: (1) the quality of the relationship; and (2) the income level. Two studies performed imply that children can achieve a relatively problem free adjustment when living with caring grandparents. The paper cautions that these results should not be generalized since the sample population was quite small and not randomly selected, and the quality of relationship scores were skewed. Contains 29 references. (KM)

The purpose of this article is to find out the significance of international perspectives for research on child abuse and neglect. Child abuse is not a new phenomenon. Increased international communication and exposure has brought awareness in many that child abuse is a phenomenon intrinsic to all human society since the beginning of time. Abuse of children and adolescents is a complex international problem that seems to defy simple analysis and easy answers. We need to raise the public's awareness of the devastating effects of child abuse. Survivors of child abuse and neglect may be at greater risk for problems later in life such as low academic achievement, drug use, teen pregnancy, and criminal behavior that affect not just the child and family, but society as a whole. This includes the worst forms imaginable of child labor, involvement in armed conflict, exposure to female genital mutilation, child marriage, being sold into slavery, or being solicited over the internet. Whereas individual studies often use different definitions of the term, the results cannot be compared with each other and there is no universal standard exists for optimal child care or for child abuse. Most international communities have tended to focus only upon societal, or extra familial, abuses to children. In many others, the focus has been on issues relating to child labor, beggary, prostitution and marriage. In some more developed countries, attention has turned toward more intra-familial abuses and issues. Moreover, many abused and neglected children never come to the attention of government authorities or individuals who can make efforts to protect a particular child. It is clear that a significant number of children will remain at high risk for experiencing violence and other negative outcomes. Given all of this information, it is hoped that national and international partnerships will continue to make efforts to improve service availability and quality to children across the world.

Inadequate preparation for parenting during the prenatal period, and the inability to provide adequate parenting have been cited as major reasons for a myriad of problems experienced by parents. This study examined support and education programs based on the aggregate 7-year experience of over 75 support and education programs funded by the Michigan Children's Trust Fund. This agency provided funding for a variety of local and statewide child abuse and neglect prevention efforts. The programs fell into the following three categories: neighborhood-based family resource centers; pregnancy/newborn programs; and parenting skills training and support groups. The focus of this investigation was on a number of the conceptual issues relating to the design, implementation, and evaluation of support and education programs. The following guidelines have been suggested for effective support and education programs which extend from a prevention framework. Programs should: (1) utilize an ecological approach to promoting human development; (2) be community-based and sensitive to local needs and resources; (3) provide social support services in three domains: information, emotional and appraisal support, and instrumental assistance; (4) emphasize primary and secondary prevention of various child and family dysfunctions; (5) develop innovative and multilateral approaches to service delivery; (6) underscore the interdependent relationship between family and community while reinforcing and respecting the family's role and prerogatives; and (7) emphasize the promotion of competence or "person-environment fit." (LLL)

This paper provides an introduction to the nature and extent of the various forms of child abuse, including physical injury, neglect, sexual abuse, and emotional maltreatment. It identifies the behavioral, emotional, and physical characteristics of abuse and neglect, as manifested within the school setting; lists factors that pose a risk for physical abuse; describes characteristics of handicapped children and characteristics of families with handicapped children; and briefly reviews the role of schools in child abuse prevention/intervention. (JDD)

Schools offer the possibility of providing safe, supportive structures for children whose lives have been marked by chaos. They can enable vulnerable children to develop competencies which can help to protect them from the effects of traumatic backgrounds. When a child's lived experience falls outside the boundaries of normative experience, as in the situation of the maltreated child, schools offer the possibility of an environment in which the child's experiences can be heard and acknowledged. A child's narrative of vulnerability, though, is awkward and painful in both the telling and the listening. Often a complicity of silence exists in the classroom; the child does not tell, and the teacher does not hear. The role of the school in hearing and responding to children's narratives of non-normative lived experience is explored in both fiction and in the real world. Huckleberry Finn is discussed as an American icon of youthful resilience; 2 case studies of vulnerable children are presented which illustrate different ways schools hear and respond to children's narratives. Contains 28 references. (Author/RS)

This collection of papers is drawn from a conference dedicated to children suffering from the harm associated with being born to neglecting families, a circumstance that has emerged as the most challenging phenomenon for the child welfare system. Papers consider the dimensions of the problem, treatment models, policy considerations, and recent trends. Papers include: (1) "Introduction. Neglected Children: Killing Them Softly" (Esther Wattenberg); (2) "Overview of the Conference Papers" (Esther Wattenberg); (3) "Alive but Not Well: An Overview of Policy, Program, and Practice Concerns with Neglecting Families" (Jeanne Giovannon); (4) "Testing the Community Standard on Neglect: Are We There Yet? Findings from a First-Stage Survey of Professional Social Services Workers" (Esther Wattenberg and Laura Boisen); (5) "Reconceptualizing Social Support: The Results of a Study on the Social Networks of Neglecting Mothers" (Sandra Beeman); (6) "Risk Assessment: What Do We Know? Findings from Three Research Studies on Children Reported to Child Protective Services" (Diana English); (7) "Throwing a Spotlight on the Developmental Outcomes for Children: Findings of a Seventeen-Year Follow-up Study" (Martha Farrell Erickson and Byron Egeland); and (8) "Testing Two Innovative Approaches: Summaries of Practice Project Presentations Given at the Conferences: 1. Amplifying Choice for Neglecting Families: Early Findings from a Research Study" (Philip AuClaire); 2. "Empowering Families To Disconnect from Public Agencies as They Find Resources within Their Own Communities" (Nancy Schaefer and Charles E. Jackson). References follow each paper. (Contains 17 tables.) (SLD)

To determine whether parents in families that live in high-risk environments accurately complete developmental questionnaires to be used in identifying infants at-risk for developmental delay, this study evaluated 54 at-risk and 43 nonrisk parent-infant dyads. Risk dyads included those living in extreme poverty and those with mothers whose maternal age was 19 or younger, with mothers who had less than a 12th grade education, and with parents who were involved with Children's Protective Services for reported abuse or neglect of their children. All parents completed Infant/Child Monitoring Questionnaires when their infants were 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 months old. At 12 and 24 months, children were assessed by a professional examiner using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development. Parents' accuracy was examined by comparing their classification of their infant's performance as normal or abnormal with the classification derived from professional assessment. Concurrent validity of the Infant/Child Monitoring Questionnaires, using the Bayley Scales as the criterion measure, was also investigated. Analysis showed that overall, the sensitivity and specificity of the questionnaires were in the acceptable ranges for a screening instrument. Results from this study suggest that although information from some at-risk parents must be regarded with suspicion, developmental information obtained from parents in high-risk environments can be accurate and useful in screening infants for developmental delay. (MM)

This study investigated the effects of cocaine addiction on mothers' ability to care for their children. The population interviewed included 25 cocaine-addicted mothers in a drug treatment center and a comparison group of 25 mothers of children in a Head Start program. Each mother was questioned about: (1) her pregnancy with a specific child (children's mean age = 3.2 years); (2) the child's social, motor, and cognitive development; (3) her expectations for the child's future; (4) the adequacy of her resources and social support; and, (5) her level of depression. The addicted mothers were also asked how their drug use affected their ability to take care of their children. Emotional neglect or abuse of the children was reported by 60% of the cocaine-addicted mothers. Physical neglect was also reported by 60% of the addicted mothers. Children of the addicted mothers had more chaotic home environments, moved more frequently from home to home, and were more likely to have been placed in foster care than children of mothers in the comparison group. Compared to mothers in the comparison group, addicted mothers described their children as having been more difficult as infants, rated their children lower in overall development, had lower expectations for their children's future, and were more worried that their children would get into trouble in the future. The results of the study reveal that there are clear and important differences between the environments of children whose mothers abuse cocaine and those whose families are simply poor. (SM)

Reviewed is research on the etiology and treatment of child abuse, specifically on three basic theoretical models: A psychiatric model emphasizing the individual abuser's role; a sociological model stressing the impact of social factors; and a model which focuses on the child's role in stimulating his own maltreatment. The second part of the paper critically examines remediation strategies within each model (including self help groups, homemaker services, and changes in treatment of premature infants). The importance of considering all three models in devising treatment strategies is stressed. (CL)

The purpose of this article is to review the problem of child abuse and neglect, discuss the implications of the abusive/neglectful environment, and present possible intervention strategies focused upon both parent and school or day care settings. The introductory section focuses briefly on the complexities of defining child abuse and neglect and offers a definition from an environmental viewpoint. In the second section the scope of the problem is discussed. Three explanatory models of child abuse are discussed in the third section. The models discussed are the psychiatric, the sociologic, and the social-situational. The fourth section examines environmental effects on child rearing and specifies appropriate child rearing environments. In the concluding and fifth section, aspects of Helfer's (1978) intervention program (based on the thesis that abusive parents have not progressed normally through developmental stages), and the Head Start example of community intervention to improve children's environments are discussed. (Author/RH)

The FamiliesFirst project in Davis, California is a child abuse prevention project designed to keep abused children safely at home. During the first year of operation, FamiliesFirst provided in-home prevention services to 59 children in 26 families referred by county Child Protective Services as an alternative to out-of-home placement. Therapists, carrying a caseload of two families each, provided intensive treatment in the families' homes for a 4- to 6-week period. A comparison group of 24 Child Protective Service-referred families with 49 children received usual county services. Families were interviewed at intake and again one year later. The two groups were evaluated on cost, on whether of not the children stayed at home, and on psychological measures of family functioning. The results revealed that abusive and neglectful families who received in-home services were able to keep their children home more often than were families who received traditional services alone. The in-home intervention did not put experimental group children at more risk for further abuse or neglect, as measured by a need for later placement, than children in the comparison group. The one-year follow-up data indicated that the goals of reducing out-of-home placement and lowering placement costs were being met. (Author/NB)

This paper examines the relevance of social structure, in terms of class, race, and gender, in the lives of damaged parents of low power positions who abuse or neglect their children. The predominant view in the understanding and treatment of abusive parents stresses the parent's poor childhood experiences and the "intergenerational cycle" of the problem. Despite evidence for the "classlessness" of the problem, maltreating parents seem to be overrepresented in the low power segments of the society. In addition, evidence suggests that mothers, the poor, and ethnic minorities also are overrepresented among maltreating parents. Available data points to a particular psychological profile in these parents, characterized by a sense of powerlessness, low self esteem, isolation, and dependency on welfare services. The effectiveness of individual therapy for abusive and neglectful parents is discussed, and suggestions for use of a developmental dialectical approach to therapy are addressed. Unlike the pschodynamic approach to therapy, developmental dialectics suggests that healing for damaged parents requires not only awareness of past victimization, but also of present social victimization. Several case studies illustrate some of the difficulties when damaged parents seek help from therapists. (DST)

This bibliography of 185 books, journal articles, government and private agency reports, literature reviews, and conference papers was prepared for the "At-Risk" Task Force of the American Council on Rural Special Education. The general problem is one of children and youth who are placed, by the actions of self or others, in situations where they are likely to be physically, psychologically, or emotionally damaged or where they will not thrive. The purpose of the task force was to study this problem and to make policy recommendations related to dealing with aspects of the problem in rural areas. The bibliography is presented in outline form, the major sections being: (1) at-risk (general and rural references); (2) commission (psychological maltreatment, child abuse, induced academic failure, extreme pressure for conformity, learned helplessness, discrimination, migratory existence, and victims of crimes); (3) omission (child neglect, lack of parental or cultural support for education, lack of appropriate education, and nutritional deficiencies); (4) developing conditions (changes in domestic environment, diseases, psychological problems, and socially withdrawn); (5) induced problems (adolescent sexuality and pregnancy, substance abuse, eating disorders, delinquency, gambling, self-destructive behavior, stress, and aggression); and (6) preexisting conditions (family or minority group conditions, prenatal maternal actions, learning disabilities, congenital defects, birth trauma, and educationally disadvantaged). (SV)

To examine clinical implications for using maternal language as a dimension of assessment and intervention, a linguistic and behavioral analysis was completed on a mother suspected of neglect during interaction with her 5-month-old failure-to-thrive infant. Results of the videotaped sample were compared to previous research on maternal language and a second mother addressing her medically ill infant. The verbal language of the mother suspected of neglect differed in sentence form, word content, and communicative and rhythmical aspects of speech believed to convey affect. In addition, her nonverbal behaviors differed in proximity and holding patterns. The failure-to-thrive infant's communicative behavior, compared to the second infant, differed in amount and quality of vocalization, gaze, and smile. Clinical implications are discussed, including the need to examine parent-to-child language in terms of rhythmical or prosodic patterns, endearing terms, rate of production, use of commands, exclamations, rising-falling pitch patterns, amount of pause time allowed the child, and word types. Also noted is the importance of identifying positive signalling behaviors in the infant that may encourage maternal interaction. (CL)

Presented at the University of Arizona's Symposium on "Families and Adolescents--Towards a Practical Understanding" in 1978, the paper puts forth a conceptual model of understanding which explains the breakdown of family structure as it pertains to children running away. A brief historical perspective of the phenomenon of running away is given, and the term is defined in such a way as to put some of the onus of responsibility on the parents of the child. Characteristics of runaways/throwaways and their families are reviewed. An exploratory model of the family relationships of such children is presented and includes the following conclusions: the family relationships of the runaway child are characterized by communication weaknesses that are temporary in nature and have a good clinical prognosis with proper intervention; while those of the throwaway child involve a breakdown of the fabric of the family and of family bonds, and are more serious. (DLS)

Professional educational organizations such as The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) recognize the special needs of abused and neglected children and the responsibility of the entire professional community to offer services to meet these needs. CEC is presently involved in the design of a training program for educators that combines a knowledge of school systems with an identification of critical needs and available school resources. Described are the methods used to identify these needs, the array of qualified educators available to assist in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect, and essential objectives for training. (Author/MLF)

Discussed is the implementation of the New York State Child Protective Services Act with emphasis on the implications for teachers who may be the subject of a child abuse or neglect report. (IM)

This address was delivered at a conference held at the Columbia University (New York City) Graduate School of Journalism. The decision about abortion, it was stated, involves more than the particular woman who is pregnant with an unwanted fetus. Because of the impact of unwanted children on education, crime and violence, and public costs, the society at large has a stake in the issue. The nation's ability to educate all children is being jeopardized by the large number of unwanted children whose parents fail to prepare them for school or provide them with proper and caring guidance. These children frequently display anti-social behavior and are likely to become juvenile delinquents and criminal adults. A disproportionate share of problem students, juvenile and adult offenders, and welfare recipients come from the ranks of unwanted children whose parents failed them from the start. The taxpayer must cover the high and increasing costs of public schools, prisons, and welfare. In 1988, the Michigan State legislature enacted a policy refusing access to abortion for women who were unable to pay. The number of abortions performed in the state dropped by 10,300 between 1988 and 1989, saving the state as much as $3 million. However, the costs associated with the increased numbers of babies with congenital anomalies, of babies born to teenage mothers, or of babies with low birthweight could cost the state over $400 million. Efforts that would prevent poverty and family dysfunction include: (1) ensuring that every woman, regardless of income, has access to family planning services and abortion; (2) providing intensive counseling and media-supported advocacy of responsible sexual behavior; and (3) providing the money and training needed to improve early childhood education. (AC)

Past and present family relationships of a sample of 40 women who were in treatment for childhood experiences of incest were examined. The majority of the women viewed their families-of-origin as generally unhealthy in regard to various dimensions of autonomy and intimacy. Current relationships with families-of-origin were characterized by less intimacy and more intimidation, triangulation, and fusion than in a normed group. Some of these patterns were also evident in the families-of-procreation of the women. The subjects perceived their families-of-procreation as disengaged, controlling, less active in events outside the family, conflict-ridden, and lacking in organization and emotional expressiveness. As measured by a circumplex model, a significant number of families-of-procreation were in the extreme range of family functioning. It is concluded that results shed light on the potential dysfunctional interaction patterns of incestuous families and the tendency of such patterns to be transmitted across generations. (Author/RH)

A detailed ecological model is used to develop a framework for assessing the incidence of child abuse among American Indians. Macro, exo, and micro levels of analysis are extended by the inclusion of mediating and potentiating factors that may either contribute to or ameliorate maltreatment or abuse. Abuse and its consequences are considered in terms of the context in which abuse occurs, the dynamics of the abuser and the abusive situation, and the results for the individuals and institutions involved. Initial discussion notes the difficulty of defining child abuse and outlines the interdisciplinary perspective employed. Subsequent discussion covers: (1) long-term potentiating factors of the macrosystem, with emphasis on Congress and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the education of American Indians, and foster care and adoptive placement in the social welfare system; (2) the legal macrostructure, in terms of governmental versus tribal jurisdiction and the Indian Child Welfare Act; (3) potentiating and compensatory, long-term protective factors of the exosystem; and (4) child abuse in the family microsystem. It is concluded that long-term protective factors, such as tribal and family strengths, have attenuated the impact of long-term ecological stress. Citations number 98. (RH)

Summarizing discussions held during the Second Annual Child Abuse/Neglect Conference (Houston, 1977), this paper presents the following: the historical background of the special legal relationship between the Federal and tribal governments; current tribal-state relations (emphasis on state jurisdiction, Bureau of Indian Affairs' services, and the cultural awareness of social service workers); a description of the Arizona Community Development for Abuse and Neglect (ACDAN) project (based on the philosophy that the state's most valuable resource is its people, this project includes 6 planning districts, a $250,000 annual base budget, and a core of coordinators trained intensively in child abuse/neglect, community assessment, and organizational methods); community development strategy (community development used as a method for establishing statewide resource capability re: child abuse/neglect and operationalized via the objectives of public/professional awareness, need/resource assessment, resource capacity expansion, and coordination of services); ACDAN reservation efforts (service to 17 reservations and 1,200 people via extensive planning supported by a policy of "being available when there is a need"); conclusions (the community development approach is successful because it is consistent with Native American values of cooperation, resource utilization, the extended family system, tribal self-determination, and community collaboration in the community problem solving process). (JC)

A study involving 55 abusive or neglecting families and 54 control families with children under 4 months to 2 1/2 years old was conducted to develop a battery of measures for identifying parents who have potential for abuse and/or neglect of children. Interviews, questionnaires, videotaped behavioral observations, and physiological responses were used to investigate variables such as parents' background, personality, and child rearing attitudes. Measures differentiated between the abusive group and controls on background, empathy, self concept as a parent, maternal or infant complications of pregnancy or newborn period, how parents handled irritating child behaviors, child rearing attitudes, parent-child communication, parent child interaction, parental support systems, and physiological response. (Author/SBH)

Records (1972-1982) showing documentation of abuse or neglect in 95 developmentally disabled children were examined. Information was gathered on the children's functioning level, family income, involvement of communiy services, sibling abuse, and family's general lifestyle. Results indicated that in almost every case, the families experienced serious, multiple problems, and that none was really aware of the abuse or neglect. The relationship between disability in the child and the abuse/neglect was believed to be minimal. Fragmentation of services and inability of the community to assign responsibility to one agency for coordination of services were considered major problems. (Author/CL)

Child abuse reporting statutes in all United States jurisdictions impose obligations on psychologists. Requiring psychologists to report known or suspected abuse may interfere with psychotherapy and discourage abusers from seeking therapy. Although the child abuse reporting statutes vary considerably, state statutes share common features. There has been a tendency to provide for reporting to children's protective services agencies rather than law enforcement agencies, to provide for central registries of child abuse within the state, and to broaden the reporting requirements by expanding the definition of abuse and neglect and by increasing the groups of persons required to report. It is now common to require reports from all medical personnel, social service workers, teachers and schools, and law enforcement officers. Many states require anyone suspecting or knowing of child abuse to report it. Although states vary in the definition of abuse, it generally includes physical injury, sexual molestation, emotional injury, or neglect. Failure to report and the large number of unsubstantiated reported cases suggest that there are serious problems with child abuse reporting laws. Reforms are needed which would sharpen and narrow the definition of child abuse; eliminate the reporting requirement when the information is received from an abuser seeking psychotherapy to stop the abuse; and provide a qualified immunity from prosecution for those abusers who voluntarily seek therapy. (NRB)

In order to inform policy and programs, research on child abuse must be not only methodologically rigorous, but also practically feasible. However, practical problems make child abuse research difficult to conduct. Definitions of abuse must be explicit and different types of abuse must be assessed separately. Study samples should be as representative as possible of the universe of abused children. Comparison groups of nonabused children are necessary to determine whether the effects of abuse are independent of other factors known to influence child development. These groups should be similar in life experiences and circumstances to the abused groups. Considerable attention must be given to methods for increasing response rates. Maintaining study samples over time requires diligence. These problems are by no means the only ones likely to arise, but they are common to many studies. Access to officially reported cases requires the cooperation of protective service agencies. Thus, research objectives must fit overall agency goals and findings must be useful for policy and program development. Investigators must provide cooperating agencies with reports of study findings. Although research will not solve the problem of child abuse, high caliber research is needed to build a knowledge base about the causes, correlates, and consequences of abuse that will ultimately lead to solutions. (ABL)

The report of the Second Annual National Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect (1977) contains 58 papers dealing with contextual issues and government interventions. Papers in the first section address the general focus of the conference (the role of government in strengthening the family, family life preservation, child protective services, the role of the community, the psychosocial ecology of child abuse and neglect). Papers in the second section address the following issues (sample subtopics in parentheses): family systems in society (changing family roles and structures, isolation and devaluation); cultural and cross-cultural perspectives (cultural milieu, Indian reservation community development, Mexican-American child abuse, housewife/mother's role in society, child abuse in the United Kingdom, corporal punishment in the schools, interventions); research (a practitioner's view, a behavioral perspective, treatment program evaluation); emotional abuse (emotional neglect); child neglect (labeling, accountability); prevention (recent trends, future education, prediction); public awareness (public education, misconceptions, self-referral programs); and reporting systems (use of needs and resources assessment data, central registries). Section 3 deals with the following governmental interventions: role of federal, state, and local government; legislative and legal issues (legal mechanisms for accountability, corporal punishment); and parental problems and solutions. (BD)

The predictive value of a child abuse screening instrument on unselected populations is illustrated for varying hypothesized levels of child abuse prevalence to demonstrate outcome of a hypothetical national screening program. At any level of application, the prediction of false positives (nonabusing families labeled as abusing or potentially abusing) and false negatives is seen to suggest low practical utility and an unacceptably large social cost. Varying interpretations of the meaning of this possible misclassification are discussed in the context of several program models. The following hypotheses for misclassification are posed: that subjects are really misclassified due to misdiagnosis based on either misinformation or socially induced bias; that subjects only appear misclassified because of limited ability to distinguish between types of cases; and that subjects are misclassified because diagnostic categories are overlapping (i.e. that child abuse is not a distinct category from accidents). Three short case examples demonstrate the implications of these kinds of misclassification for clinical practice program and policy. (Author/SBH)

The existence of subgroupings among runaways and whether or not there are particular characteristics that can be associated with the subgroups was investigated with 308 adolescents whose records were chosen from a runaway housing program. Ss referrals were reviewed and inventoried into three areas: runaways, castaways, and agency assists. Among findings were that of the 308 Ss studied only 30% met the National Center for Health Statistics definition for runaways (which involves leaving or staying away from home on purpose). The remainder were classified as either castaways (24% of the youth did not willingly leave home but were placed out of their homes by the parents and then reported as runaways by police or parents) or agency assists (46% were youth placed out of their home by an agency). The last two catagories suggest that parental abandonment and inadequate community aftercare facilities are a large part of the "runaway" problem. (PHR)

This publication contains the working papers from a symposium in which Africans active in the field of child welfare and protection discussed the conditions under which children are raised and the impact that this has on their future labor force participation. While this symposium was limited to the African context, it is hoped that it will mark the commencement of a longer-term research and educational program on issues of special relevance to children everywhere. The four themes considered by the participants at the symposium were: (1) workers of the future: career guidance for children and the problems of child labor; (2) the protection of children from violence, abuse, bodily harm and neglect; (3) the role of nongovernmental organizations in child protection; and (4) measures for the protection and care of children whose parents are employed outside the home. In addition to the six working papers prepared on these themes, the publication also contains the framework paper and the report of the discussions. Recommendations are included. (Author/RM)

Discussed are the child abuse reporting laws in Canada and the operation of child abuse registers. Comments on the recommendations of the House of Commons are quoted in the following areas of need: preventive services, research, statistics and information, amendment of the Canada Evidence Act and the Criminal Code, and public and professional education. A task force of voluntary organizations concerned with child abuse and neglect, as proposed by the author, is described. The bulk of the document consists of the following appendixes: a statement of the laws concerning child abuse and neglect; statistical documentation from child abuse registers; and legislative provisions and documentation relating to child abuse in the provinces, presented by province. (IM)

Provided are guidelines for educators in New York State to fulfill responsibilities mandated by the Child Protective Services Law, designed to protect abused and maltreated children, which include writing and updating the policies of the school district, actual case reporting, case coordination, in-service training programs, and general information dissemination. (IM)

This document contains working papers prepared for a seminar on Adaptation and Integration of Permanent Immigrants, along with general and specific recommendations formulated by seminar participants. Conclusions and recommendations from each paper are presented in English, French, and Spanish; the conference papers themselves are presented only in English and are as follows: "The Situation of Children of Migrants and their Adaptation and Integration in the Host Country, and their Situation in the Country of Origin" (W.A. Dumon); "Education of Migrant Children, Including Guidance and Language Training" (G. Falcki); "Sociopsychological Problems of Migrants' Children and Cultural Conflicts" (A. Eppink); "Problems Concerning Clandestine Migrant Children" (G. Rochcau); The Situation of Migrant and Refugee Children in Relation to the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child" (E. Underhill); "Resettlement in the United States of Unattached and Unaccompanied Indochinese Refugee Minors (1975-78) by Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service" (I. Walther); "Consultative Participation and the Role of Immigrants' Associations in Relation to the Country of Origin and the Host Country" (M.C. Castro Almeida); "The Migrant's Participation in the Political Life of his Country of Origin in the Context of his Integration" (J. Cases Mendez); "Participation of Migrants in the Political Life of their Country of Origin in the Context of their Adaptation (with Special Consideration of the Situation in Turkey)" (H. Pekin); "The Preservation of Immigrant Cultures" (D. Storer); and "Preservation of the Immigrants' Culture and Sharing of Cultural Values" (I.K. Lindenmayer). The document ends with a list of all information documents submitted by governments and international organizations, and a list of participants. (RDN)

Contents of this keynote address provide current information about services offered by the Administration for Children, Youth and Families (ACYF). In fiscal years 1984 and 1985, ACYF will continue with program initiatives to improve the quality and effectiveness of Head Start. In addition, ACYF has established a number of initiatives to help support American families in their child care needs. ACYF also continues to be involved in helping states and local communities improve their child care systems and services. To counter child abuse and neglect, ACYF assists states and communities in improving their prevention and treatment activities. Additionally, the organization has implemented a special-needs adoption program and administers a program under the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act. Throughout the past decade, considerable progress has been made in every aspect of children's services. In the future, while the federal government will continue to provide support, leadership at the community and the state levels will be needed. (RH)

In Part I, "Extent of Knowledge and Implications for Social Work Intervention," the following conference papers are presented: (1) "Unintended Pregnancy and Infant Mortality, Strategies and Interventions" (Alfred W. Brann, Jr.); (2) "Implications for Social Work Intervention in Biopsychosocial Factors Associated with Infant Mortality and Morbidity" (Frank B. Raymond, III); (3) "Social Work Program Efforts in Reducing Infant Mortality and Morbidity" (Gardenia B. Ruff); (4) "Theoretical Base for Social Work Intervention" (Kristine Siefert); (5) "Follow-Up of High-Risk Infants" (Eugene Perrotta); and (6) "High-Risk Infants and Child Maltreatment" (Dorothy C. Howze). Part II, "Cultural Barriers," consists of the following: (1) "Cultural Factors Associated with High-Risk Pregnancy Outcome: A Black Perspective" (Barbara S. Cambridge); (2) "Ethnic and Cultural Factors Associated with High-Risk Maternity Outcomes: A Hispanic (Mexican-American) Perspective" (Ricardo Arguijo Martinez); (3) "Ethnic and Cultural Factors Associated with High-Risk Maternity Outcomes in Southeast Asian Refugees" (Lucy Towbin); and (4) "Brief Overview of the Maternal and Child Health System, Oklahoma Area Indian Health Service" (Pamela Turner Hunt). "Care of the Handicapped Child in the Home" (M. Patricia West) and "Building Early Intervention Initiatives" (Anita Farel) are presented in Part III, "Handicapped Child." Part IV, "Bioethical Issues," consists of: (1) "The 'Baby Doe' Rule and the Care of Severely Handicapped Newborns: A Critique" (John C. Moskop); (2) "Bioethics Related to Maternal and Child Health: The Social Work Role in Technological Times" (Mary O. Holden); (3) "Parent's Rights vs. the Child's Rights for Care" (Dorothy Bon); and (4) "Critical Issues in Working with Terminally Ill Adolescents, Young Adults, and Their Families" (Patricia Wood Davis). Part V, "Advocacy," consists of: (1) "Strategies and Organization for Advocacy" (Dana Hughes); (2) "Examples of Advocacy on the State Level" (Doris J. Haar); (3) "Every Number Has a Name" (Judith K. Barber); and (4) "Healthy Children Initiative of Tennessee" (Lerlie M. Cleveland). (KM)

Presented are 10 papers given at a conference on the design and implementation of comprehensive educational programs and the delivery of related services to emotionally handicapped children. Entries include the following titles and authors: "Seriously Emotionally Disturbed Children" (J. Spence); "The Rutland Center--Developmental Therapy Model: A Practical Model for Emotionally Disturbed Children" (A. Beardsley); "Involving Parents of Severely Emotionally Disturbed Children in the Treatment Process" (R. Simpson); "Administrative, Logistical and Fiscal Considerations in the Implementation of CORBEH's (Center at Oregon for Research in the Behavioral Education of the Handicapped) Behavior Management Packages for the Remediation of Specific Classroom Behavior Disorders" (H. Walker);"The Administration of an Agency that Recognizes It Cannot Be All Things to All Children and Their Families: An Ecological Approach" (D. Hartstern); "Controlling Academic and Social Performance Using an Instructional Delivery Approach" (E. Gickling); "The Bailey Program for Severely Disturbed Adolescents" (B. McDonald and A. Evans); "Division TEACCH (Treatment and Education of Autistic, psychotic and related Communications handicapped CHildren): Toward a Statewide Network of Public School Services for the Austistic Child and His Family" (L. Marcus, et al.); "Cooperative Programing for Behavior Disordered Students: A Model Program" (C. McCormick); and "Child Abuse And Neglect: An Educational Concern" (M. McCaffrey). Among appendixes are descriptions of 24 programs serving the emotionally handicapped and a list of materials displayed at the conference. (SBH)

The unique needs of migrant farmworkers concerning prevention of child abuse and neglect both at home and at work are presented as the focus of a group of nine workshops. Complex problems facing migrants and their families are discussed in depth in sessions covering services, for pre-school and school aged children, special children, emergency services, health services, mental health services, housing, employment opportunities, and legal services. All workshop findings are summarized and four recommendations are analyzed: (1) increased coordination of programs; (2) increased service provisions; (3) increased continuity of service; and (4) a strong migrant advocacy. Appended are specific goals and recommendations by participants--individuals with expertise in migrant housing, employment, social services, health, etc. Among these are: to improve continuity of pre-school services to identify suspected neglect and abuse cases among migrant children as they move from area to area; to provide better outreach and utilization of educational services; to develop a uniform statutory definition of migrant farmworkers; and to encourage health providers to operate within the existing family structure of the farmworker by taking advantage of existing resources in delivery of health care. (AN)

The conference papers and discussions presented in this volume convey current information and are intended to serve as a guide for intervention by health professionals and others involved with high-risk parenting situations. High-risk parenting is defined as a social condition in which normal patterns of parent/child behavior and interaction are disturbed. Contents focus on two major issues: (1) how interventions associated with the parenting process can be more effectively managed to help the child at risk and (2) the increasing recognition of the need for more effective communication between child health professionals and parents. Specifically, the volume includes sections devoted to three topic areas. Part I focuses on successful parenting, emphasizing basic adaptations, the black community, and factors in predicting success. Articles presented in part II discuss numerous concerns, including pregnancy, adolescent mothers, medically impaired infants, parents of the premature infant or child lost by death, pediatric social illnesses, and child abuse and neglect. Discussion in part III focuses on prevention of high-risk parenting outcomes and describes an intervention program and perinatal coaching. Summaries are provided following each section, and an appendix detailing funding and cost-benefit analysis of services for high-risk families and infants is included. (BJD)

Using data from a sample of 3,826 respondents in rural and urban areas in a mid-western state, the current study explores the relationship between individual and community characteristics and the provision of helping behavior in the context of observed child neglect. Data from the Community Context of Rural and Urban Child Neglect telephone survey are analyzed in a series of logistic regression models. The analyses show that individual and contextual characteristics influence not only who observes a case of child neglect, but also what type of helping behavior, if any, the bystander chooses to provide. Age, gender, place of residence, and sentinel status are all found to have a significant effect, as are the level of role overlap, cohesion, comfort, and belongingness perceived to exist in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]