Published by the Australian Institute of Family Studies
ISSN 1320-2871
Coordinator : Judy Adams
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In this Issue
"We support young mothers to care for their children, and young mothers, children and young people who are in domestic violence situations. In our communities a lot of abuse occurs in families through alcohol, gambling and substance abuse. Petrol sniffing and marijuana are big problems. "We support the children and their mothers to be in a safe place. In the communities there are very limited services for women and children. There are no safe houses or women’s shelters and there is insufficient policing. Our communities rely on the local Aboriginal Police Aides and it’s hard for them. They are often compromised by family obligations or the situation is too big for them to handle. Sometimes you have to wait for a police officer to arrive and they can be up to seven hours’ drive away."NPY Domestic Violence worker Daisy Ward notes: "We actively encourage DV victims to press charges as well as to seek out support networks. In some cases, there is no other course of action but to go to court." NPY’s role in supporting children who have been involved in abusive situations has been born of necessity. It does not receive specific funding for receiving child abuse referrals and is self-taught in responding to child protection cases. NPY adopts a holistic approach in meeting the needs of children who have been abused or are at risk of abuse. As well as managing the needs of the children and their families, NPY has begun to take on a greater role in its member communities in order to raise awareness of child abuse and neglect among families and service providers. The aim is to increase the immediate and long-term safety of children in this region. NPY says that, historically, child abuse has not been widely reported in this region. There are a number of factors contributing to this, including poor responses from authorities and welfare agencies, few interventions or programs, and a fear that children will be taken away or family members blamed. NPY is slowly breaking the silence on child abuse in these communities, and is encouraging families to seek help and develop strategies that will assist in preventing this abuse from occurring in their homes and local communities. NPY challenges the idea and myth that child abuse is acceptable or doesn’t exist, or that it is too culturally sensitive to talk about. NPY also takes an active role in the prosecution of offenders and other official procedures connected with the reporting of child abuse. NPY staff network with the police, health clinics, Family and Youth Services in South Australia, and Family and Children’s Services in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. While NPY believes the Awards are a useful means of raising the profile of child abuse prevention in Australia, Anderson is quick to point out that the issue is still not adequately addressed in central Australia:
"We can talk about these problems but you really have to be there to understand it properly. Anangu (Aboriginal people) on our communities live with these problems every day and it’s time that people started listening to us when we talk about the need to protect and look after kids. "Our children matter. Their lives, safety and wellbeing must be protected. A child who has been abused in an isolated area is entitled to the same support and protection as a child in an urban area."
Indigenous Culture
"These families have tried other support programs, but they haven’t succeeded in helping them to change. The families use a service for support, but in many cases that support depends on certain guidelines. When these families break those guidelines, it’s difficult for the services to continue to support them. "Our program is different because we don’t pass judgement. We don’t say that the family has to do this or that to get our help, as some other agencies have to do. It’s this, the individual attention we’re able to pay, and the ability of the families to decide which problems they want to address and when, that I think has resulted in the great success we’ve had."The Project has helped families to make positive changes to their circumstances and to increase the quality of life of the children and young people in those families. Some of the changes observed include a decrease in the number and severity of child abuse notifications, decreased use of drug and alcohol, decreased gambling and domestic violence, increased stability in accommodation, and the paying back of debts. Also noted have been changes in the behaviour of children. Children of families involved in the project have notably improved their attendance at school. There have also been improvements in their general health and well-being, with less need for medical attention for minor conditions and improved management of more serious illnesses such as asthma. Fewer children have needed to be removed from their parents’ care than would likely be the case without the support of the Project. In addition, many children who were removed previously have since returned to their families as a result of improved family conditions resulting from Project interventions.
Highly Commended:
The Rekindling the Spirit Project The Rekindling the Spirit Project provides programs and support for Aboriginal families affected by abuse in the Lismore region of New South Wales. The Project has been operating since early 1998, and focuses on educating the community on the vital role that Aboriginal men have in raising their children, and on providing support programs for young people affected by, or at risk of, physical, emotional or substance abuse. The service is operated by Aboriginal staff whose functions are monitored by an advisory group and elders. Government agencies such as Health, Probation and Parole, Department of Community Services and Education provide additional funding and support without detracting from the Aboriginal prerogatives of the service. Greg Telford is Coordinator for Rekindling the Spirit. He states that he has been through similar things to the people he helps through the Project, and attributes much of its success to the fact that the workers can relate to the situations of the families and men involved."It’s quite common for people who have been helped by the program to come and work for us. The trust element is so important in these situations and if people feel they are talking to someone who can relate to them it makes it much easier for them to come back."Anthony Franks, Chairperson of the Rekindling the Spirit Advisory Committee, says the project is all about getting people to believe in themselves and embrace the spirit within. He states:
"We want people to be brave and strong, admit they made mistakes and show they can be better people, parents and members of society. We encourage men of all ages to take part in our activities including the Aboriginal Men’s Group, where men can speak of their experiences and take responsibility for their actions. "We also run an Aboriginal Alcoholics Anonymous, father and son camps where stories are told and fathers are taught to parent their child, and high school programs to support Aboriginal boys affected by abuse."
The Rekindling the Spirit Project is the first service of its kind for Aboriginal men in Australia. It has been received very positively by the local Lismore community, and its work is beginning to be known across the country.
Highly Commended:
The Muthi Miah Aboriginal Family Preservation Program The Muthi Miah Aboriginal Family Preservation Program is run by the Victorian Department of Human Services. It assists Aboriginal families whose children are at risk of harm from abuse or neglect. The Program helps strengthen existing family practices and is one of the few services throughout the country which reaches Indigenous members of the community with traditional communication methods. The Program works to keep Aboriginal families together with the safety of children and young people being of primary importance. Program Coordinator Danny Kelly notes that staff have worked hard to adapt a program that was culturally appropriate. This has led to the development of the Message Stick Document, which uses traditional tools of communication in a manner that equates with family preservation. Senior Caseworker Elvie Kelly says the message stick approach has been used with families during the last 12 months. Feedback has suggested that this process works extremely well with Aboriginal families:"The focus on traditional Indigenous ways helps case workers make a connection with families allowing them to work through problems as their ancestors did."
Highly Commended:
The National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect The National Association for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect (NAPCAN) is a non-profit, volunteer-based organisation. Its aim is to create a national focus on the prevention of child abuse and neglect. It has been given this award for its collaborative work with artist Tex Skuthorpe. A series of six "Story Posters" and accompanying stories, initially developed for Child Protection Week 2000, have been used in a variety of ways to highlight the importance of child protection, respect, diversity, tolerance and learning. The posters and stories use traditional Indigenous art and stories to address issues including child abuse and domestic violence, learning and respect, nutrition, appreciating difference, the role of men and boys, and learning through play and communication. More than 150,000 free posters have been distributed by NAPCAN to families, schools, isolated Aboriginal communities and health, welfare and educational organisations across Australia. The posters have been used in a variety of ways, forming the basis of training programs in prisons as well as domestic violence prevention programs. Jean Lombard, National Coordinator of NAPCAN Australia, states that "these resources really highlight the value of traditions, particularly when behaviour is concerned. It’s a way of getting people communicating and helping people to change behaviour".Volunteering
Winner: Aunties & Uncles Co-operative Family Project Ltd. Aunties & Uncles Co-operative Family Project Ltd. is a registered charity that connects volunteer families with socially and emotionally disadvantaged children. Through this project hundreds of children have benefited from involvement in a sustained and stable family relationship. Aunties & Uncles began in the 1970s when Rose White, a community member with a background working with street kids, began taking children from Ultimo (then central Sydney) for visits to her Terrey Hills farm. These children were facing hardship and involved in street gangs. Through her kindness, they were shown a different way of life to the one they had known. From this informal beginning, Aunties & Uncles has become a formal program connecting families to children in the Sydney metropolitan area, the New South Wales Central Coast, Wollongong, Nowra and Brisbane, with plans to expand the service to Canberra and Melbourne in 2002. According to the Project’s Chief Executive Officer, Dorothy Hall, there is interest in Aunties & Uncles across Australia. Volunteer "aunties" and "uncles" can be either individuals or part of a volunteer family. The Project conducts face-to-face interviews with the "aunty" or "uncle", screening them for their suitability as well as their likes and dislikes, interests and lifestyle. Project coordinators then match an "aunty" or "uncle" to a disadvantaged child with similar interests."We’re looking for them to have things in common and matching interests. We don’t just place children anywhere as we’re looking for long-term placements", notes Hall. In most cases they’re achieving long-term placements and many families remain in contact long after the initial one-year requisite period, with the majority of relationships lasting more than five years.The Aunties & Uncles program provides benefits to all involved, but particularly children who come from families of significant hardship. Often the parents of these children lack positive parenting skills and/or the emotional energy to maintain good boundaries and a stable family environment. The Aunties & Uncles Area Co-ordinators work with these families, offering counselling, friendship and encouragement, and proactively building on their parenting skills. Parents are also referred on to professional services as required.
"Many of the children are third or fourth generation welfare families and don’t know anything else. They don’t know about what it means to get a job and be working. Some of them have never seen a toothbrush, or eaten at a dinner table."By spending time with their volunteer "aunties" and "uncles", the children experience an everyday, stable relationship, as well as regular respite, friendship and guidance. This increases the child’s self-esteem, provides time out and stress reduction, and brings a sense of normality when other areas of their life may be in turmoil. In the International Year of the Volunteer, the recognition of the success of these volunteers in child abuse prevention is even more fitting.
"We’re very proud of our volunteers, whose efforts enhance the well-being of children and work in a preventative way minimising the risk of child abuse and neglect", "says Lee. "We are also able to help them enhance their skills and move on to further education and paid work."
"[The] level of commitment and the nature of their volunteering tends to be very different to that of other volunteers because it is done in their home. As a foster carer, you might get a call at two in the morning, and be asked to provide emergency care for a child who arrives with nothing but the clothes on their back."
"Over half the calls received each year by DoCS are from people seeking information, advice or help with the task of parenting. On top of that, nearly 90% of reports to DoCS in 1999—2000 did not relate to child abuse or neglect but to problems about parenting and family relationships."The campaign was developed by drawing on existing research, strategies and materials used in other States, such as South Australia and Queensland, and from experts in the field. Four magazines (and a complementary website) were developed: Parenting the most important job in the world; Caring for babies and toddlers (0—5 years); Caring for children (6—12 years); and The teenage years (13—18 years). Also produced was an Indigenous parenting calendar to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families had access to culturally-appropriate parenting information. A Dad’s morning tea was also held. Boland notes that the demand for practical parenting information is consistently growing, with DoCS now having issued more than two million copies of their popular parenting magazine series:
"The fact that over two million magazines have been distributed in just over two years shows that the demand for information is out there, and it is only going to get bigger. "Parents are notoriously reluctant to discuss difficulties or to seek help, even when it is clearly warranted. Parents are telling us they have implemented tips from the magazines and have found them very useful. This campaign has helped parents realise they are not alone, and that help, support and advice is out there."Following the campaign’s success, DoCS was recently given a grant of $125,000 to develop the campaign further by concentrating on specific issues discussed in the magazines, such as safety in the home. The grant will also extend the scope of the website as an interactive medium through which kids can learn through games and quizzes, and parents can participate in chat forums.
"Information like this is absolutely crucial to parents. The magazines, the website and parenting information days have provided parents with a wealth of non-threatening practical and accessible information that could make the journey a little easier and hopefully less stressful."
Copies of the magazine can be found on the DoCS website: http://www.community.nsw.gov.au
"Looking After Children ensures participation of, and partnership between, carers, social workers, residential workers, parents and children. Care Plans and Review Meeting decisions are developed conjointly and endorsed by social workers, children and their carers. Accountability is a hallmark of the LAC Project. Individuals are made openly accountable for their actions by having to meet the Looking After Children requirements, increasing safety and quality outcomes for children in care."Elizabeth Fernandez, of the School of Social Work, University of New South Wales, says that the outcomes from the Looking After Children Project are positive in moving practice towards a proactive developmental focus and identifying children in care who need help. She further notes:
"The approach is child-centred and addresses a wide spectrum of children’s developmental needs. It allows carers and service providers to track a child’s progress through the care system, even when the child moves to different placements. Assessments made move with the child, are easily updated and never duplicated."An Australian Research Council (ARC) Collaborative Grant awarded to Barnardos Australia and (Dr) Elizabeth Fernandez provided impetus and funded the adaptation of Looking After Children materials to Australian legislation and practice, the development of the Australian Looking After Children Training Pack, and research associated with monitoring outcomes. In her final report to the ARC, Fernandez notes that "since 1997 to the present, the Looking After Children project has given over 40 presentations nationally and internationally benefiting non-government child welfare agencies and statutory departments". There are currently nine New South Wales agencies, six in the Australian Capital Territory and two agencies in Victoria using the expertise and support of the LAC Project to implement Looking After Children. The achievements of the LAC Project have merited further federal funding through an ARC Linkage Grant enabling the project to expand its focus to prevention and research into the needs of vulnerable parents and children at risk who have not yet entered the care system. Fernandez states:
"This grant is validation that the project has made a positive contribution to the field and enables us to undertake further research and develop products, services and support systems to ensure children in the care system achieve quality outcomes and remain safe."
"We have a theatre company, two self-defence instructors, and two creative arts therapists, as well as a number of other presenters who run our workshops", notes Michaelson. "There are also specialist male presenters, as some of the boys feel more comfortable talking with a male worker about their issues."The workshops for both the adults and the children provide information on the extent of child abuse and techniques to deal with it, as well as preventative information on how to avoid unsafe situations and on indicators that a child may have been abused. For children who have been the victims of sexual abuse or other trauma, CSAPP offers support programs and counselling services for them and their families. A retreat at "Tuloy" provides healing-based and recreational activities, and has also proven to be particularly successful. Michaelson explains:
"When children are sexually abused, their self-esteem is affected so badly. Through the counselling and creative art therapies, we help rebuild the foundations of self-worth. They then go to the retreat and see for real that they have nothing to feel embarrassed or ashamed about. That in fact they are very courageous and strong individuals. They also get to have fun — an essential part of the healing."CSAPP’s success in teaching techniques in the prevention of child abuse and in helping children who have been the victims of abuse, has led to it working internationally to replicate its model in developing countries. While the fight for funding and the difficult nature of the work is a constant battle, Dr Michaelson has no regrets:
"I’d do it all again, if just for one little child to be helped. In this job you see the darkest side of human nature. But to see the little lives whose potential could have been stolen from them regain that potential and become happy and have a childhood — it makes it all worth it."
"By giving parents the chance to play with and understand their children, we work to lift the status of the children. In time, mothers begin to bond and start to see their children as being a joy, rather than a burden."
Valuing Cultural Diversity
Winner: Education Centre Against Violence "Big Shame" Video In 1999 the New South Wales Health Department’s statewide training organisation, Education Centre Against Violence (ECAV), released "Big Shame", a video and booklet that raises awareness of child sexual abuse through a dramatisation. ECAV has won this award for the enormous impact of the video in improving the level of openness and discussion about child sexual abuse among Aboriginal communities. The "Big Shame" video and booklet targets Indigenous and non-Indigenous professionals who work with Aboriginal communities, including health, community and legal workers, as well as psychologists, counsellors, child protection workers, police and Aboriginal community liaison officers. The workers can show the video during Indigenous community meetings such as family violence support groups, mother-daughter camps, or at women’s refuges. After viewing the video, the workers begin to generate discussion and provide assistance to families and communities. According to Pam Swinfield, Director of ECAV, "Big Shame" shows the seriousness of child sexual assault and the difficulties facing a family and community where sexual abuse is happening."‘Big Shame’ builds a story of an Indigenous family as they experience child sexual abuse issues," says Swinfield. "To finish the video, we deliberately left the ending of the story open to promote discussion about a range of possible endings including solutions to the problem."The booklet accompanying the video provides practical tools for professionals dealing with responses from families and children, and for generating discussion. It also provides guidelines on the types of behaviours that may be exhibited by abused children, offender tactics, their own legal responsibilities and information on issues facing adult survivors of abuse. The success of "Big Shame" is attributed to the fact that it breaks the silence surrounding child sexual abuse and family violence, and is culturally appropriate for Aboriginal communities.
"This issue is compounded for Indigenous communities because of the history of trauma related to the experiences of colonisation, racism and the stolen generations. There are cultural references in the video that non-Indigenous people just don’t pick up. I think that’s why the video has been so successful — it’s been created by Aboriginal staff in consultation with the Aboriginal communities to get those cultural perspectives."The video also addresses the sensitive issue that the perpetrator can be anyone in the community, even Aboriginal elders:
"To raise the issue that even elders can be the perpetrators of abuse was a very powerful step. For Indigenous communities this is a similar issue [to that] within the church, as it is presenting the possibility that the abuser may be a person of power and respect in the community."The video has been received positively both by Indigenous communities and by elders, and orders have exceeded ECAV’s expectations:
"We were surprised at how little negative response we received, but I think it’s because the video fits in with the experiences that the people in these communities have had."
"It is a way of providing an opportunity for parents to reflect on cultural differences and, in particular, differences in parenting styles, so they can make informed decisions about their parenting. The idea is to provide them with more flexibility and a wider range of parenting strategies."The program has been successfully trialed with members of the Croatian, Chinese and Samoan communities in Canberra, and has proven extremely effective in helping parents to parent across cultures confidently. The strength of the program lies in the fact that it supports parents, assists them to balance different cultures, and enables them to develop and maintain strong and positive relationships with their school-age children.
A survey was placed on the Clearinghouse webpage in December 1998 to gain insight into which features of the site were found useful by visitors.
The following table shows the results of a collection of web feedback forms from 409 respondents. The scoring was as follows:
1=of no use; 2=of slight use; 3=useful; 4=very useful; 5=essential.
Results show that respondents have rated all features as "useful", with the full-text publications, web links, programs database and organisation directory and bibliographies being most highly valued.
Aboriginal families
Indigenous families and the welfare system: the Yuendumu community case study, stage two,
by Y. Musharbash, Canberra, ACT, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR), Australian National University, 2001.In 1998, CAEPR commenced research for the Children and Welfare Project, as negotiated with the Indigenous Policy Unit (IPU) of the Department of Family and Community Services (DFACS). The project aims to provide a longitudinal study into the factors influencing the service delivery of social security income support payments to Indigenous families for the care of their children. This Discussion Paper presents the findings of the first follow-up survey (referred to as Stage Two) undertaken at Yuendumu in 2000. In line with issues raised in the original terms of reference and the earlier stages of the project, the focus is on mobility and consequent changes in membership and composition of households, and the related policy and service delivery issues. The paper presents an ethnographic and statistical exploration of intra-community mobility. It relates mobility to factors underlying everyday life in Yuendumu — i.e. the sharing of food, money and other resources within social networks — and the implications of these for policy and the delivery of welfare services. The paper concludes with further consideration of the recommendations made in the earlier stage of the project. It provides a more detailed elaboration of particular issues related to policy and more appropriate payment structures for Indigenous welfare recipients, and formulates relevant ideas for future action.
Indigenous families and the welfare system: the Kuranda community case study, stage two,
by R. Henry & A. Daly, Canberra, ACT, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR), Australian National University, 2001.This discussion paper presents the results from the second year (Stage Two) of the Kuranda community case study for the project on Indigenous families and the welfare system. Twenty-nine key reference people were interviewed about the factors influencing the delivery of welfare income by government to Indigenous families for the care of children. It was found that families and households remain highly dependent on income support. The key role played by older women in the care of children was emphasised once again. The results emphasise the importance of the extended family network in the care of children, and raise a number of important issues for policy and service delivery. The fact that child care is family based rather than household based needs to be recognised in the delivery of services to children. Many children have multiple carers who are in need of financial support for the period in which they are responsible for a child. There therefore needs to be flexibility in the arrangements so that the relevant family payments are going to the person actually caring for a child. The paper emphasises the need for a holistic approach to delivering assistance to children. This includes the importance of increasing the opportunities for employment and training among Indigenous adults, of providing recreational and support facilities for young people, and of facilitating the interaction between Indigenous people and the welfare system.
Indigenous families, welfare and work: survey results from two community case studies,
by D. Smith & A. Daly, Australian Journal of Labour Economics, vol.4, no.2, Jun 2000—2001, pp.99—109.Given their ongoing economic disadvantage, many Indigenous families are long-term dependents on social security income support. Their well-being continues to be a critical challenge for government and Indigenous organisations. The paper presents an analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from the first year of a longitudinal survey conducted in two Indigenous communities. A range of factors are identified which influence the effectiveness and appropriateness of delivery of income transfers to Indigenous families for the care of their children (focusing on Parenting Payment and Family Allowance). Survey data on the extent of "welfare dependence" being experienced by Indigenous families are analysed, and the nature of household economies described. The interaction between the Community Development Employment Projects scheme (a work-for-the-dole scheme) and the welfare economies operating within Indigenous households is discussed. In the context of the Federal Government’s welfare reform agenda, the paper outlines recommendations for fine-tuning policy and service delivery to address the economic and culturally based realities facing Indigenous families.
The record is wrong sometimes,
by F. Chaney, QCOSS Bulletin, May 2001, pp.16—17.In response to arguments by Peter Howson in The Canberra Times in February that the conclusions of the "Bringing Them Home Report" cannot be substantiated because cases cited in the report were "subject to legal procedures to ensure that the children needed protection", or included a "requirement that an inquiry to establish it was in the moral or physical welfare of the child" and that in any case the removal "was appealable to a court by parents", Fred Chaney related his personal experience of the context of the welfare and legal systems of the time.
Adolescents at risk for mistreating their children, part I: prenatal identification,
by C. Stevens-Simon, D. Nelligan & L. Kelly, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.25, no.6, Jun 2001, pp.737—51.The aim of this study was to determine if the Family Stress Checklist helps prenatal care providers identify adolescent mothers who are at risk of maltreating their children. Findings indicated that the use of the Family Stress Checklist will help identify a subgroup of mothers at risk of child maltreatment and in need of additional support services.
Adolescents at risk for mistreating their children, part II: a home- and clinic-based prevention program, by C. Stevens-Simon, D. Nelligan & L. Kelly, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.25, no.6, Jun 2001, pp.753—69.
In this study an intensive home visitation component was added to an adolescent-oriented maternity program for at-risk mothers. The study found that this intensive home visitation intervention did not alter the incidence of child maltreatment for this group. A parenting program that was more inclusive of the support network may be more effective with adolescent parents. The findings emphasise the importance of counselling services that are specifically designed to prevent adolescent mothers from abandoning their children.
Child care practice innovations: using a model of change to develop training strategies,
by J. Horwath, Child Abuse Review, vol.10, no.1, Jan—Feb 2001, pp.18—34.This paper explores how managers and trainers in children’s services can best manage change and introduce innovations into the workplace. The "Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and Their Families" is used as an example test case of how a model of change can be implemented through training.
The Memorandum of Good Practice: theory versus application,
by K. Sternberg, M. Lamb & G. Davies, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.25, no.5, May 2001, pp.669—81.The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of investigative forensic interviews in England and Wales since the implementation of the Memorandum of Good Practice. The Memorandum specified how the interviews of alleged child abuse victims should be conducted. Findings showed that the Memorandum has had little impact on the practices of forensic interviewers. The authors suggest that further training is needed for the forensic interviewers so that the superior practices outlined in the Memorandum can be properly implemented.
Selecting outcome measures for child welfare settings: lessons for use in performance management,
by S. Wells & M. Johnson, Children & Youth Services Review, vol.23, no.2, Feb 2001, pp.169—99.This paper summarises the current status of the development of outcome measures in the child welfare system. It presents the case for developing an outcomes-based management system. It provides tools to help in the selection of outcomes and their indicators for use in the management of performance in the system.
Sharing the care — best practice in respite foster care,
by J. Elefsiniotis, Paper presented at 8th Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect, Melbourne, November 2001.Share Care is a small foster care program in inner Melbourne providing regular respite care for local children. This paper describes a workshop aimed at documenting the contributing factors to Share Care’s best practice achievements, and contributing to the knowledge base on the role of regular, planned respite care in preventing child abuse and neglect. Issues covered include: defining respite care; social and demographic considerations; continuity in relationships for vulnerable children; essential components of best practice; community management; parents as partners; staff continuity; caregivers as friends; giving children time; philosophy and principles; and comparing common practice with best practice.
Parental maltreatment and emotion dysregulation as risk factors for bullying and victimization in middle childhood,
by A. Shields & D. Cicchetti, Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, vol.30, no.3, Sep 2001, pp.349—63.This research examines the links between child maltreatment and bullying and victimisation. It also examines the role of emotion regulation in the at-risk group. Findings showed that children who suffered maltreatment were more likely than non-abused children to bully other children and were at greater risk of being bullied by their peers. It also found that both bullies and victims showed evidence of emotion regulation problems.
Child welfare defences in child abduction cases: some recent developments,
by J. Caldwell, Child & Family Law Quarterly, vol.13, no.2, 2001, pp.121—36.
With international travel and "international families" becoming more common, there are few people who would challenge the need for a strong presumption of mandatory return of the child to discourage and thwart any attempts by parents to circumvent the normal judicial processes of the country of habitual residence. However, there are times when return seems destined to produce significant disadvantages for a blameless child, with a resulting sense of unease that the welfare of that particular child appears to have been sacrificed in the assumed interests of children at large. The purpose of this article is to examine the extent to which considerations of the specific welfare of the individual child, and respect for the child’s point of view can, on occasion, prove to be more powerful than the general objective of mandatory return, with the focus being on reported judgments from England, New Zealand, Australia and Canada.
Review of the Hague Child Abduction Convention: protecting both children and adults until and upon return?
by D. Sandor, Australian Journal of Family Law, vol.15, no.2, Jul 2001, pp.80—89.At the meeting in March 2001 to review the operation of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, judicial decision makers, as well as administrative officials, were involved in the review. The purpose of this article is to highlight two particular outcomes of this meeting: namely safe return orders by courts, and protective measures by central authorities. In Australia these are located in the Attorney-General’s Department. Both of these are interconnected means of better implementing the Convention.
Developing an early intervention programme to prevent child maltreatment,
by A. Naughton & A. Heath, Child Abuse Review, vol.10, no.2, Mar—Apr 2001, pp.85—96.The development and implementation of a child abuse prevention program is described. This program has a unique approach and uses a variety of intervention strategies, which are described in detail. The first five years’ evaluation of these clinics show a very high rate of successful outcomes.
The prevention of child abuse and neglect: successfully out of the blocks,
by J. Leventhal, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.25, no.4, Apr 2001, pp.431—39.This article reviews three questions about child abuse prevention in the United States in the last five years: how far have things progressed?; what are the new challenges?; and how will they be met?
Proximate effects of a child sexual abuse prevention program in elementary school children, by M. Hebert, F. Lavoie & C. Piche, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.25, no.4, Apr 2001, pp.505—22.
The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of the child sexual abuse prevention program ESPACE. The results indicated that the children who participated in the program showed greater preventive knowledge and skills than non-participants. However, while knowledge gains are maintained over time, the preventive skills may fade. The majority of the parents did not report any negative side effects in their children following their participation in the program.
Child emotional maltreatment: a 2-year study of US Army cases,
by L. Jellen, J. McCarroll & L. Thayer, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.25, no.5, May 2001, pp.623—39.The objective of this research was to determine the types of emotional maltreatment substantiated in a community of US Army families on a tour of duty and residing temporarily in Germany. The most frequently substantiated type of emotional abuse was witnessing domestic violence. Emotional abuse was substantiated more often if it was seen as a single type rather than in combination with other forms of maltreatment. The implications for clinicians in seeing emotional maltreatment as a single entity are discussed.
Antecedents and socioemotional consequences of physical punishment on children in two-parent families,
by M. Eamon, Child Abuse & Neglect,vol.25, no.6, Jun 2001, pp.787—802.This study examined the relationship between physical punishment of children and poverty, maternal birth age, parents’ education, maternal depression and marital conflict. Maternal depression was linked to higher use of physical punishment and higher levels of marital conflict. Children who were physically punished exhibited more socio-emotional problems than those who were not spanked.
Attitudes towards and the practice of discipline amongst parents of pre-school children in Nottingham: disciplining pre-school children,
by A. Thompson & J. Pearce, Children & Society, vol.15, no.4, Sep 2001, pp.231—36.This study investigates parents’ attitudes and beliefs about appropriate discipline practices for their pre-school children. It then compares their stated beliefs with their actual discipline practices. Findings showed that while many parents did not believe in smacking, they still used it as a discipline technique. These results indicate that current initiatives aimed at promoting positive discipline and reducing smacking may not be sufficient by themselves in reducing the physical punishment of children.
The factors of child physical abuse in Korean immigrant families, by M. Park, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.25, no.7, Jul 2001, pp.945—58.
This study explores the attitudes of Korean immigrant mothers’ attitudes toward child physical abuse. The study is based on an ecological perspective. Mothers’ attitudes toward child physical abuse were measured in four areas: degree of agreement with physical abuse; tactics used to resolve conflict; belief in the use of physical punishment; and perceptions in regard to physical abuse. Findings suggest the importance of cultural sensitivity in social work practice and the need to target more than one level of the environment for intervention and prevention strategies to be effective.
Advice and advocacy for parents in child protection cases — what is happening in current practice?
by B. Lindley, M. Richards & P. Freeman, Child & Family Law Quarterly, vol.13, no.2, 2001, pp.167—95.This study examined the issues of advice and advocacy in child protection cases from the perspective of parents, advocates and social workers, in an attempt to determine if such services were successful or not. It compared and contrasted the views and experiences of the three groups, and how they thought current practice could be improved.
The care, support and protection of children: interaction between the Family Law Act and State and Territory child and family services legislation: the best interests of the child? The interaction of public and private law in Australia,
by The Family Law Council (Australia), Canberra, ACT, Family Law Council, 2000.Acknowledging that classification of matters relating to the care, support and protection of children into private and public law categories may be somewhat meaningless because of jurisdictional overlaps, this paper explains how these overlaps have come about and examines the legislative and structural regimes at both Commonwealth and State and Territory levels. It highlights the particular difficulties being experienced in the areas of family violence and child protection where jurisdictional overlaps frequently occur, and describes a number of statutory provisions and methods which attempt to overcome these difficulties. Examples of the ways in which the bifurcated system impacts in practice on families in different circumstances and in different States and Territories are provided by the inclusion of case studies. It is stated that the conclusion to be drawn from these examples is that there are instances in which the best interests of already vulnerable children are being compromised. The paper canvasses both short- and long-term possible solutions to overcome the difficulties identified, while acknowledging the various limitations and the structural barriers to their possible implementation. An appendix provides a matrix that sets out the relevant child protection legislation at the State and Territory level, illustrating differences and similarities on a number of dimensions.
Children abused in contact arrangements: some implications for practitioners,
by K. Rendell, Domestic Violence & Incest Resource Centre Newsletter, no.2, Winter 2001, pp.3—8.Kathryn Rendell, Zoe Rathus and Angela Lynch recently completed An Unacceptable Risk. A Report on Child Contact Arrangements where there is Violence in the Family. This report was the result of a research project conducted in Queensland under the auspices of the Women’s Legal Service Inc. for the Abuse Free Contact Group. The full report explores issues associated with the investigatory agencies, the Family Court and the legal aid system. This article outlines the approach taken by the researchers and provides an extract from the findings in relation to children and violence in the family. Some implications for working with children experiencing abuse in contact arrangements are offered. The report is available from the Women’s Legal Service in Brisbane.
New directions in child protection and family support in Western Australia: a policy initiative to re-focus child welfare practice,
by N. Parton & R. Mathews, Child & Family Social Work, vol.6, no.2, 2001, pp.97—113.There is a great deal of evidence that statutory child welfare agencies are being overwhelmed by a large increase in child protection referrals which require formal investigation, and that there has been an increasing failure to develop more preventive family support services. In this paper the changes introduced in Western Australia to address this situation are described. New Directions is the term used in Western Australia to summarise the various significant changes in the way the Department of Family and Children’s Services has approached child protection and family support referrals since 1995. Results demonstrate that the changes have led to a restructuring in the way the Department responds to concerns expressed about children which, in turn, have impacted on the proportion of substantiated child maltreatment cases and the way responses are prioritised and allocated. This, in turn, has provided the Department with a more explicit and clear focus for its work in a period of increasing demand and rapid change.
Preventing child abuse, promoting healthy children,
by P. Jewell, Health Education Australia, vol.1, no.2, 2001, pp.46—48.A brief overview of the impact around the world of the Convention of the Rights of the Child is provided in this article which then considers the situation for Australian children in relation to child health and the prevention of child abuse.
Protecting children and young people: one year on,
by G. Calvert, Rattler, no.59, Spring 2001, pp.13—14.Child protection legislation has been introduced by the NSW Government as a systematic way of checking the background of those people wishing to work with children in a range of environments in both the public and private sectors, including child care settings. In July 2000, the Working With Children Check was introduced. This paper discusses the first year of the operation of the screening process and how it is acting in the interests of children. Feedback on the legislation from the child care sector is considered along with the role of the Commission for Children and Young People, NSW.
Response to: "New Directions in child protection and family support in Western Australia: a policy initiative to re-focus child welfare practice",
by S. McCallum & D. Eades, Child & Family Social Work, vol.6, no.3, 2001, pp.269—74.Written as a response to "New directions in child protection and family support in Western Australia: a policy initiative to re-focus child welfare practice", by Nigel Parton and Richard Mathews, this paper seeks to raise the broader issues of child protection that are relevant to many child protection agencies. Issues discussed include: changes brought about by the New Directions paper; repeat referrals; focus on professional judgement, assessment and supervision; a greater emphasis on family support; out of home placements; Aboriginal families; and the impact of the introduction of the Child Concern Report category.
Solicitors may have duty to children at risk,
Law Society Journal, vol.39, no.7, Aug 2001, pp.20.It is suggested in this article that legal practitioners may be required to report children at risk of harm even though they are not mandatory reporters under the Children and Young Persons (Care and Protection) Act 1998. Reference is made to case law and to the practice manual of the Legal Aid Commission. It is advised that any solicitor facing the question of whether to disclose confidential communication of a client in a risk of harm report should obtain legal advice about their reporting and professional obligations.
Palm Beach county child abuse and neglect system redesign: initial process evaluation,
by C. Koehn, R. Thompson & K. Authier, Journal of Child & Family Studies, vol.10, no.2, Jun 2001, pp.245-254.This article describes the redesigned child protection system in Palm Beach County. The redesigned system emphasizes family involvement and quality service provision. It is based on a managed care model. Initial findings indicate that more families are participating in and satisfied with the service. Also, children are spending less time in shelter placements.
The United States child protective system — a triangle of tensions,
by S. Ramsey, Child & Family Law Quarterly, vol.13, no.1, 2001, pp.25—34.This article examines the child protection system in the United States, especially in regard to the Adoption and Safe Families Act (ASFA). The issue of poverty is seen as one of the major problems within the section of the population most often served by the child protection system. The author argues that until the issue of child poverty is addressed, child protection programs such as ASFA are unlikely to succeed. In conclusion a brief outline of a new reform proposal that may be more successful than ASFA is presented.
Child sexual abuse: a reality for both sexes,
by J. Spataro, S. Moss & D. Wells, Australian Psychologist, vol.36, no.3, Nov 2001, pp.177—83.Despite growing awareness regarding the reality of child sexual abuse (CSA), a paucity of studies have examined whether the determinants, risk factors, and aftermath of CSA differ between male and female victims. This paper attempts to provide an empirical and conceptual review of research findings to date. There is evidence that CSA against boys is under-reported, and that male victims are given less counselling than female victims despite the prevalence of comparable psychological sequelae. It is argued that further research into gender differences associated with CSA needs to be conducted because the conclusions of existing studies are tenuous. Future research may (a) lead to an elaboration and assessment of current conceptualisations of CSA that predominantly focus on female victims; and (b) facilitate the development and implementation of gender-based public policy in relation to CSA.
Child sexual abuse and incest: community-based intervention,
by H. Itzhaky & A. York, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.25, no.7, Jul 2001, pp.959—72.This article describes and analyses a community intervention program in the case of child sexual abuse in an urban community in Israel. Several incidents of child sexual abuse were brought to light in the community. A community intervention campaign was organised at the individual, group and community levels. Community apathy towards child sexual abuse seems to have been halted and even reversed. Implications of each level of intervention are discussed and an integrated program of intervention is advocated.
Child sexual abuse and the multidisciplinary team approach: contradictions in practice,
by M. Jacobson, Childhood, vol.8, no.2, May 2001, pp.231—50.The author argues that the multidisciplinary approach for handling child sexual abuse cases is problematic. Changing constructions of child sexual abuse and the ways in which multidisciplinary teams are structured may lead to a mismatch between what the children need and what the team can offer. The author suggests that a model of critical practice may offer a better and more flexible framework for services for sexually abused children.
Complaints of child sexual abuse: too easy to make or too difficult to prove?
By A. Cossins, Australian & New Zealand Journal of Criminology, vol.34, no.2, 2001, pp.149—68.In challenging the rationale for the continued use of the corroboration warning in child sexual assault trials, this paper analyses the social and historical context in which the corroboration warning became entrenched, arguing that the historical sex and gender specificity has affected the way that child sex offences are prosecuted. The cultural significance of sex and class within the trial process is considered. The author suggests that the task for law reformers is to consider alternative methods of prosecuting that would preserve both the rights of the accused and promote the public policy objectives of protecting the interests of the child complainant and preventing further sexual abuse given the documented high rates of recidivism of child sex offenders.
Incest, paedophilia, pornography and prostitution: making familial males more visible as the abusers,
by C. Itzin, Child Abuse Review, vol.10, no.1, Jan—Feb 2001, pp.35—48.This paper explores how paedophile typologies and sex offender classifications have contributed to the invisibility of the incest offender. The author argues that the dominant discourse, in both the policing and policy areas, is concerned with paedophilia and child sex offending, thus contributing to making the incest abuser invisible. The author also presents a typology which traces the connections between incest, paedophilia, pornography and prostitution.
The prevalence and nature of child sexual abuse: evidence from a female university sample in the UK,
by K. Oaksford & N. Frude, Child Abuse Review, vol.10, no.1, Jan—Feb 2001, pp.49—59.The aim of this paper is to estimate the current prevalence rate and nature of child sexual abuse in the United Kingdom. The data was collected from a sample of 213 female university students. The results showed that 13.14 per cent of these students had been sexually abused in childhood.
Child health surveillance: its place in child health promotion,
by L. Lamont-Herps & B. Robson, Australian Journal of Primary Health, vol.7, no.1, 2001, pp.71—75.The health of children is first and foremost a parental responsibility. However, society has a vested interest in ensuring that the rights and needs of children are respected. Promoting and caring for the health and welfare of children is an investment in the future, and Child Health Surveillance (CHS) is a vital component of this process. CHS is an aspect of health care which is often misunderstood, maligned and considered a soft (less important) option compared with acute medical care. The aim of this article is to demonstrate otherwise by clarifying what it is, why it is done, what CHS programs consist of, and who should do them. In conclusion, consideration is given to the future of CHS.
Lessons from the past for child welfare today and tommorow,
by D. Scott, Children Australia, vol.26, no.2, 2001, pp.4—6.In this address the author provides a general discussion of the history of child welfare, and looks at how and by whom child welfare has been reformed. She also discusses child welfare today and the increased ability that has been gained in identifying risk factors and the effects of child abuse. The article concludes with the need to acknowledge the failures as well as achievements of the past in order to move forward.
Maltreated children’s emotional and behavioral problems: do teachers and parents see the same things?
Culp, Rex E., Howell, Christina S. & Culp, Anne McDonald, Journal of Child & Family Studies, vol.10 no.1 Mar 2001, pp.39—50.This study examined whether parents and teachers differed in their perceptions of the behaviour of young maltreated children. The findings showed that the parents and teachers perceived the same child as behaving differently. Possible reasons for this are discussed.
Children’s rights: we cannot wait,
by R. Fitzgerald, Rattler, no.59, Spring 2001, pp.3—7.This keynote address from the Australian Early Childhood Association National Conference outlines the work of the Community Services Commissioner, NSW in reviewing, monitoring and dealing with issues concerning the rights of children within the child protection system or living in out of home care, and for children and young people with disabilities who are in residential care. The author argues that it is urgent to acknowledge the rights of children and young people, to enshrine those rights in practice and to be strong advocates of those rights. Reference is made to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; to advancements and achievements in Australia; to "at risk" and Indigenous children; to community attitudes to children and young people; to mental health problems and substance abuse; to child advocacy; and to children's participation in decision making.
Independent institutions protecting children’s rights,
by UNICEF, International Child Development Centre, Florence, Italy, United Nations Children’s Fund, Innocenti Research Centre, 2001.Independent human rights institutions for children are the focus of this Digest. There is an urgent need for such institutions in every country to ensure that the educational, health, care and housing needs of children are met. Existing institutions are evaluated and the essential characteristics which are required for such institutions to adequately fulfil their functions are presented. Information about existing independent statutory bodies is included.
The relationship between attitudes toward corporal punishment and the perception and reporting of child maltreatment,
by V. Ashton, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.25, no.3, Mar 2001, pp.389—99.This study found that the attitudes of social service workers towards corporal punishment was an important predictor of reporting behaviour. Workers with higher levels of approval of corporal punishment were less likely to report child maltreatment. The challenge now facing social service agencies is to provide training in the detection and reporting of maltreatment despite the workers’ individual attitudes and beliefs about disciple and corporal punishment.
Listening to the child victim of abuse through the process of therapy: a case study,
by N. Mudaly & C. Goddard, Children Australia, vol.26, no.3, 2001, pp.18—22.When a child has been abused by his or her father or father-figure and makes the statement "I want Dad to come home", whose voice are we hearing in treatment, and how do we interpret and respond to what the child is saying? Understanding and responding to the voices of victims of abuse is a complex issue. This paper explores the issues of listening and responding to a young victim of abuse in the context of the impact of the abuse on this young person, and how these issues emerged and were addressed in the therapeutic process. Amanda, a 13-year-old girl, disclosed sexual abuse by her stepfather. In the initial months of counselling she repeatedly expressed her wish for her stepfather to return home. Amanda’s response to therapy, the short-term and long-term impact issues addressed, and the various therapeutic techniques that were used to assist in her recovery, are traced in the context of theoretical considerations.
Building community: a conceptual framework for child protection,
by K.Barter, Child Abuse Review, vol.10, no.4, Jul—Aug 2001, pp.262—278.This paper proposes an innovative strategy to help reclaim those children and families who are at risk. This strategy is based on a community-building framework.
Every child is important,
by Australians Against Child Abuse, Mitcham, Vic, Australians Against Child Abuse, 2000.Australians Against Child Abuse (AACA) are conducting a public education and media campaign to reduce the incidence of child abuse and neglect in the community. With the theme "Every Child is Important", the campaign aims to prevent child abuse and family violence by recognising the value and contribution children make to our lives. It encourages the community to respect children’s individual rights to safety, and to support and promote children’s need for protection and security. This information kit from the Every Child is Important campaign is comprised of brochures, information sheets and a poster.
More action — less talk! Community responses to child abuse prevention,
by J. Tucci, C. Goddard & J. Mitchell, Ringwood, Vic, Australians Against Child Abuse, 2001.Conducted by Quantum Market Research, this study was commissioned by Australians Against Child Abuse as part of its Every Child is Important Campaign. The key objectives of the research are to: assess the degree to which child abuse is considered a community concern; gauge the accuracy of public knowledge about the extent, nature and impact of child abuse; and track community attitudes towards the rights of children. The aim and components of the Every Child is Important campaign are explained, project methodology is described, and findings from the public polling research are presented. Recommendations for action are provided.
Reducing recurrence in child protective services: impact of a targeted safety protocol,
by J. Fluke, M. Edwards & M. Bussey, Child Maltreatment, vol.6, no.3, Aug 2001, pp.207—18.The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services developed a decision-making protocol in relation to assessing and ensuring the safety of children during the initial stages of an investigation. This article summarises the impact of this safety protocol.
So much to gain: new approaches to child protection meetings,
by B. Elliott, P. Kiely & S. Tolley, Children Australia, vol.26, no.3, 2001, pp.23—26.While participation of parents in case planning in child protection is widely accepted as desirable, in practice both workers and parents are often left frustrated by the outcomes of child protection meetings. Two models of managing the decision-making process are reviewed: Looking After Children (LAC); and Family Decision Making (FDM). Approaches to preparation, planning and conflict management are highlighted. Strategies for facilitating parental participation are identified and can be applied more broadly to child protection meetings to encourage more effective outcomes.
The direct and indirect effects of domestic violence on young children's intellectual functioning,
by A. Huth-Bocks, A. Levendosky & M. Semel, Journal of Family Violence, vol.16, no.3, Sep 2001, pp.269—90.The effects of domestic violence on preschoolers’ intellectual functioning is examined in this study. Findings showed that children who witnessed domestic violence had poorer verbal abilities, but their visual-spatial abilities did not seem to be affected. Domestic violence indirectly affected intellectual functioning through its impact on maternal depression and the intellectual quality of the home environment. Implications for interventions for young child who witness domestic violence are discussed.
Domestic violence: analysis of a community safety alarm system,
by S. Walker, Child Abuse Review, vol.10, no.3, May—Jun 2001, pp.170—82.The findings of an analysis of a trial of a local authority community alarm system is presented in this article. The aim of the system was to protect both adult and child victims of domestic violence and make it possible for them to remain living in their own homes. The perceptions and experiences of referrers, service users and potential services users were collected and used as part of the evaluation of the system. The system was found to be effective and cheap to operate. The advantages and disadvantages of the system are discussed and the need for further refinement is noted.
Domestic violence and child abuse: developing sensitive policies and guidance,
by C. Humphreys, A. Mullender & P. Lowe, Child Abuse Review, vol.10, no.3, May—Jun 2001, pp.183—87.This paper examines a research study in the United Kingdom that mapped the extent and range of services which are available to families experiencing domestic violence. The study also developed a framework of indicators of good practice provision in this area. This article examines in detail one good practice indicator which was identified by the research: policy development within and between social service departments in a multi-agency arena.
The impact of the 1995 amendments to the Family Law Act on women and children who have experienced domestic violence,
by E. Sydenham, Parity, vol.14, no.2 Mar 2001/Domestic Violence & Incest Resource Centre Newsletter, Autumn 2001, pp.31—34.This article argues that there are problems with amendments to the Family Law Act 1995. Two problems are discussed: The Family Court’s failure to ensure both the child’s and the primary carer’s rights to a safe environment; and the tendency for primary dispute resolution processes to coerce women into consent orders that fail to provide them or their children with adequate protection. Cuts to legal aid funding are also considered.
The needs of children who witness domestic violence: a South Australian study,
by D. Bagshaw & D. Chung, Children Australia, vol.26, no.3, 2001, pp.9—17.There is now increasing recognition that child abuse and domestic violence are not separate phenomena and "witnessing" domestic violence can seriously affect children. This paper reports on a qualitative research project undertaken by researchers from the University of South Australia from June 1998 to January 1999, as part of the Commonwealth and States’ Partnerships Against Domestic Violence initiative. The focus of the research was on assessing the needs of women, men and young people who have experienced domestic violence in South Australia. The participants identified many "effects" of witnessing or experiencing domestic violence on children, along with their needs. The findings will inform early intervention campaigns as well as broader service systems in supporting and responding to the needs of these young people.
The predictive impact of domestic violence on three types of child maltreatment,
by W. McGuigan & C. Pratt, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.25, no.7, Jul 2001, pp.869—83.This research found that there are significant relationships between domestic violence and physical child abuse, psychological child abuse and child neglect. Domestic violence in the first six months of child rearing was found to be significantly related to all three types of child maltreatment up to the child’s fifth year. These findings suggest that treatment and prevention programs should provide services to at-risk families until the child is at least 5 years-of-age.
Consumer evaluation of an ecobehavioral program for prevention and intervention of child maltreatment,
by N. Taban & J. Lutzker, Journal of Family Violence, vol.16, no.3, Sep 2001, pp.323—30.This study evaluated parental satisfaction of an intensive parent training program: Project SafeCare. The Project focused on three areas of intervention: home safety; infant and child health care; and bonding and stimulation. Overall, the Project was voted to be highly successful. Parents were very satisfied with the program but seemed to prefer training by counsellors rather than training by video.
Effective interventions for child abuse and neglect: an evidence-based approach to planning and evaluating interventions,
by G. Macdonald, Chichester, New York, Wiley, c.2001.This book reviews the research on child abuse and neglect. It considers the interplay of a range of causal factors that contribute to child abuse. The research evidence is then examined to see how it can be most effectively used in child protection practice. It aims to build a bridge between research and practice. The book focuses on those interventions that are aimed at individuals, groups and communities.
Case study: reunion between parent and child after a long separation,
by D. Bowen, Australian Family Lawyer, vol.15, no.1, Autumn 2001, pp.20—24.This article describes the mediation interventions employed in a matter in which a father applied to the Family Court of Australia for contact orders in relation to his 7-year-old son whom he had not seen for the four years since shortly after the parental separation. During the marriage the child had witnessed the father’s violence towards the mother. The article describes the parents’ approaches to, and involvement with, the mediation process, legal proceedings, and the reunion between father and son, as well as the therapeutic work undertaken with the boy. The outcomes and the child’s perspective of the process one year later are described and discussed.
Outcomes of family-centered residential treatment,
by M. Landsman, V. Groza & M. Tyler, Child Welfare, vol.80, no.3, May—Jun 2001, pp.351—79.A family-centred residential treatment program, Reasonable Efforts to Permancency through Adoption and Reunification Endeavors (REPARE), is evaluated in this article. This program aims to reduce the length of time seriously emotionally disturbed children spend in residential care.
The role of family preservation therapists in facilitating use of aftercare services,
by M. Staudt, L. Scheuler-Whitaker & J. Hinterlong, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.25, no.6, Jun 2001, pp.803—17.This study aims to examine how family preservation therapists help clients to access aftercare services and how the therapists perceive the availability and accessibility of such services. Therapists viewed aftercare services as both important and necessary. However, some therapists took a less active role in ensuring families linked to the appropriate services. Problems with service access and availability were noted, especially services for men and adolescents. Regular follow-ups to ensure families use the services they need may be necessary and systemic changes may be needed to ensure that appropriate services are available.
Integrating family visitation and risk evaluation: a practical bonding model for decision makers,
by S. Ansay & D. Perkins, Family Relations, vol.50, no.3, Jul 2001, pp.220—29.This study uses a family bonding perspective which may be used to help social workers assess the risk of further abuse of children who are currently in foster care if they are returned home. A conceptual model that attaches a numerical value to a range of parent—child bonding attributes is presented. The article then demonstrates how this model can be used during supervised visitations and the model’s potential for facilitating interagency collaboration in the permanency planning decision-making process.
Lay therapy intervention with families at risk for parenting difficulties: the Kempe Community Caring Program,
by J. Gray, P. Spurway & M. McClatchey,Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.25, no.5, May 2001, pp.641—55.The objective of this study was to examine which areas of family functioning could be improved by a home visiting program run by lay therapists for first time high-risk mothers. The results showed that home visits could significantly improve some aspects of family functioning. However, the areas of family conflict and stability/meeting basic needs were not improved by this type of intervention.
The Canadian incidence study of reported child abuse and neglect,
by The National Clearinghouse on Family Violence (Canada), Ottawa, Ont., National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, Health Canada, 2001.This booklet provides highlights and an overview of the reported incidence of child abuse in Canada during a three-month period in 1998. It provides statistical data on physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect and emotional maltreatment. A definition of each type of abuse also included.
Child maltreatment in Canada : Canadian incidence study of reported child abuse and neglect : selected results,
by D. Wolfe, [Ottawa], Health Canada, 2001.
This report contains a descriptive analysis of the findings of the Canadian Incidence Study of Reported Child Abuse and Neglect. It focuses on those investigations in which child maltreatment was substantiated.
Child protection Australia 1999-00,
by H. Johnstone & S. Kelly, Canberra, ACT, Australian Institute of Health & Welfare, 2001.
This report is based on the following national child protection data collections: child protection notifications, investigations and substantiations; children on care and protection orders; and children in out of home care. Statistical analysis is presented on issues including: major differences among States and Territories; changes to policies and practices over time; children who are in need of care and protection; admissions, discharges and orders issued; Indigenous children; and scope and coverage of out of home care data collection. The appendices provide detailed tables, technical notes on calculation rates for Indigenous and non-Indigenous children; and information on child protection legislation, and mandatory reporting requirements.
Child protection in the new millennium,
by J. Cashmore, SPRC Newsletter, no.79, May 2001, pp.1, 4—5.Increasing numbers of children have been reported to State statutory child protection authorities because of concerns about their safety and welfare. In this article the author looks at why this increase has occurred and discusses recent developments in policy, legislation and service provision concerned with child protection. She examines the problem of out of home care, the changing definitions of abuse and neglect, and the shift to a family support approach to child protection with a focus on prevention and early intervention.
Community-level factors and child maltreatment in a suburban county,
by J. Ernst, Social Work Research, vol.25, no.3, Sep 2001, pp.133—42.This article examines the relationship between neighbourhood structural factors and the rate of child abuse. Findings showed that neighbourhood instability, poverty and family characteristics affect the rates of child abuse in different communities.
Final report,
by N. Trocme, Ottawa, Ont., National Clearinghouse on Family Violence, Health Canada, 2001.This report is the first nationwide study to examine the incidence of child abuse and neglect in Canada. The report also studied the characteristics of the children and their families who were the subject of child protection investigations. The study was designed to: examine the rates of all types of abuse reported to, and investigated by, child welfare services; examine the severity of maltreatment and the evidence of risk; examine selected determinants of health for investigated children and their families; and monitor short-term investigation outcomes.
The prevalence of child maltreatment in the UK,
by E. Fish, Child Abuse Prevention, National Child Protection Clearinghouse Newsletter, vol.9, no.1, Winter 2001, pp.6—9.The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), has recently published a report of the first major general population study of the prevalence of child maltreatment in the United Kingdom. The study was based on the retrospective reports of a national, randomly selected sample of young people aged 18—24 years. This review of the report, Child maltreatment in the United Kingdom: a study of the prevalence of child abuse and neglect by P. Cawson and colleagues (2000), covers the aims of the study, issues of definition, and findings in relation to family life, physical discipline, physical abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.
Hard wiring young brains for intimacy: the essential first step to breaking generational cycles of abuse and neglect,
by P. Drielsma, Journal of the Home Economics Institute of Australia, vol.8, no.2, 2001, pp.19—23.The implication of the development of an infant’s capacity to connect and relate is that the creation of social capital is largely dependent on healthy early childhood experiences. We cannot hope to build strong sustainable families and communities without the members of the community having this critical experience-mediated capacity for social affiliation and connection.
Boys and domestic violence: the implications of theories of intergenerational transmission of violence for boys who live with domestic violence,
by C. Boyd, Developing Practice: The Child, Youth & Family Work Journal, no.1, Winter 2001, pp.43—50.One of the author’s main interests in working with young men and boys who have witnessed domestic violence is in the reaction to theories of intergenerational transmission of violence, also known as the cycle of abuse. This paper aims to detail some of the precise concerns that theories of intergenerational transmission of violence raise, and to invite critical reflection on violence prevention and the implications for the people whose lives are most affected.
Child abuse on the internet: ending the silence, by C. Arnaldo, New York, Berghahn Books, Paris, UNESCO Pub., 2001.
The Internet has added a new twist to the problem of the sexual abuse of children, especially in relation to pornography and paedophilia. This was the main focus of the "Expert Meeting on the Sexual Abuse of Children, Child Pornography and Paedophilia on the Internet: An International Challenge" which was held on 18—19 January 1999 at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. This volume is based mainly on the submissions and interventions of the participants. Part 1 examines the context of the sexual abuse of children, it then attempts to define the terms child pornography and paedophilia in sociological, psychological and legal terms. Part 2 considers what strategies are currently being adopted to help combat these problems. The Declaration and Plan of Action which was adopted by the participants is presented in part 3.
Kinship care and Aboriginal communities,
by A. Bridge, Developing Practice: The Child, Youth & Family Work Journal, no.1, Winter 2001, pp.8—10.There is a strong tradition within Aboriginal communities of extended families looking after the children when the children’s own parents are unable to do so. In this article the author explains that this does not mean that kinship carers and children do not need or want assistance from outside agencies, including the Department of Community Services.
Kinship care: a differentiated and sensitive approach,
by J. Cashmore, Developing Practice: The Child, Youth & Family Work Journal, no.1, Winter 2001, pp.5—8.Kinship care, or placing children with relatives in formal care after protective intervention by the state, is a relatively recent trend in policy and practice. Previously, children in need of care were placed with foster carers outside the family. A shortage of foster carers and the recognition of the importance of children maintaining contact with their families and culture, have combined to overturn the practice of placing children outside the family. In this article the author looks at the benefits of kinship care, the different levels of financial support, services and supervision needed, and the implications for including children in kinship care within the out of home care system.
Kinship care: what is a responsible policy?
By L. Voigt, Developing Practice: The Child, Youth & Family Work Journal, no.1, Winter 2001, pp.1—14.This article argues that kinship placements do not need surveillance and monitoring in the way that formal out of home care does. Unlike foster care or residential care with unrelated carers, kinship placements can be damaged by overzealous bureaucratic intervention. Rather, creative and flexible ways of supporting family placements with family support is what is needed.
"Working with males who have experienced childhood sexual abuse",
by P. O’Leary, in B. Pease & P. Camilleri, eds., Working with men in the human services, Crows Nest, NSW, Allen & Unwin, 2001, pp.80—92.Aiming to introduce human service professionals to theoretical concepts that guide practice responses to males who have experienced childhood sexual abuse, this chapter outlines practice responses based on men’s own stories obtained through research interviews and practice experience. The emphasis is on the sociopolitical and cultural factors that contribute to the adversity experienced by males who have experienced childhood sexual abuse. Possible contributions that human service organisations can make to facilitate proactive service delivery and community awareness of male sexual victimisation are considered.
Blaming the messenger: the media, social workers and child abuse,
by P. Mendes, Australian Social Work, vol.54, no.2, Jun 2001, pp.27—36.This paper explores the agenda-setting role of the media in child abuse, citing local and international examples. The author argues that much media coverage of child abuse promotes a conservative, pro-family political agenda, offering a narrow individualistic/legalistic view of child abuse as opposed to a broader structural definition. This conservative agenda is particularly reflected in media hostility to social workers involved in child abuse cases. Attention is drawn to the major manifestations of this criticism, and to some of the reasons why social workers experience disproportionate media censure. Suggestions are then made regarding the potential for a more effective and proactive social work response.
Child abuse and the media,
by C. Goddard & B. Saunders, Melbourne, Vic, Child Abuse Prevention, National Child Protection Clearinghouse Issues Paper, no.14, Winter 2001.This paper examines the role of the media in relation to child abuse and child protection. It argues that the media have been essential to the task of placing the problem of child abuse in the minds of the public and on the political agenda. The media have played a major role in defining what is "normal" and what is "deviant" in society, thus contributing to definitions of what is, and what is not, considered to be child abuse. Significantly, the media have appeared, at times, to have more influence on child protection policy and practice than professionals working in the field — a phenomenon described as "legislation by tabloid". While acknowledging that the media’s portrayal of child abuse and child protection can have negative consequences for children and their families, it is argued that media coverage is vital if public concern for children is to remain on the political agenda, and if child protection services are to remain accountable.
Journalists as agents and language as an instrument of social control: a child protection case study,
by C. Goddard & B. Saunders, Children Australia, vol.26, no.2, 2001, pp.26—30.In recent years there has been considerable analysis of how the media create images of crime. The relationship between child abuse and the media has also been subject to greater scrutiny. This article examines the role of one newspaper in a child protection case. The part played by the newspaper in the court case led to an examination of the language used by the media in their representations of children. The researchers found that a child may be objectified in language even when the child’s gender is previously identified. The "gender slippage" may in extreme cases lead to the "textual abuse" of children, where child abuse is rewritten to lessen the impact on the reader. The authors conclude that the actions of journalists and the language they use require more critical analysis.
Engaging fathers in group work: creating cooperative environments,
by A. King, Developing Practice: The Child, Youth & Family Work Journal, no.1, Winter 2001, pp.30—37.The generative fathering framework is a model for understanding the non-deficit approach to fathering. This approach proposes that most men take an active interest in the lives of their children. In this paper, the author develops the non-deficit perspective which argues that fathers are interested in family life, and that their engagement with support services is influenced by a variety of pressures within their life. These pressure include "generative chill", a type of anxiety resulting from a perceived or real danger of losing one’s child or children, life crises such as separation and divorce, and juggling life demands. The paper is based on the experiences at a Fathers’ Centre in Western Sydney where fathers access crisis counselling or group programs.
"Men and child protection: developing new kinds of relationships between men and children",
by M. Hood, in B. Pease & P. Camilleri, eds, Working with men in the human services, Crows Nest, NSW, Allen & Unwin, 2001, pp.107—21.The intention of this chapter is to look more closely at aspects of men’s interactions with children and to suggest if and how it is possible to develop new kinds of relationships between them. How men who work in child protection areas can contribute to this process personally and in their work is considered. Issues examined include: the effect of abusive behaviour on children; what attitudes contribute to men abusing children; whether children need relationships with men; raising boys differently; new models for fathering; advocacy for children at social level; and child protection policies and men.
Child homicide, psychiatric disorder and dangerousness: a review and an empirical approach,
by J. Stroud, & C. Pritchard, The British Journal of Social Work, vol.31, no.2, Apr 2001, pp.249—69.This article examines the relation between child homicide and adult psychiatric disorder. The findings show that whilst the majority of parents with a psychiatric disorder pose no threat to their children, parents with a psychiatric disorder are over-represented in child homicide case samples. Most child homicides occur within the family context and mothers account for almost half the assaults. All the extra-familial murders were associated with sexual abuse. A brief discussion of practice and policy implications concludes the article.
Mental disease postpartum and parent-infant interaction: evaluation of videotaped sessions,
by U. Albertsson-Karlgren, M. Graff & P. Nettlebladt, Child Abuse Review, vol.10, no.1, Jan—Feb 2001, pp.5—17.This research study investigated the influence of maternal postpartum depression on mother—infant and father—infant interactions. Mothers of infants who suffered postpartum depression were compared with mothers who had suffered a somatic illness. Videotaped sessions when the infants were 10 months and 2-years-old showed clear differences in the mother—child interactions between the two groups. The fathers in the psychiatric group showed more warmth than the mothers. One possible interpretation of this data is that because of the depression suffered by the mothers the fathers adopt a more active parenting role in order to buffer the deficit in the mother—infant relationship.
"No matter how deep her craving": an exploration of Australian courts’ treatment of Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy,
by A. Loughnan, Unpublished, 2001, Paper presented at the XXVI International Congress on Law & Mental Health, July 2001, Montreal, Canada.This paper focuses on Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy, which refers to behaviour by a carer, where that person fabricates or manufactures illness in another person, such as a child. Munchausen’s becomes the concern of the law and the courts in a variety of settings, including family law hearings and criminal proceedings. In this article, the author outlines the court’s treatment of Munchausen’s Syndrome by Proxy and the development of the Syndrome in medical literature. She also looks at questions of gender and motherhood, and elements of the legal self.
A framework for responding to vulnerable children and their families,
by S. Wise, Family Matters, no.59, Winter 2001, pp.16—21.In the United Kingdom, there has been an explicit move towards greater emphasis on providing family support when there is concern about a child’s welfare. Experience suggests that effective assessment is the foundation upon which to configure the effective delivery of services to children and families. Continuing previous research at the Australian Institute of Family Studies on the outcomes of the UK Looking After Children approach in out of home care in Victoria (1999), the author discusses the value of the UK Children in Need assessment framework for Victorian Family Services. This approach aims to provide effective and comprehensive services to vulnerable families as early as possible within a child-focused service model.
Proceed with caution: the limitations of current parenting capacity assessments,
by M. Spencer, Developing Practice: The Child, Youth & Family Work Journal, no.1, Winter 2001, pp.16—24.Parenting capacity assessments play a major role in what happens to families, particularly those families in which a parent or parents have an intellectual disability. The purpose of this paper is: to review the limitations inherent in current parenting capacity assessments; to discuss the implications of current parenting capacity assessments on families headed by a parent or parents with an intellectual disability; and to identify and recommend key principles in parenting assessment practice.
Child sexual abuse: offender characteristics and modus operandi,
by S. Smallbone & R. Wortley, Canberra, ACT, Australian Institute of Criminology, 2001.Public awareness and concern about child sexual abuse has increased in Australia in recent years. There is no clear evidence, however, that the incidence of child sexual abuse itself is increasing; rather, increased reporting rates appear partly to reflect a greater willingness by victims and others to report allegations of child sexual abuse. Indeed, many alleged child sexual offences are not reported until long after they have occurred. Nevertheless, there is widespread agreement that child sexual abuse is a major social problem. This paper suggests that developmental and early intervention programs that are known to reduce rates of general crime may be equally effective in the reduction of sexual crime.
Counting the cost: estimating the economic benefit of pedophile treatment programs,
by M. Shanahan & R. Donato, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.25, no.4, Apr 2001, pp.541—55.Estimates of the economic impact of child sexual abuse and the benefits to be derived from implementing paedophile treatment programs are examined in this article. The basic economic calculus used to estimate the costs and benefits of paedophile treatment programs is outlined and the need for comprehensive estimates of the economic impact of child sexual abuse is discussed, including the quantification of intangible as well as tangible costs. A range of cost-benefit calculations that vary depending on the underlying assumptions on recidivism rates, the magnitude of intangible costs, and the number of victims per recidivist is presented. Conclusions indicate that, based on a reasonable set of parameters, paedophile treatment programs are likely to be of net benefit to the community.
Paedophile panic,
by M. Stocker, Alternative Law Journal, vol.26, no.3, Jun 2001, pp.133—35.How is it that male homosexuality has become interchangeable in the popular imagination with the sexual abuse of children? The author suggests reasons for the anxiety about predatory gay male paedophiles, and argues that these fears pose significant problems to effectively addressing the reality of heterosexual child abuse perpetrated by men who are known to their victims.
Enforcement of parenting orders: the new regime,
by A. Lanteri, Australian Family Lawyer, vol.15, no.1, Autumn 2001, pp.11—15.The author sets out the background to the legislative amendments to the Family Law Act which establish the "parenting compliance regime" and then describes the preventative and remedial measures, and the punitive provisions. She states that the intention behind the amendments is clear. Some "breaches" can be addressed by better clarity of orders and understanding of parties as to their responsibilities. Some proportion of breaches can be dealt with by parental training. But there is a group of contraventions which are deliberate and careless of a child’s welfare and which need to be addressed with punitive measures. The author concludes that the impact of the new provisions on the judicial approach to enforcement, or even to warnings about the obligations that run with children’s orders, will be the critical test of whether or not the changes are to be effective.
Errorless compliance training with physically abusive mothers: a single-case approach,
by J. Ducharme, L. Atkinson & L. Poulton, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.25, no.6, Jun 2001, pp.855—68.Errorless compliance training is a success-based approach which teaches children to comply with their parents’ requests. The approach uses a hierarchy of compliance probabilities, starting with high compliancy requests and working through the hierarchy to low compliancy requests. Lower compliancy requests are introduced at a slow pace to ensure compliance and success for both the mother and child.
Personal safety curriculum in junior primary classrooms. Are teachers teaching it?
by S. Whiteside, Children Australia, vol.26, no.2, 2001, pp.31—36.Previous studies have revealed that the teaching of personal safety strategies to children is spasmodic and selective, avoiding vital information that would help children to identify and report sexual abuse. In this study a questionnaire was used to explore the views of 33 South Australian junior primary teachers regarding the teaching of personal safety to children. Results showed that most of the participating teachers claimed to teach some personal safety skills using a variety of materials and methods, but it would appear that they concentrated on "safe" topics such as road safety, and avoided topics relating to child sexual abuse and violence. It was also found that 50 per cent had not undertaken any training within the last two years even though the overwhelming majority felt that further training was required in order to teach topics effectively. This suggested that motivation for teaching personal safety was low. These and other findings are discussed and recommendations for greater emphasis on the training of teachers and further research into this area are made.
Safeguarding themselves and their children: mothers share their strategies,
by W. Mohr, J. Fantuzzo & S. Abdul-Kabir, Journal of Family Violence, vol.16, no.1, Mar 2001, pp.75—92.This paper describes a single part of an ongoing research program on child and woman safety. Findings from this study illustrate the ingenuity of women when they need to keep themselves and their children safe in unsafe contexts.
Child welfare outcome research in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia,
by A. Maluccio, F. Ainsworth & J. Thoburn, Washington, DC, Child Welfare League of America, 2000.This publication reviews outcome research about child welfare programs from the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, particularly in relation to service effectiveness, duration of child placement, permanency planning, and child development and functioning. The aim is to provide child welfare administrators, policy makers, practitioners and academics in each of these countries with a comprehensive picture of the current state of child welfare knowledge, at least in the English-speaking world. It looks at outcome research in a range of areas in traditional services, such as kinship care, foster care, residential group care and adoption, and in recent service initiatives, such as family preservation, family reunification, independent living and shared family care. Child protection services are touched on but not explored in detail.
Participatory research with children: experiences from the field,
by G. Robinson, University of Queensland Family Centre Newsletter, no.2, Aug 2001, pp.4—6.Research on children is often done about children rather than with children, with studies based on adults’ ideas of what they think is important. This article is the story of how child research was put into practice in two studies undertaken in Tanzania between 1997 and 1999: one study by UNICEF on children in need of special protection measures; and the other study by the ILO on child labour.
Psychiatric co-morbidity in caregivers and children involved in maltreatment: a pilot research study with policy implications,
by M. De Bellis, E. Broussard & D. Herring, Child Abuse & Neglect, vol.25, no.7, Jul 2001, pp.923—44.This study examined the relationship between psychiatric disorders and child abuse. Findings showed that mothers of maltreated children exhibited a significantly higher incidence of lifetime psychiatric disorders, especially anxiety disorder and depression. The natural fathers or mothers’ live-in mates exhibited significantly higher incidence of lifetime alcohol and substance abuse. The majority of maltreated children reported anxiety disorders, especially post-traumatic stress disorder from witnessing domestic violence, along with depression, suicide ideation and attempts and disruptive disorders. The authors conclude that families involved in child abuse manifest significant histories of psychiatric comorbidity. The identification and treatment of comorbidity may break the intergenerational transmission of abuse.
Recruiting participants for child abuse research: what does it take? by E. Kinard, Journal of Family Violence, vol.16, no.3, Sep 2001, pp.219—36.
This article presents the results of recruitment and retention strategies used in a longitudinal study of child abuse. This study had high retention rates as a result of considerable efforts to maintain contact with the respondents. More published accounts of recruitment and retention procedures are needed to assist researchers with this often difficult part of their research.
A blueprint for the social competencies in children and adolescents,
by A. Fuller, Health Education Australia, vol.1, no.2, 2001, pp.32—39.It is the contention of this article that the development of resilience, emotional intelligence and social competencies in young people is linked to long-term occupational and life success, but is also associated with the prevention of substance abuse, violence and suicide. Risk and resilience factors for young people are identified, covering pre-school and primary years, early primary, middle primary, and middle to late adolescence years. Common concerns, preventive measures, curriculum and academic issues are discussed. Some suggestions for interventions for the promotion of social competencies are provided.
A micro-level analysis of developmental, parenting and