The Politics of Child Abuse in America (Child Welfare: A Series in Child Welfare Practice, Policy, and Research)

Child abuse policy in the United States contains dangerous contradictions, which have only intensified as the public slowly accepted it as a middle class problem. One contradiction is the rapidly expanding child abuse industry (made up of enterprising psychotherapists and attorneys) which is consuming enormous resources, while thousands of poor children are seriously injured or killed, many while being "protected" by public agencies. This "rediscovery" has also led to the frenzied pursuit of offenders, resulting in the sacrifice of some innocent people. Moreover, the media's focus on the sensational details of high-visibility sexual abuse cases has helped to trivialize, if not commercialize, the child abuse problem. As such, child abuse has gone from a social problem to a social spectacle. By the 1980s the child welfare system had become a virtual "nonsystem," marked by a staggering turnover of staff, unmanageable caseloads, a severe shortage of funding, and caseloads composed of highly dysfunctional families (many with drug-related problems). To make room for these families, public agencies rationed services by increasingly screening-out child abuse reports which contained little likelihood of serious bodily harm. In The Politics of Child Abuse in America, the authors argue that child abuse must be viewed as a public safety problem. This redefinition would make it congruent with other family-based social trends, including the crackdown on domestic violence. Children must have the same legal protection currently extended to physically and sexually abused women. This can be done by creating a "Children's Authority," which would have the overall charge for protecting children. Specifically, Children's Authorities would have the responsibility for providing the six main functions of child protection: investigation, enforcement, placement services, prevention and education, family support, and research and development. Offering a unique perspective on the cold reality of this crisis, The Politics of Child Abuse in America will be a provocative work for social workers and human service personnel, as well as the general reader concerned with this timely issue. 0195116682......Page 1 Contents......Page 10 Abbreviations......Page 14 Introduction......Page 18 1. The Cultural Landscape of Child Abuse in the United States......Page 28 The Paradox of Child Abuse......Page 33 The San Diego Experience......Page 34 The Child Abuse Industry......Page 38 Psychotherapy and the Child Abuse Industry......Page 39 The Legal Industry......Page 44 The Unraveling of Child Abuse Policy......Page 48 Conclusion......Page 55 2. Child Abuse as a Social Problem: The Emergence of the Child Savers......Page 61 The Social Context of the Child Rescue Movement......Page 63 The Mary Ellen Legend and the Rise of the Child Rescue Movement......Page 66 The Legend......Page 67 The Role of the Press......Page 72 The Influence of an Outraged Public......Page 73 The Anticruelty Movement in the Context of Other Social Movements......Page 74 The Rise of Judicial Patriarchy......Page 76 Elbridge T. Gerry and the NYSPCC......Page 77 Social Control......Page 82 Parents, the State, and the Rescue of Children......Page 85 Differences Regarding the Role of the SPCCs......Page 87 Conclusion......Page 89 3. The Decline and Rediscovery of Child Abuse, 1920–1960......Page 97 Early Conflict Among "Child Rescuers"......Page 98 The NYSPCC and the Gerry Paradigm......Page 99 The Challenge to the Gerry Paradigm......Page 100 Who Should Do Protective Work, and What Should Be Its Functions?......Page 101 Feminism and the Anticruelty Movement......Page 103 Changing Nomenclature, Changing Definitions......Page 104 Disillusionment with the Juvenile Court......Page 105 Organizational Pattern of Children's Agencies......Page 107 Distinctions Between Child and Family Welfare......Page 109 The Impact of Psychoanalytic Theory......Page 110 Social Work's Escape from Authority......Page 111 The Impact of Economic and Social Conditions After 1930......Page 112 Conclusion......Page 114 4. From the "Battered Child" Syndrome to the "Battered Psyche" Syndrome: Rediscovering Child Abuse in the 1960s and Beyond......Page 122 The Rise of the American Welfare State......Page 123 The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1974......Page 127 Ideological Convergence......Page 132 The Family Preservation Model......Page 134 The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980......Page 137 The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993......Page 141 Conclusion......Page 144 Researching Child Abuse......Page 150 Child Abuse and Political Correctness......Page 157 Maintaining the Myth of Classlessness......Page 164 Funding for Child Abuse and Neglect......Page 166 The Panacea of Family Preservation......Page 170 Service Delivery Problems in the Child Abuse System......Page 172 Social Work Training and Child Protective Services......Page 173 Screening, Investigation, and the Provision of Service......Page 176 AFDC, Substance Abuse, and the Breakdown of the Child Abuse System......Page 178 Conclusion......Page 180 6. Restructuring Child Abuse Services: The Children's Authority......Page 186 The Children's Authority......Page 188 Funding the Children's Authority......Page 189 The Social Mandate and the Span of Authority......Page 191 Administrative Organization......Page 192 Conclusion......Page 199 C......Page 205 F......Page 206 M......Page 207 R......Page 208 W......Page 209

child Abuse Policy In The United States Contains Dangerous Contradictions, Which Have Only Intensified As The Public Slowly Accepted It As A Middle Class Problem. One Contradiction Is The Rapidly Expanding Child Abuse Industry (made Up Of Enterprising Psychotherapists And Attorneys) Which Is Consuming Enormous Resources, While Thousands Of Poor Children Are Seriously Injured Or Killed, Many While Being Protected By Public Agencies. This Rediscovery Has Also Led To The Frenzied Pursuit Of Offenders, Resulting In The Sacrifice Of Some Innocent People. Moreover, The Media's Focus On The Sensational Details Of High-visibility Sexual Abuse Cases Has Helped To Trivialize, If Not Commercialize, The Child Abuse Problem. As Such, Child Abuse Has Gone From A Social Problem To A Social Spectacle.

by The 1980s The Child Welfare System Had Become A Virtual Nonsystem, Marked By A Staggering Turnover Of Staff, Unmanageable Caseloads, A Severe Shortage Of Funding, And Caseloads Composed Of Highly Dysfunctional Families (many With Drug-related Problems). To Make Room For These Families, Public Agencies Rationed Services By Increasingly Screening-out Child Abuse Reports Which Contained Little Likelihood Of Serious Bodily Harm.

in the Politics Of Child Abuse In America, The Authors Argue That Child Abuse Must Be Viewed As A Public Safety Problem. This Redefinition Would Make It Congruent With Other Family-based Social Trends, Including The Crackdown On Domestic Violence. Children Must Have The Same Legal Protection Currently Extended To Physically And Sexually Abused Women. This Can Be Done By Creating A Children's Authority, Which Would Have The Overall Charge For Protecting Children. Specifically, Children's Authorities Would Have The Responsibility For Providing The Six Main Functions Of Child Protection: Investigation, Enforcement, Placement Services, Prevention And Education, Family Support, And Research And Development.

offering A Unique Perspective On The Cold Reality Of This Crisis, the Politics Of Child Abuse In America Will Be A Provocative Work For Social Workers And Human Service Personnel, As Well As The General Reader Concerned With This Timely Issue.

Child abuse policy in the United States contains dangerous contradictions. A rapidly expanding child abuse industry, consisting of enterprising psychotherapists and attorneys, consumes enormous resources. At the same time, thousands of poor children are seriously injured or killed, many while being "protected" by public agencies. The growing interest in child abuse as a middle class problem has led to the frenzied pursuit of offenders, resulting in the sacrifice of innocent children and adults. The Politics of Child Abuse in America presents a compelling analysis of these problems, revealing the historical patterns that gave rise to them and presenting practical policy recommendations. It will be an invaluable resource for scholars, students, and professionals in social work, as well as for anyone concerned about the welfare of children in the United States Child abuse policy in the United States contains dangerous contradictions. The rapidly expanding child abuse industry (made up of enterprising psychotherapists and attorneys) consumes enormous resources, while thousands of poor children are seriously injured or killed, many while under the ""protection"" by public agencies. Meanwhile, the public child abuse system has become a virtual ""nonsystem,"" marked by a staggering turnover of staff, unmanageable caseloads, a severe shortage of funding, and caseloads composed of highly dysfunctional families. In The Politics of Child Abuse in America, t. The recent surge in reports of child abuse has led the authors of this text to examine whether our current responses to the problem are adequate. They trace the cultural, social, and legal factors that have shaped the history of child abuse and responses to it since the 1870s.