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In the United Kingdom, professionals are not legally required to report suspected cases of child abuse. The Children Act (1989) specified that local authorities have a duty to safeguard the welfare of children, but did not make reporting mandatory. It identified specific tasks for teachers in the process of reporting and established joint communication between schools and social service departments. The act moved schools and teachers to acknowledge the responsibility they have in child protection. Government guidelines recommended that schools appoint a staff member who would have responsibility for coordinating action within the school and form the liaison with other agencies. Major concerns voiced by teachers about these directives include: (1) the need for more communication with social service departments; (2) a lack of knowledge about procedures for new teachers; (3) differences of opinion between teachers and social workers about the child's experience of abuse; and (4) an increase in the number of cases for teachers to handle without an increase in supportive services. The paper suggests that for the process to be successful, teachers must feel confident in knowing what to look for in child abuse, social workers must respect the professional judgment of teachers, and structures must be in place to facilitate referrals. (Contains 28 references.) (JDM)

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)

There has been widespread acceptance of the principles of family preservation as congruent with the best interests of children in situations of abuse and neglect. This paper discusses the "best interest" ideas articulated by Joseph Goldstein, Anna Freud, and Albert Solnit in the books "Before the Best Interests of the Child" and "Beyond the Best Interests of the Child." The paper compares those ideas with the principles underlying child welfare decision-making. These principles are: reasonable efforts, permanency planning, and the least restrictive alternative. The paper addresses some of the problems in the implementation of these principles, particularly as manifested in the family preservation ideal. The backlash against family preservation is considered, and some considerations for the reform of the child welfare system are suggested. (JPB)

Representing the accumulated expertise of the Spanish Speaking/Surnamed (SS/S) multi-disciplined service provider network, this position paper is designed to focus national, state, and local attention to the Latino/Chicano child abuse and neglect (ca/n) problems and on the bilingual/bicultural resources needed to improve the degree and type of response to ca/n within the Latino community. A brief overview of the state of the art of the ca/n field and the SS/S population discusses child abuse systems and their problems, dynamics of child abuse in the Latino community, family dynamics/family stress, role of the court and protective services, alternative models/bilingual-bicultural resources, demographic profile of the Latino population regarding child abuse risk, and multiple high risk factors faced by SS/S people (e.g., health, emotional, intellectual, and cultural hazards). Among 25 specific recommendations on how ca/n systems can become more responsive to SS/S people are: that a network of bilingual/bicultural referral services be established, advocated for, and sponsored by the state and county ca/n service network and that alternative responses be considered, e.g., bilingual/bicultural manpower resources, family oriented crisis intervention services, and parents as resources. Resolutions presented by the National Chicano/Latino Caucus and the California Latino Federation of Child Abuse and Neglect Councils at the conference are appended. (NQA)

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, first in a series of special reports concerning disability and the family, presents a review of the relationship between abuse and disabilities, arguing that roughly 25 percent of all disabilities are caused by child or spousal abuse. A national survey revealed that 12 states have legislation addressing these issues, and the paper includes excerpts, with comments from the relevant statutes of each of these states. The states are: Alaska, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming; a 13th state, California, has pending legislation. Recommended components of model legislation are identified. The paper also provides a synopsis of a literature search investigating incidence, prevalence and extent of disability caused by abuse and neglect. An analysis of associated fiscal costs is provided suggesting the cost effectiveness of greater prevention efforts. Finally, observations are made regarding the need for a national program to confront this problem. (Contains 60 references.) (PB)

The number of young children who have suffered from maltreatment has risen in recent years. This paper describes the negative neurological, psychological, and cognitive effects from this maltreatment. Interventions that can prevent abuse and neglect and promote resilience in the child victims are examined and discussed. The paper concludes by calling for concerned citizens to advocate for preventive efforts that promote resilience in child victims. (Contains 27 references.) (Author/HTH)

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)

This curriculum was designed to provide teachers of psychology in secondary schools with information concerning teaching about child maltreatment. The materials contain information about child abuse and neglect that they can incorporate into their teaching. The curriculum contains a procedural outline that includes five lesson plans targeting the major content areas in the field of child maltreatment. The topics include: (1) definitions and rates of child maltreatment; (2) factors associated with child maltreatment; (3) the effects associated with child maltreatment; (4) responding to child maltreatment; and (5) preventing child maltreatment. Teaching actions, discussion questions, and group activities are given for each area. An extensive resource list is included, which cites 8 films on physical abuse; 12 films on child sexual abuse; 4 films on child neglect; 10 Web sites on child abuse; and 20 titles of books for young adults on child abuse. (JDM)

Despite legal mandates that educators report their suspicions concerning abuse and neglect of their students, professionals fail to report their suspicions. In the present research, all schools in South Australia were surveyed to explore educators' experiences with mandatory notification training and school reporting practices. The purpose was to ascertain what led educators to report or not to report suspicions of child abuse and neglect. The sample (n=328) was made up of classroom teachers and educators in leadership positions. Findings are reported in three parts: the current mandatory notification situation for educators; the difficulties affecting educators' reporting practices; and strategies for improved reporting practices. It is time to review child protection practices in the light of a continued increase in child abuse and neglect statistics. This paper posits the view that improved professional development and positive and collaborative work with supportive leaders can assist the reporting practices of educators by confronting the personal and professional dilemmas associated with under-reporting. (Contains 38 references.) (MKA)

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.

This paper summarizes findings of a 3-year study of the job satisfaction and turnover of home visitors, both professional and paraprofessional, in programs which link families-at-risk for impaired functioning to medical home care and other resources. Specifically, the study examined: (1) home visitor personal characteristics that influence turnover; (2) organizational characteristics that influence job satisfaction and turnover; and (3) the interaction between the home visitor and the organization. The study involved three survey interviews with all (N=46) home visitors employed in a well-established child abuse and neglect prevention program. The survey instrument evaluated the following individual and organizational constructs: satisfaction with work, supervision and pay; overall job satisfaction; positive or negative affectivity; affect toward the home visitor role; satisfaction with life; locus of control; self-esteem; trust versus cynicism; belief in a just world; belief in a benevolent world; neuroticism; dysfunctional thinking; adult attachment; perceptions of work characteristics; and burnout. Responses were analyzed in terms of actual turnover. Job "leavers" were more likely than job "stayers" to report feeling "upset," had higher self-efficacy scores, expressed greater overall satisfaction than "stayers," were less satisfied with pay, and were less satisfied with supervision. (Contains 19 references.) (DB)

The Neglect Scale was designed as a measure of neglect of children's basic needs by caretakers. It measures neglect of physical, emotional, supervisory, and cognitive needs. The version of the Neglect Scale described in this report can be used in interview or questionnaire format with adolescents to describe their current situations or with adults to describe neglect when they were growing up. Preliminary psychometric data based on a college student sample (340 to 359 students) is presented for the full 20-item scale, including the 4 subscales, and for 8-item and 4-item short forms. These preliminary data indicate that the Neglect Scale has a high level of internal consistency reliability. Evidence is also presented in support of construct validity. Limitations of the Neglect Scale are discussed, and modifications that enable the scale to be used with a variety of populations are described. An attachment presents the scale. (SLD)

This study examined differences between maltreated and non-maltreated children in their perception of parental figures and explored differential perceptions of maternal and paternal figures. Using the Test for Detection of Parental Violence (TDPV), 22 maltreated 4- to 7-year-olds referred by Youth Protection Services were compared to 22 non-maltreated children recruited from preschools and kindergartens. The two groups were matched on age, gender, family income, employment status of parents, and family structure. The TDPV used six maternal pictures and four paternal pictures to elicit stories from the child interpreting situations in which the parental figure and a child interact. Children's stories were audiotaped, transcribed, and blind-scored, yielding scores for Parental Positive Behaviors and Parental Negative Behaviors for both mothers and fathers. Results indicated that maltreated children had a more negative perception of their parents than did non-maltreated children. Both groups showed different perceptions of maternal and paternal figures. Mother figure cards elicited more answers than father figure cards. The maltreated group perceived their parents as more aggressive, punitive, neglecting, and controlling than did non-maltreated children. Maltreated children saw their mother as more neglecting than their father. Non-maltreated children viewed their parents as having more positive affects and providing more explanations and saw their fathers as providing more caregiving than did maltreated children. (KDFB)

This paper constructs a multi-systemic picture of the impact of family violence on children, families, and society through a review of the empirical literature in these areas and their inter-relationships. Findings from the review include: (1) the experience of physical abuse has been associated with aggression toward others, children who have been sexually abused have been shown to exhibit more maladaptive sexual behavior, and children who have been psychologically abused experience low self-esteem; (2) infants and young children who have been physically abused have been found to play less when compared with nonabused infants and show less positive affect; (3) 82 percent of men who had witnessed parental spouse abuse in one study were also victims of child abuse; (5) children who have been physically abused have been found to display poor school adjustment and academic performance; (6) children who have been physically neglected have been reported to manifest more behavior problems and have greater school difficulties; and (8) students with delinquency referral have been found to have higher rates of abuse. (Contains 37 references.) (CR)

This paper discusses the results of a study that investigated the effectiveness of a demonstration program designed to provide in-home intervention with parents and children in families with substance abuse issues. The goals of the program were to prevent further child abuse or neglect, prevent family breakdown and child placement, and facilitate substance abuse treatment for caregivers. Data were collected on 138 participating families referred to the program by the local public child welfare agency or from a hospital-sponsored drug treatment center that treated many parents living in the program's catchment area. Findings from the study underscored the challenges of assisting parents who are at high risk for child maltreatment to accept and sustain addictions treatment. While the program was successful in encouraging a large number of parents/caregivers to enter substance abuse treatment programs, the treatment dropout rate was high, particularly among those who did not avail themselves of additional support from the day care program. On the other hand, 67 percent of participants either completed treatment, or dropped out and returned to treatment while participating in the demonstration program. (Contains 12 references.) (CR)

This conference paper discusses the results of a study that investigated the characteristics and needs of mothers participating in Hawaii's Healthy Start Program (HSP). The HSP is a screening and outreach program with two components: (1) the early identification component, which consists of community-based screening to identify newborns at environmental risk for child abuse and neglect and (2) the Home Visiting component, which consists of in-home counseling by trained paraprofessionals. The evaluation focused on six geographically defined communities on Oahu that are served by HSP program sites and included a sample of 664 participants. Results indicated: (1) most mothers qualify for the state's health coverage program, which is targeted to low-income families; (2) half of the mothers received WIC while pregnant; (3) 18 percent reported problems with their current living situation; (4) 20 percent reported they will need help finding a job or work training; (5) 40 percent reported needing help arranging child care to return to work or school; and (6) 95 percent of the mothers were classified as being in poor mental health. (Contains 22 references.) (CR)

Of the 2.5 million reported cases of child abuse and neglect reported in 1990, 9 percent involved emotional abuse. However, unclear guidelines on what constitutes emotional abuse make it difficult for school nurses to intervene over suspected abuse. This paper describes the development of an instrument that defines emotional maltreatment in operational terms and that can be used by school nurses. Members (N=174) of a state nurse's association were surveyed in order to describe their opinions on referral of school-age children to social service agencies for emotional maltreatment. An adaptation of an instrument of 16 parental behavior clusters that operationally defines emotional maltreatment was used. The questionnaire adapted for this research asked if school nurses "would" or"would not" refer parents or guardians to local social service agencies for the 16 emotional maltreatment examples described in the survey. The nurses' personal characteristics were then correlated with the questionnaire. The percentage of nurses that "would refer" the parental examples ranged from 51 percent to 99 percent. Three of the 16 examples were rated referable by 99 percent of the nurses. A school nurse's experience had no apparent influence on how the nurse answered and a child's race or gender did not affect referral rate. Included in appendixes are a sample questionnaire and Operational Definitions of Emotional Maltreatment of School-Age Children. Contains 37 references. (RJM)