Category: , ,

Social Worker’s Guide to Child Abuse and Neglect

By
Jill Goldman, M.B.A.
Marsha K. Salus, M.S.W.

About Authors

Jill Goldman, M.B.A., a consultant with Caliber Associates, has spent the last 10 years conducting research and writing publications on child maltreatment and other issues related to children, youth, and families. She previously served as manager of product development and program services for the National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect Information.

Marsha K. Salus, M.S.W., is a social work consultant. She has worked in the child welfare field for 27 years. She began her career as a CPS worker and supervisor. She has developed several national curricula for child welfare workers and supervisors. She developed a number of pre-service and in-service training programs for child welfare workers and supervisors in a variety of States. She has worked with several States to establish standards of practice for child welfare supervision.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course you’ll be able to:

  1. Enunciate 10 philosophical tenets of child abuse and neglect.
  2. Define child maltreatment, sexual abuse and withholding of medically indicated treatment.
  3. List various forms of physical abuse, sexual abuse, child neglect, and psychological maltreatment.
  4. Describe various forms of physical, educational and emotional neglect.
  5. Cite statistics of child maltreatment victims.
  6. Identify two key sources of child abuse and neglect statistics.
  7. Identify risk factors associated with child maltreatment.
  8. Discuss the effects of child abuse and neglect.
  9. Explain the relationship between child maltreatment and violence, substance abuse, and other problem behaviors later in life.
  10. Describe efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect.
  11. Describe the power of Federal and State governments to intervene in cases where child maltreatment is suspected.
  12. Provide examples of instances where the parent-child relationship may be limited or ended by courts.
  13. Describe a typical child protection process where child maltreatment is alleged.
  14. Explain the underreporting and over reporting problems in the identification of child abuse and neglect.
  15. Identify agencies, organizations, and professionals responsible for child protection at the community level.

Course Contents

  1. Purpose  and Overview
  2. What Hat are the Philosophical Tenets of Child Protection?
    • Key Principles of Child Protection
    • Philosophical Tenets
  3. What is hat is Child Maltreatment?
    • Definitions in Federal Law
    • Sources of Definitions in State Law
    • General Definitions by Type of Maltreatment
  4. WHAT IS THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM?
    • Reported Child Maltreatment Victims
    • Child Maltreatment Perpetrators
    • Nonreported Child Abuse and Neglect
  5. What Factors Contribute to Child Abuse and Neglect?
    • Parent or Caregiver Factors
    • Family Factors
    • Child Factors
    • Environmental Factors
    • Protective Factors
  6. What Are the Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect?
    • Health and Physical Effects
    • Cognitive Development and Academic Achievement
    • Emotional, Psychosocial, and Behavioral Development
    • Resilience
  7. What can be Done to Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect?
    • Prevention as a Strategy
    • Types of Prevention Activities
    • Major Prevention Program Models
    • Role of Various Entities in Prevention Efforts
  8. Which Laws and Policies Guide Public Intervention in Child Maltreatment?
    • The Federal Role in Addressing Child Abuse and Neglect
    • Basis for State Intervention
  9. What Hat does the Child Protection Process Look Like?
    • Identification
    • Reporting
    • Intake
    • Initial Assessment or Investigation
    • Family Assessment
    • Planning
    • Service Provision
    • Evaluation of Family Progress
    • Case Closure
  10. Who Should be Involved in Child Protection at the Community Level?
    • Child Protective Services
    • Law Enforcement
    • Educators and Early Child Care Providers
    • Health Care Providers
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Legal and Judicial System Professionals
    • Substitute Care Providers
    • Faith Community
    • Community Organizations and Support Services Providers
    • Concerned Citizens
  11. How Can Organizations works Together to Protect Children?
    • Principles to Guide Collaboraton
    • Effective Leadership—An Essential Component of Successful Collaboration
    • Collaborative Models
    • Conclusion

End Notes
Appendices:

  • Appendix A—Glossary Of Terms
  • Appendix B—Recourse Listing of National Organizations Concerned with Child Maltreatment
  • Appendix C—State Tool-Free Telephone Numbers for Reporting Child Abuse