Support After the Child Abuse Report : What Schools Can Do, Part 3

by Child Welfare Information Gateway

(Page 3 of 3)

Parents involved in child abuse and neglect are frequently lonely, isolated, and experiencing periods of great personal or family stress. Many schools already provide programs and services that can directly benefit these parents, such as:

Education programs that emphasize the unique skills required of parents and help them understand that these skills are learned, not instinctive.

Early childhood education programs that delineate the process of child development, outline typical capabilities relative to the developmental stage, and suggest ways to enhance the child's development.

Counseling programs that range from job skill training to substance abuse counseling.

Adult education programs that include high school completion and equivalency programs, occupational training, leisure time activities, and recreational programs.

Such programs offer direct help to parents, but they also provide parents of maltreated children with opportunities to socialize, to enhance self-confidence, and to pursue new interests. These benefits are important in breaking the pattern of isolation common among abusive and neglectful parents.

Perhaps the most forgotten victims are the parents whose child was sexually abused by someone within the community. These parents are expected to support and advocate for their abused child. Often, little recognition is given to the fact that these parents may be having problems too. Parents often feel guilty over being unable to protect their children. Educators can be instrumental in recognizing that these parents have these kinds of feelings and may need support so they may help their own children. Sensitive educators might acknowledge this in their dealings with such parents. A distressed parent also might welcome a referral for professional support.

Schools can offer indirect support to families by providing education and assistance to the community at large and by making their extensive facilities available for support groups and crisis nurseries. All that is needed is acceptance of the school's critical role in child abuse and neglect and a willingness to be involved in its elimination.

Child Abuse and Neglect Multidisciplinary Teams

Multidisciplinary teams are a concept that refers to teams inside and outside the school. Within the school, Child Protection Teams or crisis teams are good examples of this approach. These teams are composed of various professionals within the school and are dedicated to reviewing and responding to child abuse reports or a variety of school-based crises, such as substance abuse, death, and other emergencies. By bringing together professionals from different perspectives, children can be served more effectively because team members have specific roles and expertise.

There are also community multidisciplinary teams. A community approach to child maltreatment makes optimal use of the special skills and knowledge of various professionals so that family and community needs are met. Many communities are turning to multidisciplinary, child maltreatment-case consultation teams as a means of ensuring integrated investigation, planning, and service delivery. These community teams usually include representatives from health or mental health, CPS and social services, law enforcement, and education agencies. Members bring with them a wide range of backgrounds and a diversity of diagnostic, assessment, and treatment skills. They meet together regularly to assess cases of child maltreatment and to recommend treatment programs. Team members are able to commit services from the agencies they represent and can call upon a broad range of services, resources, skills, and programs to help families.

Child maltreatment-case consultation teams also frequently serve as a forum for resolving the issues and conflicts that inevitably arise whenever difficult social problems must be addressed by multiple public and private agencies. As they work together, team members come to know, understand, and appreciate each other's functions. Within the team framework, problems can be addressed quickly when they arise. If a particular recommendation has not been proven effective, another can be considered. As team members, educators can make additional contributions to the team. They can lend their expertise in the areas of child development, developmental disabilities, and the educational needs of children.

Community Coordination

To foster coordination, some communities are establishing child protection coordinating committees or task forces, which provide an organizational structure so community agencies and resources involved in meeting the needs of maltreated children and their families can work together. This community effort can define roles and responsibilities, increase communication, identify gaps in services, and avoid duplication of services, which enhances the efficient use of existing services and resources. Typically, CPS has the primary responsibility for organizing the committee. Educators are one of the many groups called upon to work together along with multiple agencies and professional disciplines to maximize the services available to the community. If there is no child protection coordinating committee in a community, educators may be able to help institute one. Participation in such a body also should be addressed in a school's policy.

There are a variety of community-based programs designed to meet the needs of families and children at risk. For example, New York City Public Schools, in collaboration with the Children's Aid Society, the New York City Board of Education, and community members, designed and implemented a project initially intended to curb criminal activity among youth. The program arranged for the schools to be open for extended hours and to serve nutritional breakfasts to students, as well as to help students with homework and medical services. The program ended up also supporting at-risk families, however, and the local child protection agency felt its clients' needs were successfully served by the program.

About the Author

www.childwelfare.gov
Formerly the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information and the National Adoption Information Clearinghouse, Child Welfare Information Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. A service of the Children's Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.