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Date: November 25, 2024 Mon
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Results for child abuse and neglect
234 results foundAuthor: Earle, Kathleen A. Title: Child Abuse and Neglect: An Examination of American Indian Data Summary: From the executive summary: "The purpose of this research project was to obtain data regarding the current status of child abuse and/or neglect of Native children in the United States. Specifically, this project researched the path of child abuse and/or neglect (CA/N) data for Native children beginning with American Indian/Alaska Native tribes and the states in which they are located. This study was designed to gauge the accuracy of national statistics on child abuse and neglect which, it was assumed, must ultimately draw on data from the tribal level. States were surveyed in order to ascertain if they collect data from the tribes for entry into state or national data systems. Details: Seattle, WA: Casey Family Programs; Portland, OR: National Indian Child Welfare Association, 2000. 60p. Source: Year: 2000 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 116314 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectNative Americans |
Author: Sullivan, Elizabeth Title: Deprived of Dignity: Degrading Treatment and Abusive Discipline in New York City and Los Angeles Public Schools Summary: This report examines degrading treatment and abusive disciplinary measures experienced by students of color from low-income communities in public schools in New York City and Los Angeles. It documents this destructive school culture through the lens of human rights. Details: New York: National Economic and Social Rights Initiative, 2007. 62p. Source: Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 116295 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentEducationHuman Rights |
Author: Taylor, P. Title: The Cost of Child Abuse in Australia Summary: In this report, the costs to the Australian economy and society of the abuse of children and young people aged 0 to 17 years are assessed, with five main types of child abuse covered -- physical, emotional and psychological, sexual abuse, neglect and witness of (or knowledge of) family violence. Details: Melbourne: Australian Childhood Foundation and Child Abuse Prevention Research Australia, 2008. 176p. Source: Year: 2008 Country: Australia URL: Shelf Number: 113245 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentCosts of CrimeFamily ViolenceSexual Abuse |
Author: Family and Children's Trust Fund of Virginia Title: Violence at Home: The FACT Report Summary: This report measures the prevalence and interrelatedness of violence in families, ranging from infants to the elderly, and how often the incidences occur by locality in Virginia. The report includes the following family violence issues: child abuse and neglect, elder abuse, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. Details: Richmond, VA: The Family & Children's Trust Fund of Virginia, 2010. 46p., app. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 119387 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectElder AbuseFamily Violence (Virginia)Sexual Abuse |
Author: Bromfield, Leah Title: The Economic Costs of Child Abuse and Neglect Summary: This resource sheet examines the cost of child abuse and neglect related to the various Australian government departments responsible for children protection services. Details: Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2010. 6p. Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 13, 2010 at http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/sheets/rs2/rs2.html Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/sheets/rs2/rs2.html Shelf Number: 119594 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionCosts of Crime |
Author: Rees, Gwyther Title: Safeguarding Young People: Responding to Young People Aged 11 to 17 Who Are Maltreatment Summary: This study looked at the needs of young people aged 11-17 in the child protection process in the U.K. and found that services were more geared to help younger children, and the specific needs of young people were often neglected. The report calls on policy makers to examine what works best for this age group and to initiate the necessary policy changes. Details: London: The Children's Society, 2010. 173p. Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 13, 2010 at: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/resources/documents/Research/2148 5_full.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/resources/documents/Research/2148 5_full.pdf Shelf Number: 119601 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Maltreatment (U.K.)Child Protection |
Author: Schorr, Lisbeth B. Title: Pathway to the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Summary: This report presents a comprehensive set of actions that policymakers, service providers, and community organizations can take to improve the lives of children and families, particularly those living in tough neighborhoods. Its emphasis is on acting strategically across disciplines, systems, and jurisdictions to reduce the costs of abuse and neglect and to promote healthy children, families and communities. Details: Cambridge, MA: Project on Effective Interventions, Pathways Mapping Initiative, 2007. 162p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2010 at: http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/entres/pdf/Pathway.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/entres/pdf/Pathway.pdf Shelf Number: 113449 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Maltreatment |
Author: Barth, Richard P. Title: Development Status and Early Intervention Service Needs of Maltreated Children Summary: Children younger than three years of age are the most likely of all children to become involved with child welfare services. Those with medical or developmental conditions experience an even higher level of involvement, including more removals from parental care and longer stays in foster care. In 2003, the Federal government amended the Child Abuse and Prevention Treatment Act (CAPTA) to require that infants and toddlers who are substantiated for child maltreatment be referred to early intervention services funded under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The CAPTA requires each state to develop “…provisions and procedures for referral of a child under the age of three who is involved in a substantiated case of child abuse or neglect to early intervention services funded under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act” (section 106(b)(2)(A)(xxi)) (CAPTA, 2003). While there is some general agreement that children who experience child abuse/neglect may experience a range of developmental delays across developmental domains, little is known about the true extent of developmental problems of children substantiated for abuse/neglect, and those subsequently removed from parental custody and placed in an alternative living environment. This dearth of information is in part due to the inconsistencies in child welfare practice across jurisdictions; variability in state and jurisdictional eligibility criteria for infants and toddlers for Part C service; differential policies, procedures, and practice competencies of public child welfare workers; and the differential availability of resources to serve children once identified. Further complicating the issue is the requirement under Part C that states must provide services to children who meet the state criterion for eligibility, but states may also choose to serve children who are “at risk of having substantial developmental delays if early intervention services are not provided.” Only five states (CA, HI, MA, NM, & WV) currently serve such at risk children. This project is funded by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Child maltreatment has been shown to have a significant negative impact on children’s healthy growth and development. However, national estimates of the extent and type of need for early intervention services for maltreated infants and toddlers are lacking. The overarching question guiding our analysis is: What are the developmental problems among children receiving Child Welfare Services that suggest a need for Part C early intervention services? Implementing CAPTA requirements poses a variety of challenges. A key challenge is the lack of information on which to begin considering problems and solutions. Therefore, the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation has endeavored to achieve maximum benefit from data already collected in the National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study (NEILS) and the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being (NSCAW) in an effort to provide some information about maltreated children and early intervention. This study answers several key questions: 1. To what extent do maltreated children have developmental problems or are subject to factors associated with poor developmental outcomes? 2. What services might these maltreated children be eligible for and what services are they receiving through child welfare systems? 3. What child and/or case characteristics (e.g., child welfare setting) influence developmental service receipt by maltreated children? and 4. What barriers to service provision and solutions have experts in the field identified? Data from the National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-Being was used to describe the developmental characteristics of infants and toddlers in Child Welfare Services nationally. The National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study (NEILS) was used to provide comparative national information on infants and toddlers entering Part C early intervention services. In addition to these two data sources, we conducted a literature review and discussions were held with Part C and Child Welfare Service experts. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, 2007. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 18, 2010 at: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/08/devneeds/report.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/08/devneeds/report.pdf Shelf Number: 119990 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Maltreatment |
Author: Turton, Jackie Title: An Investigation Into the Nature and Impact of Complaints Made Against Paediatricians Involved in Child Protection Procedures Summary: Child protection is a complex and emotive area for any professional. A Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) survey (2004) demonstrated that paediatricians in the field are often the targets of unfounded complaints and that the number of such complaints was rising. Although over 97% of complaints were subsequently unproven, the survey identified that complaints had a profound impact on the professional and private lives of some paediatricians and had influenced their willingness to undertake future child protection work. The findings of this survey prompted a more detailed qualitative study to explore the nature and impact of complaints made against paediatricians in relation to child protection. The research undertaken was commissioned by the RCPCH as part of an ongoing programme of activity to support doctors working in child protection. Semi-structured interviews with a representative sample of 72 paediatricians drawn from the 2004 survey were conducted during mid-2005. Interviews were recorded and transcribed and the transcripts thematically analysed with NVIVO software. The sampling method used enabled the inclusion of a broad spectrum of paediatric experiences and the complaints discussed varied both in relation to the nature of the complaint and how far they progressed through the system. It is acknowledged that a limitation of the study was that the views of complainants were not sought, mainly because of ethical and practical difficulties of identifying complainants within the project time frame. The College Research Division has recently received funding for a project involving parents that will be used to complement the findings from this study. The study identified common themes in relation to complaints and considered strategies that might minimise complaints. It also highlighted the more general concerns expressed by paediatricians about their roles in safeguarding children, including educational and training needs. Details: London: Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, 2007. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 18, 2010 at: http://www.chimat.org.uk/resource/item.aspx?RID=56784 Year: 2007 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.chimat.org.uk/resource/item.aspx?RID=56784 Shelf Number: 119968 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild Protection |
Author: Brandon, Marian Title: Building on the Learning from Serious Case Reviews: A Two-Year Analysis of Child Protection Database Notifications 2007-2009 Summary: Serious case reviews (SCRs) are local enquiries into the death or serious injury of a child where abuse or neglect are known or suspected. They are carried out under the auspices of Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) so that lessons can be learnt locally. Every two years an overview analysis of these reviews throughout England has been commissioned to draw out themes and trends so that lessons learnt from these cases can inform both policy and practice. This is the 5th such biennial analysis of serious case reviews, and relates to incidents which occurred during the period April 2007 - March 2009. The report aims to collate and describe data from the child protection database reports on all notifications which progressed to a SCR during this two-year period, adapting the coding framework used in the 3rd and 4th biennial analyses. It also compares those notifications (of serious injuries or harm) which do and do not become a serious case review and analyses the data to produce descriptive statistics and findings in relation to initial themes and trends emerging from the database reports. Details: Runcorn, UK: UK Department of Education, 2010. 61p. Source: Internet Resource:Research Report DFE-RR040: Accessed October 23, 2010 at: http://publications.education.gov.uk/eOrderingDownload/DFE-RR040.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://publications.education.gov.uk/eOrderingDownload/DFE-RR040.pdf Shelf Number: 120062 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild Protection |
Author: Horsfall, Briony Title: Are Social Marketing Campaigns Effective in Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect? Summary: Social marketing campaigns are a common strategy for raising awareness about social problems such as child abuse and neglect. However, questions have been raised about the role social marketing campaigns could play, and their potential efficacy in the prevention of child abuse and neglect and in supporting vulnerable children and families. In this NCPC Issues paper, evidence for the impact of media-based social marketing campaigns related to child protection, parenting and child abuse prevention are examined. Details: Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2010. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: NCPC Issues, No. 32: Accessed October 29, 2010 at: http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/issues/issues32/issues32.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/issues/issues32/issues32.pdf Shelf Number: 120134 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectMedia CampaignsPublicity CampaignsSocial Marketing Campaigns |
Author: U.S. Children's Bureau, Office on Child Abuse and Neglect Title: Community Partnerships: Improving the Response to Child Maltreatment Summary: This manual offers guidance on how diverse community agencies, organizations, and individuals can work together to form a web of support for families and create safe, healthy environments where children can thrive. The manual describes the benefits of community partnerships, outlines the steps for establishing and sustaining partnerships, and demonstrates how to measure results. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Children's Bureau, 2010. 142p. Source: Internet Resource: Crime Abuse and Neglect User Manual Series: Accessed November 4, 2010 at: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/partners/partners.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/usermanuals/partners/partners.pdf Shelf Number: 120184 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild Welfare |
Author: Arean, Juan Carlos Title: Fathering After Violence: Working with Abusive Fathers in Supervised Visitation Summary: This guide is intended to assist the grantees of the Safe Havens: Supervised Visitation and Safe Exchange Grant Program (Supervised Visitation Program or SVP) that want to enhance the safety and well-being of women and children by working more deliberately with abusive fathers who use the centers to visit their children. Although fathers are not always the visiting parents and, in fact, in some centers mothers make up almost half of the visiting caseload, this document was designed to target in particular visiting fathers who have been violent with their intimate partners. This publication takes as a point of departure the minimum practice standards outlined in the Guiding Principles of the Supervised Visitation Program (Guiding Principles or GP) and builds upon that document to propose a continuum of more advanced interventions for the engagement of abusive fathers in visitation centers. These interventions are based on the learnings from the Fathering After Violence Initiative, developed by the Family Violence Prevention Fund (FVPF) and five current and past SVP grantees with funding from the Office of Violence Against Women (OVW). The work described in this guide is grounded on two key premises: Men who use violence can be held accountable for their behavior and simultaneously be encouraged to change it; and women and children can benefit from this approach. Details: San Francisco: Family Violence Prevention Fund, 2008. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 30, 2010 at: http://www.endabuse.org/userfiles/file/Children_and_Families/fathering_after_violence.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://www.endabuse.org/userfiles/file/Children_and_Families/fathering_after_violence.pdf Shelf Number: 120315 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Freisthler, Bridget Title: Social Mechanisms of Child Maltreatment Summary: This article begins to describe and explicate the specific mechanisms by which substance use and the substance use environment contribute to specific types of child maltreatment. These mechanisms relating alcohol outlet densities and drug market activities to child maltreatment described here include effects on social disorganization, parent's drinking and drug use behaviors, and parental supervision. By investigating potential mechanisms, new information could be obtained on the importance and role of alcohol, drugs, and their availability in the etiology of child maltreatment. This knowledge can be used to further tailor interventions to those conditions most likely to prevent and reduce maltreatment. Details: Los Angeles: California Center for Population Research, University of California - Los Angeles, 2010. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: PSP-CCPR-2010-018: Accessed December 3, 2010 at: http://papers.ccpr.ucla.edu/papers/PWP-CCPR-2010-018/PWP-CCPR-2010-018.SocMech Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ccpr.ucla.edu/papers/PWP-CCPR-2010-018/PWP-CCPR-2010-018.SocMech Shelf Number: 120369 Keywords: Alcohol Outlet DensityChild Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentDrug MarketsDrug UseSubstance Abuse |
Author: Freisthler, Bridget Title: Exploring the Relationship Between Levels of Alcohol Use and Child Physical Abuse Summary: This study examined how different levels of drinking were related to the perpetration of child physical abuse in California. Methods. A general population telephone survey of 3,023 parents or legal guardians 18 years or older was conducted across 50 cities in California during March 2009 through October 2009. The telephone survey included items data on physically abusive parenting practices, drinking behaviors, and socio-demographic characteristics. Results. Ordered probit models found that heavier moderate drinkers, infrequent heavy drinkers, occasional heavy drinkers, and frequent heavy drinkers were all more likely to report engaging in physically abusive behaviors over the past year than were lifetime abstainers. The marginal effects for some demographic variables were statistically significant for participants who reported no and minor physical abuse. Conclusion. Parents who drink heavily infrequently or occasionally are not likely to meet the diagnostic criteria for alcohol abuse or dependence. Children of these parents may be overlooked by both the substance abuse treatment and child welfare systems, meaning that without intervention or services they are at greater risk for future problems. Details: Los Angeles: California Center for Population Research, University of California - Los Angeles, 2010. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: PWP-CCPR-2010-017: Accessed December 3, 2010 at: http://papers.ccpr.ucla.edu/papers/PWP-CCPR-2010-017/PWP-CCPR-2010-017.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ccpr.ucla.edu/papers/PWP-CCPR-2010-017/PWP-CCPR-2010-017.pdf Shelf Number: 120370 Keywords: Alcohol AbuseChild Abuse and NeglectChild Maltreatment |
Author: Freisthler, Bridget Title: The Geography of Drug Market Activities and Child Maltreatment Summary: The purpose of this study is to begin to understand how the drug market activities place children at risk for being abused or neglect by examining both the temporal and spatial patterns of drug market activities over time. Data were collected for 95 Census tracts in Sacramento, California over seven years (n = 665). The study examined the relationship between child maltreatment (as measured by referrals, substantiations, and foster care entries) and drug possessions and drug sales. Data were analyzed using Bayesian space-time models. The study found that referrals for child maltreatment investigations were less likely to occur in places where current drug market activity (as measured by drug possessions and drug sales) were present. However, drug sales and past year local and spatially lagged drugs sales were positively related to referrals. After the investigative phase (i.e., referrals) Census tracts with more drug possessions and drug sales had higher numbers of substantiations and those tracts with more possessions also had more entries into foster care. The temporal delay between drug sales and child maltreatment referrals may: (1) indicate that the surveillance systems designed to protect children may not be very responsive to changing neighborhood conditions or (2) be indicative of the time it takes for drug sales to reach their users and for the detrimental effects of the drug use to appear. Drug activity is likely factored into the overall risk to children by child welfare caseworkers as evidenced by significantly higher substantiations and foster care entries in these areas. Details: Los Angeles: California Center for Population Research, University of California - Los Angeles, 2010. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: PWP-CCPR-2010-016: Accessed December 3, 2010 at: http://papers.ccpr.ucla.edu/papers/PWP-CCPR-2010-016/PWP-CCPR-2010-016.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ccpr.ucla.edu/papers/PWP-CCPR-2010-016/PWP-CCPR-2010-016.pdf Shelf Number: 120380 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentDrug MarketsDrug Offenders |
Author: Freisthler, Bridget Title: Alcohol Use, Drinking Venue Utilization, and Child Physical Abuse: Results from a Pilot Study Summary: A positive relationship between parents’ drinking and child physical abuse has been established. This paper examines how a parent’s use of drinking locations is related to physical abuse. A convenience sample of 103 parents was answered questions on physical abuse with the Conflict Tactics Scale – Parent Child version (CTS-PC), current drinking behavior, and the frequency with which they drank at different venues, including bars and parties. Probit models were used to assess relationships between parent demographics, drinking patterns, places of drinking and CTS-PC scores. Frequent drinking, frequent drinking in bars, parties in a parent’s own home, and frequent drinking at friends’ homes were positively related to child physical abuse. Drinking locations are related to child physical abuse. This suggests that time spent in these venues provides opportunities to mix with individuals that may share the same attitudes and norms towards acting violently. Details: Los Angeles: California Center for Population Research, University of California - Los Angeles, 2009. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: On-Line Working Paper Series, CCPR-036-09: Accessed December 6, 2010 at: http://papers.ccpr.ucla.edu/papers/PWP-CCPR-2009-036/PWP-CCPR-2009-036.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ccpr.ucla.edu/papers/PWP-CCPR-2009-036/PWP-CCPR-2009-036.pdf Shelf Number: 120390 Keywords: Alcohol AbuseAlcohol Related CrimeChild Abuse and Neglect |
Author: Lamont, Alister Title: Child Deaths from Abuse and Neglect in Australia Summary: This Resource Sheet provides a statistical overview of child deaths from child abuse and neglect in Australia and internationally. Child deaths from abuse and neglect are deaths resulting from acts of physical violence or neglect of a child, that are perpetrated by a family member or caregiver. Details: Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2010. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 14, 2011 at: http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/sheets/rs4/rs4.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/sheets/rs4/rs4.pdf Shelf Number: 120754 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Homicide |
Author: Murtaza, Amir Title: Silent Shrieks: A Situational Analysis of Violence Against Street Children in Karachi Summary: Violence against children is certainly not a new phenomenon. Millions of children throughout the world, including Pakistan, are the victims of physical, sexual, emotional violence and discrimination. However, the definition of “violence” to children varies from country to country and culture to culture. Different countries have differing levels of “legal” violence to children, characterizing such violence as forms of allowable punishment. Negative impact of globalization, unplanned urbanization, increasing poverty, rural-urban migration and rising unemployment have devastating consequences for children. Under these adverse circumstances, poor families, especially in underdeveloped countries, abandon their children or they run away because of lack of parental care and concern. Poverty, neglect and mistreatment are the major factors compelling them to leave their homes and seek shelter in big cities, making streets, market places, bus stops and railway stations as their new homes. To make a living, they take petty jobs, indulge in immoral activities and often take drugs. In the process, they come across criminals who lure them to a similar life of crime. Children who leave, run away, or forced to take refuge in the streets are generally attracted to Karachi, the economic capital of the country. Therefore, street children are extremely visible in all 18 towns of the city. The exact numbers of street children in Karachi are unknown; a look of railway stations or bus stops strengthens the prevailing notion that the arrival of any train/bus from rural areas of the country increases the number of street children in Karachi. The working conditions of these children can be described as dirty and dangerous. They do all sorts of manual work and do not find any profession that could ultimately lead them to skilled profession. Children on the streets suffer both physically and psychologically. Their exposure to unhealthy living and working conditions, vulnerability to physical and sexual abuse, drugs and indulgence in criminal activities are some of the physical threats. Violence against street children in Karachi manifests itself in a number of forms. However, the exact scope of the problem is not known as it has been only in the last few years that the prevalence of deliberate physical and mental violence to street children by parents, peers, police and others has begun to be acknowledged however not documented. The purpose of this situational analysis is to document the patterns and magnitude of violence against street children in Karachi and provide groundwork for further researches. Details: Pakistan: Initiator Human Development Foundation, 2010. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2011 at: http://www.crin.org/docs/SLIENT-SHRIEKS.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Pakistan URL: http://www.crin.org/docs/SLIENT-SHRIEKS.pdf Shelf Number: 121072 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentStreet ChildrenViolence Against Children |
Author: Bromfield, Leah Title: Issues for the Safety and Wellbeing of Children in Families with Multiple and Complex Problems: The Co-occurrence of Domestic Violence, Parental Substance Misuse, and Mental Health Problems Summary: The factors most commonly associated with the occurrence of child abuse and neglect, and identified in families involved with child protection services, are domestic violence, parental substance abuse and parental mental health problems. The significance of parental substance misuse, mental health problems and domestic violence is made clear in the National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children, which states “A particular focus is sustained on key risk factors of mental health, domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse” (Council of Australian Governments, 2009). Families in which parents present with these problems are often situated within a wider context of exclusion and disadvantage (e.g., housing instability, poverty, low education, social isolation and neighbourhood disadvantage). Parents may also be struggling to come to terms with their own experiences of trauma and victimisation. These types of problems are complex, often inter-related, and chronic in nature and rarely occur in isolation. Where these problems occur within families, the families are described as “families with multiple and complex problems”. This paper investigates the separate impacts of parental substance misuse, domestic violence and parental mental health problems. It presents evidence regarding the extent to which these problems co-occur and a discussion of the wider context of exclusion and disadvantage, its causes and its consequences. Finally, it provides an overview of research and theory for working with families with multiple and complex problems. Details: Melbourne: National Child Protection Clearinghouse, Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2010. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: NCPC Issues No. 33: Accessed March 21, 2011 at: http://twitemail.com/users/14808835/5/attachment/20101215-%20The%20Safety%20&%20Wellbeing%20of%20Children%20in%20Families%20with%20Multiple%20&%20Complex%20Problems.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://twitemail.com/users/14808835/5/attachment/20101215-%20The%20Safety%20&%20Wellbeing%20of%20Children%20in%20Families%20with%20Multiple%20&%20Complex%20Problems.pdf Shelf Number: 121083 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionDomestic ViolenceFamily Violence (Australia)Mental HealthSubstance Abuse |
Author: Rosenthal, Eric Title: Abandoned and Disappeared: Mexico’s Segregation and Abuse of Children and Adults with Disabilities Summary: Disappeared and Abandoned: Mexico’s Segregation and Abuse of Children and Adults with Disabilities is the product of a year-long investigation and collaboration between Disability Rights International (DRI) and the Comisión Méxicana de Defensa y Promoción de los Derechos Humanos (CMDPDH). From August 2009 through September 2010, DRI and the CMDPDH investigated psychiatric institutions, orphanages, shelters, and other public facilities that house children and adults with disabilities. This report documents violations of the rights of people with disabilities under the new United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and other human rights treaties ratified by Mexico. The investigative team documented a broad array of human rights violations against people with disabilities and found that many people are forced to live their entire lives in institutions in atrocious and abusive conditions. This report concludes that Mexico segregates thousands of children and adults with disabilities from society in violation of CRPD article 19 which guarantees the “right of all persons with disabilities to live in the community with choices equal to others.” The primary reason for institutionalization is Mexico’s lack of community-based services to provide the support necessary for individuals with mental disabilities to live in the community. People without families who are willing or able to support them are officially referred to as abandonados, and they are relegated to languish in institutions without hope for return to the community. Children with disabilities may have loving families. But without support, many parents of children with disabilities have no choice but to place their children in institutions. Within institutions, children and adults with disabilities are subject to inhuman and degrading conditions of detention that violate the CRPD and other human rights conventions, such as the American Convention on Human Rights1 and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Filthy, run-down living areas, lack of medical care and rehabilitation, and a failure to provide oversight renders placement in some institutions dangerous and even life-threatening. The use of long-term restraints in institutions may rise to the level of torture under the UN Convention against Torture. The failure to provide essential medical care to people detained in Mexican facilities violates their right to life under the CRPD and the American Convention on Human Rights. Due to a failure to provide oversight, children have literally disappeared from institutions. Some of these children may have been subject to sex trafficking and forced labor. Mexico’s laws fail to protect children or adults with disabilities against arbitrary detention in violation of the CRPD and American Convention. Once in institutions, the right to legal recognition as a person – as protected by article 12 of the CRPD – is denied by the arbitrary denial of the right to make the most basic decisions about life. Details: Washington, DC: Disability Rights International, 2010. 73p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 28, 2011 at: http://www.disabilityrightsintl.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Mex-Report-English-Nov30-finalpdf.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Mexico URL: http://www.disabilityrightsintl.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/Mex-Report-English-Nov30-finalpdf.pdf Shelf Number: 121139 Keywords: Adults with DisabilitiesChild Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionDisability (Mexico)Human RightsMental Health Care |
Author: Spielberger, Julie Title: Building a System of Support for Evidence-Based Home Visitation Programs in Illinois: Early Findings from the Strong Foundations Evaluation Summary: In the fall of 2009, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), in collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and the Home Visiting Task Force (HVTF) of the Early Learning Council began the implementation of Strong Foundations. Funded by the Children’s Bureau, Illinois was one of 17 grantees in 15 states to receive funding for 5-years to support the implementation, scale up, and sustainability of evidence-based home visiting programs for the prevention of child maltreatment. Each grantee is expected to conduct local implementation and outcome evaluations, along with an analysis of program costs, and contribute information to a national cross-site evaluation conducted by a research team from Mathematica Policy Research and Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago (MPR-CH). Another research team at Chapin Hall was contracted to conduct the local evaluation of Strong Foundations. Strong Foundations is based on the assumption that a well-functioning and effective infrastructure at the state level will be reflected in, and supportive of, a well-functioning and effective local system and the successful operation of program sites. It is further assumed that if programs operate successfully, they will produce long-term positive outcomes on maternal life course, child development, and the prevention of child maltreatment similar to those observed in randomized controlled trials of these evidence-based programs. Following these assumptions, the two overarching goals for Strong Foundations are to: (1) implement activities to strengthen the infrastructure of supports for home visiting programs in Illinois and (2) ensure that programs operate with fidelity to their model and are supported with necessary training and resources. For the purposes of the evaluation, we were asked to concentrate on three models of evidence-based home visiting programs in Illinois — Parents as Teachers (PAT), Healthy Families America (HFA), and the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP). The primary research questions were:1 State system: To what extent do state partners in the Strong Foundations’ initiative collaborate and implement an effective state infrastructure to support evidence-based home visiting programs, for example, with respect to governance, training and technical assistance? Community partnerships: How are communities supported and assisted by the state infrastructure in selecting evidence-based home visiting programs to meet the needs of families and in delivering services effectively? Are home visiting programs integrated into the full array of services and supports for families with young children in the community? Program quality and fidelity: Are home visiting programs being implemented and delivered in a way that is faithful to their program model, for example, with respect to staff selection, training, and supervision; engagement, participation, and retention of families; intensity, length, and frequency of services; and links to other community services? To address these questions, the evaluation includes (1) a process evaluation to assess the implementation of the state system, local infrastructure, and the operation of local programs and (2) an administrative data study of program performance, capacity, and fidelity. Drawing primarily from interviews with state-level informants, interviews with program directors and supervisors at 15 local programs, focus group interviews with home visitors, and staff surveys, this preliminary report offers some early findings and recommendations on aspects of the state level structures and supports for evidence based home visitation services, as well as program implementation and quality. Details: Chicago: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, 2011. 136p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 11, 2011 at: http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/Building%20a%20System%20of%20Support_03_16_11%20.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/Building%20a%20System%20of%20Support_03_16_11%20.pdf Shelf Number: 121297 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Maltreatment (Illinois)Child ProtectionHome Visitation Programs |
Author: Cossar, Jeanette Title: Don't Make Assumptions: Children's and Young People's Views of the Child Protection System and Messages for Change Summary: The aim of this research, commissioned by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner and carried out by a team from the University of East Anglia, was to seek children and young people’s views of the child protection system and to consider how those views might contribute to improving responses to abuse and neglect. It aimed to gather the views of children and young people living with their parents, who all had a child protection plan in place. The research is timely as it comes during a period when the child protection system in England is being reviewed. We hope that the findings will be of interest to children and families involved in child protection, as well as to professionals working with children and to policy makers. Details: London: Office of the Children's Commissioner, 2011. 93p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 21, 2011 at: http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/publications/content_486 Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/content/publications/content_486 Shelf Number: 121238 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Protection (U.K.) |
Author: Berezina, Evgenia Title: Street Children: Victimization and Abuse of Street Children Worldwide Summary: This report examines the lives of nearly 150 million children worldwide who are living on the streets. These children are among the most vulnerable to neglect, abuse, exploitation, torture, and death... often at the hands of the very individuals and institutions that are supposed to protect them. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the worldwide problem of abuse and violence of children living on the streets. These children are exceptionally vulnerable and are often exploited and made outcasts of society. Details: Washington, DC: Youth Advocate Program International, 2004. 4 p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 19, 2011 at: http://www.yapi.org/rpstreetchildren.pdf Year: 2004 Country: International URL: http://www.yapi.org/rpstreetchildren.pdf Shelf Number: 121756 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionStreet Children |
Author: Harvin, Judith Title: The Family Drug & Alcohol Court (FDAC) Evaluation Project Final Report Summary: This report presents the findings from the evaluation of the first pilot Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) in Britain. FDAC is a new approach to care proceedings, in cases where parental substance misuse is a key element in the local authority decision to bring proceedings. It is being piloted at the Inner London Family Proceedings Court in Wells Street. Initially the pilot was to run for three years, to the end of December 2010, but is now to continue until March 2012. FDAC is a specialist court for a problem that is anything but special. Its potential to help break the inter-generational cycle of harm associated with parental substance misuse goes straight to the heart of public policy and professional practice. Parental substance misuse is a formidable social problem and a factor in up to two-thirds of care cases. It is a major risk factor for child maltreatment, family separation and offending in adults, and for poor educational performance and substance misuse by children and young people. The parents’ many difficulties create serious problems for their children and place major demands on health, welfare and criminal justice services. For these reasons, parental substance misuse is a cross-cutting government agenda. FDAC is distinctive because it is a court-based family intervention which aims to improve children’s outcomes by addressing the entrenched difficulties of their parents. It has been adapted to English law and practice from a model of family treatment drug courts that is used widely in the USA and is showing promising results with a higher number of cases where parents and children were able to remain together safely, and with swifter alternative placement decisions for children if parents were unable to address their substance misuse successfully. The catalysts for the FDAC pilot were the encouraging evidence from the USA and concerns about the response to parental substance misuse through ordinary care proceedings in England: poor child and parent outcomes; insufficient co-ordination between adult and children’s services; late intervention to protect children; delay in reaching decisions; and the soaring costs of proceedings, linked to the cost of expert evidence. The aim of the evaluation was to describe the FDAC pilot and estimate its costs, identify set-up and implementation lessons, compare FDAC with ordinary care proceedings including a comparison of costs, and indicate whether this new approach might lead to better outcomes for children and parents. Details: London: Brunel University, 2011. 197p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 20, 2011 at: http://www.brunel.ac.uk/7067/FDAC/FDACEVALUATIONFINALREPORTMay2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.brunel.ac.uk/7067/FDAC/FDACEVALUATIONFINALREPORTMay2011.pdf Shelf Number: 121776 Keywords: Alcohol AbuseAlcohol CourtsChild Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionDrug Courts (U.K.) |
Author: Sedlak, Andrea J. Title: Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS–4): Supplementary Analyses of Race Differences in Child Maltreatment Rates in the NIS–4 Summary: For the first time in the history of the National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect, the most recent cycle, the NIS–4, found race differences in maltreatment rates, with Black children experiencing maltreatment at higher rates than White children in several categories. The efforts described in this report attempted to understand this finding by considering possible reasons why the NIS–4 results diverged from the findings in earlier cycles and by using multi-factor logistic modeling to reanalyze the NIS–4 data in order to isolate whether and how race contributed to maltreatment risk independent of the other important risk factors that correlated with race. The authors examined two possible explanations for why the NIS–4 found statistically reliable race differences in rates of some categories of child maltreatment, in contrast to the findings of previous NIS cycles. They concluded that the finding is at least partly a consequence of the greater precision of the NIS–4 estimates and partly due to the enlarged gap between Black and White children in economic well-being. Income, or socioeconomic status, is the strongest predictor of maltreatment rates, but since the time of the NIS–3, incomes of Black families have not kept pace with the incomes of White families. Race correlates with a number of other predictors of maltreatment, so it was important to take the effects of these other correlated predictors into account when evaluating the effects of race. The authors attempted to do this by building multi-factor models that incorporated all the statistically reliable predictors of maltreatment in the category. The final multi-factor models revealed that race did have effects on risk in certain maltreatment categories, even after the effects of other important predictors were considered. Black children were at significantly greater risk than White children of experiencing physical abuse under both the Harm and Endangerment Standards, but in both cases, this race difference depended on SES. The race difference was small or nonexistent among children living in low SES households, but it was notably larger for children in not-low SES households. In two maltreatment categories, Endangerment Standard emotional maltreatment and overall Endangerment Standard maltreatment, race differences depended on SES and family structure. There were no race differences among children in low SES households, but the maltreatment risk for Black children in not-low SES households was two or more times greater than the risk for White children in this condition. Black children were also at comparatively elevated risk when living with unmarried parents or a single parent with a partner in the household, whereas the risk for White children in those circumstances was considerably lower. At the same time, White children appeared to have somewhat higher risk than Black children when living with married parents who were not both biologically related to them and when living with a single parent who had no cohabiting partner. White children had significantly higher risk for Endangerment Standard physical neglect, but this race difference appeared only among children in low SES households. This pattern resembled the earlier findings of multi-factor analyses of the NIS–3 data, which applied in more maltreatment categories in that study (Sedlak and Schultz, 2005). The present findings are qualified by the limitations of the predictors that were available for the NIS–4 multi-factor analyses, which comprised only general demographic characteristics of the children and their families. The key measure of SES was less than ideal in two respects—the large amount of missing data that required imputation and the fact race differences that emerged in the not-low SES condition could, in part, actually reflect the underlying income differences. Independent evidence indicates that Black and White children very probably have different underlying SES distributions within the NIS–4 non-low SES category, with the not-low SES Black children less well off than the not-low SES White children. If the economic resources of Black and White children had been equivalent in this condition, then the observed pattern of higher risk for Black children under non-low SES conditions may not have emerged. For these reasons, the race differences observed in the not-low SES condition in this report must be interpreted with caution. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, 2010. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 24, 2011 at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/abuse_neglect/natl_incid/nis4_supp_analysis_race_diff_mar2010.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/abuse_neglect/natl_incid/nis4_supp_analysis_race_diff_mar2010.pdf Shelf Number: 121795 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentRace/EthnicityRacial DiparitiesSocioeconomic Status |
Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Child Maltreatment: Strengthening National Data on Child Fatalities Could Aid in Prevention Summary: Children's deaths from maltreatment are especially distressing because they involve a failure on the part of adults who were responsible for protecting them. Questions have been raised as to whether the federal National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), which is based on voluntary state reports to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), fully captures the number or circumstances of child fatalities from maltreatment. GAO was asked to examine (1) the extent to which HHS collects and reports comprehensive information on child fatalities from maltreatment, (2) the challenges states face in collecting and reporting this information to HHS, and (3) the assistance HHS provides to states in collecting and reporting data on child maltreatment fatalities. GAO analyzed 2009 NCANDS data--the latest data available--conducted a nationwide Web-based survey of state child welfare administrators, visited three states, interviewed HHS and other officials, and reviewed research and relevant federal laws and regulations. More children have likely died from maltreatment than are counted in NCANDS, and HHS does not take full advantage of available information on the circumstances surrounding child maltreatment deaths. NCANDS estimated that 1,770 children in the United States died from maltreatment in fiscal year 2009. According to GAO's survey, nearly half of states included data only from child welfare agencies in reporting child maltreatment fatalities to NCANDS, yet not all children who die from maltreatment have had contact with these agencies, possibly leading to incomplete counts. HHS also collects but does not report some information on the circumstances surrounding child maltreatment fatalities that could be useful for prevention, such as perpetrators' previous maltreatment of children. The National Center for Child Death Review (NCCDR), a nongovernmental organization funded by HHS, collects more detailed data on circumstances from 39 states, but these data on child maltreatment deaths have not yet been synthesized or published. States face numerous challenges in collecting child maltreatment fatality data and reporting to NCANDS. At the local level, lack of evidence and inconsistent interpretations of maltreatment challenge investigators--such as law enforcement, medical examiners, and child welfare officials--in determining whether a child's death was caused by maltreatment. Without medical evidence, it can be difficult to determine that a child's death was caused by abuse or neglect, such as in cases of shaken baby syndrome, when external injuries may not be readily visible. At the state level, limited coordination among jurisdictions and state agencies, in part due to confidentiality or privacy constraints, poses challenges for reporting data to NCANDS. HHS provides assistance to help states report child maltreatment fatalities, although states would like additional help. For example, HHS hosts an annual NCANDS technical assistance conference, provides individual state assistance, and, through NCCDR, has developed resources to help states collect information on child deaths. However, there has been limited collaboration between HHS and NCCDR on child maltreatment fatality information or prevention strategies to date. State officials indicated a need for additional information on how to coordinate across state agencies to collect more complete information on child maltreatment fatalities. States are also increasingly interested in collecting and using information on near fatalities from maltreatment. GAO recommends that the Secretary of HHS take steps to further strengthen data quality, expand available information on child fatalities, improve information sharing, and estimate the costs and benefits of collecting national data on near fatalities. In its comments, HHS agreed with GAO's findings and recommendations and provided technical comments, which GAO incorporated as appropriate. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2011. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-11-599; Accessed July 13, 2011 at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11599.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11599.pdf Shelf Number: 122043 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Maltreatment (U.S.)Child Sexual AbuseChild Welfare |
Author: Bernard van Leer Foundation Title: Hidden Violence: Protecting Young Children at Home Summary: Violence against young children is often hidden from view when it takes place in the home and the family. Articles in this issue of ECM explore the need for good data on how many children are affected, and for better evidence about what works to tackle violence in the home; among the strategies discussed in this issue are programmes to strengthen families, engage fathers in the early years and challenge social norms. Contributions include an interview with Maud de Boer-Buquicchio on the Council of Europe's action plan; Professors Jack Shonkoff and Nathan Fox on the neuroscience of children's exposure to violence in the home; Marta Santos Pais, UN Special Representative on violence against children, discussing what legislation can do; Chris Mikton on the WHO's quest for evidence and UNICEF on their approach to violence in the home; and contributions from the Netherlands, Sweden, Brazil, Uganda and Peru among others. Details: The Hague: Bernard van Leer Foundation, 2011. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Early Childhood Matters: Accessed July 14, 2011 at: http://www.bernardvanleer.org/Hidden-violence-Protecting-young-children-at-home Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.bernardvanleer.org/Hidden-violence-Protecting-young-children-at-home Shelf Number: 122053 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChildren, Crimes AgainstFamily InterventionsFamily Violence |
Author: Coen, Anita Saranga Title: Inside the Black Box: A Study of the Residential Treatment Center Program in Colorado Summary: This study increased our understanding of how Colorado’s Residential Treatment Center (RTC) Program functions in several key areas. We analyzed data provided by the Colorado Department of Human Services to analyze the financial aspects of the program and develop a profile of child welfare youth in RTCs. With the help of responding RTCs and counties, we were able to document the types and amount of services offered by RTCs and explore placement decision-making and alternatives to RTCs. We met with caretakers and family members to capture their perspectives on many aspects of the system. This study of Colorado’s RTC Program focused on six main areas of investigation: • What is the political and economic context in which the RTC Program exists? The RTC Program is immersed in a complex system involving numerous stakeholders and intricate funding streams. Political and economic trends at the national, state, and local level are discussed in relation to their impact on the RTC Program. • What are the costs of RTC placements, what are the likely effects of the current reimbursement system, and what other options are available? The state has been working to improve its rate-setting methodology. The current system does not account for population growth and changes in service needs. We anticipate that if rates do not keep up with costs, the response may be a loss of beds available for child welfare youth. We found that there are no apparent cost economies derived from using larger facilities. We suggest the state look initially into developing an incentive system that can be linked to rates and, in the future, linked to outcomes. • Who are RTC clients and how do they differ from clients in other treatment environments? RTC youth have the highest number of emotional/behavioral problems of youth in child welfare placements. They are placed in RTCs primarily because of the caretaker’s inability to cope or their own behavioral problems. Child welfare youth admitted to RTCs have very high levels of mental health problems when compared to youth in other child-serving systems. On average, their level of risk and clinical severity is higher than that of youth admitted to community mental health and, for many characteristics, is close to that of youth admitted to inpatient mental health settings. Our findings highlight important policy issues for youth with serious emotional/behavioral problems who are likely served across multiple human services programs. • What are the characteristics of and services offered by RTCs to children/youth in their care and what constitutes an RTC day? RTCs are extremely diverse and offer a wide variety of services. Within an RTC, however, service delivery does not appear to differ substantively based on the predominant type of presenting problem. RTCs do provide a substantial amount of intensive supervision. Almost a third (31%) of a typical day is spent in school, 13 percent is spent in various types of therapy, and 10 percent is self-structured. This analysis can serve as a foundation for the state’s exploration into developing a standard for the RTC day. • What are the most important factors in RTC placement and what alternatives are most likely to have an affect on RTC utilization? The three most important factors used in determining the need for an RTC placement are (1) the severity of the youth’s mental health needs, (2) the severity of the youth’s acting out behavior, and (3) the likelihood that the youth will improve in an RTC placement. Almost all caseworkers who responded to our survey believed it was important that the selected RTC have specialized care that meets the child’s needs and good transition services. The placement type that most caseworkers said they could have used instead of an RTC was therapeutic foster care. • How should RTC outcomes be measured and what is needed to develop a useful RTC outcomes measurement system? The Division of Child Welfare Services (DCWS) has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to measuring outcomes. The CCAR, the instrument being used by DCWS for youth in RTCs, demonstrated acceptable reliability as well as face and construct validity. Efforts to develop an outcomes measurement system have been seriously hampered by a lack of staff and infrastructure. We also identified other instruments and outcomes systems, some of which are RTC based, rather than state based. Finally, we made recommendations for the steps needed to continue work in this area. Details: Denver, CO: Policy Studies, Inc., 2003. 154p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 29, 2011 at: https://www.policy-studies.com/Portals/0/docs/Publications/Child_Welfare/Inside-the-Black-Box-A-Study-of-the-RTC-Program-in-CO.pdf Year: 2003 Country: United States URL: https://www.policy-studies.com/Portals/0/docs/Publications/Child_Welfare/Inside-the-Black-Box-A-Study-of-the-RTC-Program-in-CO.pdf Shelf Number: 122230 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Welfare (Colorado)Juvenile OffendersJuvenile Sex OffendersResidential Treatment Centers |
Author: Knerr, Wendy Title: Parenting and the Prevention of Child Maltreatment in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review of Interventions and a Discussion of Prevention of the Risks of Future Violent Behaviour Among Boys Summary: This review aims to answer the following question: Are parenting interventions in low- and middle-income countries effective at reducing harsh and abusive parenting, increasing positive parenting behaviours, improving parent–child relationships or reducing child conduct problems? It will provide an overview of the broad issue of child abuse and neglect and the types of parent- or primary carer-focused interventions which either explicitly or implicitly aim to prevent them. It will include conclusions from high-quality systematic reviews of reviews of interventions from high-income countries; information about interventions with a strong evidence base in high-income countries, which have been implemented but not rigorously trialed in low- or middle-income countries; and discussion about the ‘active ingredients’ of evidence-based parenting interventions that have been shown to prevent or reduce abuse and neglect. In addition the review will analyse and discuss issues related to effective cultural adaptation of parenting interventions from one setting or population to another, and will also include a brief case study of an intervention from a middle- or low-income country, or an intervention with a strong evidence base from a high-income country which has been implemented but not trialed in a low- or middle-income country. Details: Pretoria, South Africa: Sexual Violence Research Institute, South African Medical Research Council, 2011. 72p, Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 1, 2011 at: http://www.svri.org/parenting.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Africa URL: http://www.svri.org/parenting.pdf Shelf Number: 122235 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentParenting |
Author: Wagner, Dennis Title: California Department of Social Services Validation of the SDM® Reunification Reassessment Summary: In early 1999, the State of California began a phased implementation of a new case management system for child welfare services (CWS). The California child welfare Structured Decision Making® (SDM) system was developed in 1998 by seven pilot counties with the assistance of Children’s Research Center (CRC) and the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). Workgroups comprised of staff from pilot counties and CRC developed several objective assessments to improve child welfare case management, including the following: A hotline screening protocol, to help determine if an intake referral meets the criteria for an in-person investigative response; A response priority assessment, to help intake workers decide how quickly to respond to an allegation of abuse and/or neglect; A safety assessment, to identify service interventions to protect children during a protective service investigation; An actuarial risk assessment, which estimates the family’s risk of future maltreatment at the close of an investigation; A family strengths and needs assessment, to help workers identify case plan goals and appropriate interventions when a case is opened for in-home or foster care services; A child strength and needs assessment, for identifying service interventions to improve the well-being of children. An in-home case risk reassessment, to evaluate progress toward case plan goals, update case plans, and estimate the likelihood of subsequent child maltreatment; and A foster care reunification reassessment, to monitor family progress towards reunification and inform the worker’s decision to reunify a child. The primary objectives of the SDM® system are to help child welfare agencies improve child well-being and safety and to expedite permanency. Workers complete SDM assessments at critical points in the child welfare case management process, e.g., safety planning, case opening, case plan goal identification, and child reunification. The assessments are fully integrated into CDSS case management policy guidelines for intake screening, child protective services (CPS) investigation, and ongoing family services. Since SDM implementation in 1999, the California family risk assessment and risk reassessment have been validated twice, and the construct validity of the response priority and safety assessment has also been assessed. Since the SDM assessments workers use in foster care took longer to implement, and placement case outcomes require additional time to observe, it was not possible to assess them until recently. By 2005, 17 California counties had implemented the family strengths and needs assessment (FSNA) for case planning and the California reunification reassessment (CRR) for evaluating caregiver progress toward reunification. In 2009 CDSS contracted with CRC to conduct a validation study of the CRR and the FSNA. Since the objectives of the SDM system are to improve child safety and expedite permanency, preferably by reunifying the child and family, this study attempts to (1) examine the relationship between foster care case assessment findings and two outcomes which reflect permanency and safety—child reunification and foster care reentry; (2) evaluate the utility of both assessments as constructs for improving reunification or reentry outcomes; and (3) propose changes in assessment procedure or content that may improve their performance. Details: Madison, WI: Children's Research Center, National Council on Crime and Delinquency, 2010. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2011 at: http://www.nccd-crc.org/crc/crc/pdf/CRR_Validation_Report.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.nccd-crc.org/crc/crc/pdf/CRR_Validation_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 122459 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild Welfare (California)Foster Care |
Author: Applied Research Services, Inc. Title: The Georgia Cold Case Project Summary: The Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980 had three goals: prevent unnecessary foster care placements; reunify children with parents whenever possible; and bring about the expeditious adoption of children unable to return home. The aim was to produce positive outcomes for both children and families. Compliance with federal requirements is assessed by the Child and Family Services Review (CFSR) conducted by the Children’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Georgia’s first CFSR in 2001 indicated the state was not performing in conformity with federal requirements, thus it was required to develop a Program Improvement Plan (PIP) to address each area of concern and given two years to implement the plan. By 2006 the Children’s Bureau determined that Georgia failed to complete all PIP requirements successfully and assessed a $4.3 million penalty, with additional penalties each year until compliance. Despite areas of positive performance, Georgia failed its second CFSR which indicated a difficulty with establishing permanency in a timely manner for children with extended stays in foster care (referred to herein as “cold cases”). In response, the Supreme Court of Georgia Committee on Justice for Children dedicated Court Improvement Project funds to develop a method for improving permanency outcomes for long term foster care “cold cases.” This project is timely as Georgia strives to improve performance in this area and anticipates successful successful completion of the PIP by August 2010. Working in full partnership and support with the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and the Georgia Office of the Child Advocate, the Committee implemented the Georgia Cold Case Project in 2009. The Georgia Cold Case Project (June 2010) describes the process of defining and identifying “cold” cases, the development of a program protocol, the analyses of 214 cold cases, and feedback from anonymous surveys of case managers and attorneys. Fifteen policy recommendations are presented to help Georgia better respond to the permanency needs of children in foster care. The study found that the typical cold case child was 14 years old and had been in care for six years (ranging from less than one year to 16 years). The vast majority (85%) had some type of identified disability. Nearly two thirds of the children (64%) lived in an institution or group home; one third lived in a family setting (foster family, foster relative, or pre-adoptive home). The group averaged nine placements per child; 25% of the children had a dozen or more placements. For 90% of the children there was more than one reason for DFCS involvement in their lives. Parental substance abuse was the most frequently observed primary reason, followed by child neglect. One third of the children (36%) had previously been removed from their home. One in three children came from a single female-headed home. While one in three was part of a sibling group that could be placed together, only 25 kids in our sample were in a placement with a sibling. The abuses suffered by the children of this study were overwhelming. They often involved the drug addiction or mental illness of parents. Nearly one in three (29%) children had been a victim of sexual assault, primarily by parents and family members. The negative effects of sexual abuse permeate into adulthood as traumatic sexualization can lead to hypersexual or sexual avoidance behaviors. The feelings of intense guilt can manifest as substance abuse, self-mutilation and suicidal gestures. Details: Atlanta, GA: Applied Research Services, Inc., 2010. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 26, 2011 at: http://w2.georgiacourts.org/cj4c/files/The%20Georgia%20Cold%20Case%20Project_2010(1).pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://w2.georgiacourts.org/cj4c/files/The%20Georgia%20Cold%20Case%20Project_2010(1).pdf Shelf Number: 122485 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild Welfare (Georgia)Foster Care |
Author: Siegel, Gary L. Title: Differential Response in Nevada: Final Evaluation Report Summary: Differential Response is a relatively new approach to child protection that has been implemented in one form or another in all or parts of approximately 20 states. In its most common form, incoming reports of child maltreatment are screened into one of two groups or response tracks. Reports involving more severe abuse or neglect, situations in which the safety of children is at imminent risk, are investigated in the standard manner. Reports that are less severe receive a family assessment, a procedure designed to be less stigmatizing and more preventative, seeking to address underlying causes of a family’s current, sometimes chronic problems. Family assessments are not less focused on the safety of children than investigations, and if concerns about child safety surface during an assessment, the system response is changed and an investigation conducted. Begun in early 2007, the Nevada DR project was phased in over a three-year period and family assessments became available to families in all but the most remote parts of the state. The Nevada DR model is unique among states with DR programs in involving community-based FRCs in all DR family assessment cases from start to finish. Ten FRCs and the Children’s Cabinet in Washoe County provide DR services in 11 Nevada counties where over 98 percent of the state’s population resides. Findings Nearly all families who receive a family assessment express satisfaction with the way they are treated and with the help they receive or are offered. Most feel their families are better off for the experience. The response of Nevada families has been as positive as families in other states who participated in similar evaluations of DR programs. Many of the families who receive a family assessment are poorer and less well educated than other families in the state. Many describe being stressed, for emotional and financial reasons or because they are socially isolated with few people to turn to for help. Importantly, families who receive services through DR tend to be those experiencing significant problems related to the wellbeing of their children, who often live in poverty, and with problems that are sometimes acute and often chronic in nature. Feedback from families and FRC case workers indicate that the DR program has been implemented with model fidelity, that is, as designed, both in terms of the protocol—the manner in which families are approached in response to a report of child maltreatment—and in terms of the assistance and services provided to them, often to address basic needs. Both FRC-DR workers and CPS case workers express a need for more training about DR. The DR program has achieved significant improvements in the outcomes of families when compared with similar families who have received a standard investigation, including: fewer subsequent reports of child maltreatment, fewer new investigations or family assessments, and fewer removals of children from their homes. Details: St. Louis, MO: Institute of Applied Research, 2010. 164p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 1, 2011 at: http://www.iarstl.org/papers/NevadaDRFinalReport.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.iarstl.org/papers/NevadaDRFinalReport.pdf Shelf Number: 122582 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChild Welfare (Nevada) |
Author: Long, Siân Title: Protecting Children Affected by HIV Against Abuse, Exploitation, Violence, and Neglect. Summary: This document is intended to explore strategies to protect orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) who were made so by HIV from abuse, exploitation, violence, and neglect. It draws from lessons learned by OVC program managers, designers, and policy developers — particularly those associated with the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEFPAR). OVC are defined by the Joint U.N. Programme on HIV/AIDS, and the Hyde-Lantos Act that reauthorized PEPFAR, as “Children who have lost a parent to HIV, who are otherwise directly affected by the disease, or who live in areas of high HIV prevalence and may be vulnerable to the disease or its socioeconomic effects” (Lantos and Hyde 2008, 2-3). The international community defines children as individuals from birth up to 18 years of age. Current PEPFAR OVC programming guidance describes strategies to protect OVC as those that “confront the reality of stigma and social neglect faced by OVC as well as abuse and exploitation, including trafficking, the taking of inherited property, and land tenure, and helping children obtain birth certificates to legalize their status” (PEPFAR and the Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator 2006, 8). For the purposes of this document, discussion will focus on programs that aim to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect, exploitation, and violence. This document identifies gaps in current child protection strategies employed within PEPFAR OVC programs; introduces a range of emerging best practices or promising strategies for preventing and responding to child abuse, exploitation, and neglect; suggests contexts in which each strategy might be useful; outlines ways to measure the success of specific strategies; and provides a list of tools and resources available to program implementers and designers to support implementation of strategies. Details: Arlington, VA: USAID’s AIDS Support and Technical Assistance Resources, AIDSTAR-One, Task Order 1, 2011. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 16, 2011 at: http://www.aidstar-one.com/sites/default/files/ovc/reports/childprotection/AIDSTAR-One_Report_OVC_Child%20Protection.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.aidstar-one.com/sites/default/files/ovc/reports/childprotection/AIDSTAR-One_Report_OVC_Child%20Protection.pdf Shelf Number: 122761 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionHIV (Viruses) |
Author: Australia. Family Law Council Title: Improving Responses to Family Violence in the Family Law Aystem: An Advice on the Intersection of Family Violence and Family Law Issues Summary: This report to the Federal Attorney-General focuses on family violence if and when it becomes visible in the Family Law system in Australia. This visible pattern is only the tip of the iceberg of family violence, alcoholism, drug addiction and mental illness which is apparently entrenched in Australia. The Family Law Council report is only one of the multiple studies in progress at present on the causes, effects and responses to family violence in Australia. The report recommends: The definition of “family violence” in the Family Law Act be widened to include a range of threatening behaviour. That the Attorney General establish an expert panel under the direction of the Australian Institute of Family Studies to create an easy-to-understand “common knowledge base” on the known patterns and effects of family violence. This easily accessible information will assist to provide common and up-to-date information to all those involved in the family relationship and legal systems, including parents, relatives, counsellors, mediators, FRCS, legal aid officers, lawyers and courts. The Law Council of Australia and the Family Law Council co-operate to revise the booklet “Best Practice Guidelines for Lawyers Doing Family Law Work” to incorporate detailed information on family violence. A number of reforms take place to improve co-ordination and collaboration between the state and territory child protection agencies, and the federal Family Law Act, including: the transportability of state family violence injunctive orders; the establishment of a national register of family and violence orders ; and the establishment of a network data base which records family violence orders, and a residual family court power to require state Child Protection Agencies to become parties to Family Law Court proceedings about children. A further report be prepared on whether FDRP should be required to provide a report to the Family Law Courts or other bodies in some or all structure where family violence is admitted or suspected. The forms notifying the Family Law Courts about family violence be simplified. Consideration be given on how to educate the Australian public about certain widespread misunderstandings of the Family Law Act including: o Recurrent gossip that notification of family violence may lead to a judicial perception that the notifier is an “unfriendly parent” o Widespread perception that each parent now has a “starting right” to equal time (50/50) with children o Common belief that a parent will receive both substantial time with a child, and equal shared parental responsibility, (similar to historic “guardianship”), despite a history of poor communication and hostility between parents; and despite the long term health and emotional consequences for children as casualties on such parental battlefields. These recommendations of the Family Law Council will need to be amalgamated with the various reports on family violence emerging in the next year. Details: Barton, ACT, Australia: Australia Attorney-General's Department, Family Law Council, 2009. 102p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 5, 2011 at: http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/rwpattach.nsf/VAP/(3273BD3F76A7A5DEDAE36942A54D7D90)~Family_Violence_Report.pdf/$file/Family_Violence_Report.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ag.gov.au/www/agd/rwpattach.nsf/VAP/(3273BD3F76A7A5DEDAE36942A54D7D90)~Family_Violence_Report.pdf/$file/Family_Violence_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 118821 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDomestic ViolenceFamily Violence (Australia)Intimate Partner Violence |
Author: European Commission Title: Feasibility Study to Assess the Possibilities, Opportunities and Needs to Standardise National Legislation on Violence Against Women, Violence Against Children and Sexual Orientation Violence Summary: Over the last three decades the connections between interpersonal violence, inequalities and human rights have received increasing attention in law, research and practice in the three fields of violence that are subject of this study: violence against women (VAW), violence against children (VAC) and sexual orientation violence (SOV). Human rights thinking has expanded beyond the use of violence by states in recognising that violence targeted at individuals as members of social groups and/or experienced disproportionately by members of disadvantaged groups is a state responsibility. Th is places the three forms of violence squarely in the arena of fundamental rights. The failure of states and state agencies to adequately protect the public against, and support them in the aftermath of discriminatory violence and violence resulting in harm to a child’s development not only means that victims experience violations of basic human rights, but that they are also deprived of equal access to basic needs as well as to justice, employment, leisure, community and political participation, freedom of movement — the latter all core elements of European concepts of citizenship. Whether in public or private, unchecked violence places fundamental rights in jeopardy. Definitions of violence vary widely, making the topic challenging and contested: moreover, international treaties and conventions frequently fail to provide specific definitions of the types of actions that should be prohibited or require protection. One outcome of this project is a set of proposed definitions of the forms of violence it addresses. The central task was to provide a coherent analysis of the need for, possibilities of, and potential hurdles to standardised national legislation across three fields of violence for EU Member States. To this end the Commission set five research tasks: the mapping of relevant legislation on VAW, VAC and SOV and its implementation; comparative analysis; a set of minimum standards; a model of factors affecting perpetration and how these are, or could be, addressed in legislation; a set of recommendations. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2010. 216p., app. Source: Internet Resource: accessed October 6, 2011 at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20110405MLT17038/media_20110405MLT17038.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Europe URL: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/eplive/expert/multimedia/20110405MLT17038/media_20110405MLT17038.pdf Shelf Number: 122993 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDiscriminationFamily ViolenceForced MarriageHonour-Based ViolenceHuman RightsInterpersonal ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceStalkingViolence Against Women (Europe) |
Author: McCloskey, Laura A. Title: A Systematic Review of Parenting Interventions To Prevent Child Abuse Tested with RCT Designs in High Income Countries Summary: This review aims to answer the following question: Are parenting interventions in low- and middle-income countries effective at reducing harsh and abusive parenting, increasing positive parenting behaviours, improving parent–child relationships or reducing child conduct problems? It will provide an overview of the broad issue of child abuse and neglect and the types of parent- or primary carer-focused interventions which either explicitly or implicitly aim to prevent them. It will include conclusions from high-quality systematic reviews of reviews of interventions from high-income countries; information about interventions with a strong evidence base in high-income countries, which have been implemented but not rigorously trialed in low- or middle-income countries; and discussion about the ‘active ingredients’ of evidence-based parenting interventions that have been shown to prevent or reduce abuse and neglect. In addition the review will analyse and discuss issues related to effective cultural adaptation of parenting interventions from one setting or population to another, and will also include a brief case study of an intervention from a middle- or low-income country, or an intervention with a strong evidence base from a high-income country which has been implemented but not trialed in a low- or middle-income country. Details: Pretoria, South Africa: Sexual Violence Research Initiative, 2011. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 6, 2011 at: http://www.svri.org/systematicreviewParent.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.svri.org/systematicreviewParent.pdf Shelf Number: 122998 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionParentingSocioeconomic Status |
Author: Jago, Sue Title: What’s going on to Safeguard Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation? How local partnerships respond to child sexual exploitation Summary: This research project has explored the extent and nature of the response of LSCBs to the 2009 government guidance on safeguarding children and young people from sexual exploitation. Where the guidance is followed, there are examples of developing and innovative practice to protect and support young people and their families and to investigate and prosecute their abusers. However, the research has found that the delivery of that dual approach to child sexual exploitation is far from the norm. There are three areas that cause particular concern: • only a quarter of LSCBs in England are implementing the guidance • young people, their families and carers receive awareness raising in less than half of the country • the prosecution of abusers is rare and, where criminal proceedings take place, young people’s experience of court is intolerable. These and related findings are set out below together with recommendations on how to ensure that action is taken, locally and nationally, to address this form of child abuse. Details: Bedford, UK: University of Bedfordshire, 2011. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 18, 2011 at: http://www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/121873/wgoreport2011-121011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/121873/wgoreport2011-121011.pdf Shelf Number: 123047 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual Abuse (U.K.)Child Sexual ExploitationSex Offenders |
Author: Covell, Katherine Title: Five Years On: A Global Update on Violence Against Children Summary: In 2001, the UN General Assembly, acting on the recommendation of the Committee on the Rights of the Child, requested the UN Secretary-General to undertake an in-depth study on violence against children. The Study provided the first global report on the extent, causes, and effects of violence against children — in the home, the school, institutions, the workplace, and the community. It was also the first United Nations report to be based on widespread collaboration among the OHCHR, UNICEF, the WHO, non-governmental organizations, national human rights institutions, and direct consultation with children themselves. The report found that millions of children across the world were victims of sexual, physical and/or, emotional violence, many on a daily basis. Societal acceptance of violence against children appeared to be the norm and to be a key obstacle to its elimination. The UN Study put forward 12 overarching recommendations for action. It urged states and other stakeholders to strengthen international, national, and local commitments to end violence against children; to prohibit all violence against children in national law; to promote non-violent values and awareness raising; to enhance the capacity of those who work with or for children; to ensure accountability and end impunity; and to take a range of other actions to prevent violence against children and to respond to it effectively if it occurs. The ultimate goal of the recommendations was to establish conditions that would end all forms of violence against all children. The UN Study concluded, “No violence against children is justifiable; all violence against children is preventable.” When the report of the UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence against Children (UN Study) was presented in 2006, it revealed that despite extensive international human rights obligations, children globally experience staggering levels of violence. The magnitude of violence against children documented by the UN Study represented an urgent call to action, and the Study presented clear and concrete recommendations on how states should respond. Five years later, we find that violence, including severe violence, continues against millions of children globally. There has been some progress on some of the Study’s recommendations – but concerted action to prohibit and eliminate violence against children is as urgently needed today as when the report was submitted to the General Assembly (GA) in 2006. Details: NGO Advisory Council, 2011. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 18, 2011 at: http://www.crin.org/docs/Five_Years_On.pdf Year: 2011 Country: International URL: http://www.crin.org/docs/Five_Years_On.pdf Shelf Number: 123050 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseChildren, Crimes AgainstViolence Against Children |
Author: Ryan, Joseph P. Title: Exploring the Characteristics and Outcomes of 241.1 Youth Crossing Over from Dependency to Delinquency in Los Angeles County Summary: The term crossover youth generally refers to youth who are victims of abuse or neglect and who committed an offense that brought them into the delinquency system. These youth are also commonly referred to as dual-jurisdiction youth or dually involved youth. A youth typically becomes a crossover youth in one of three ways. One way is when a youth enters the child welfare system because of sustained allegations of abuse or neglect and then commits an offense that causes him or her to enter the delinquency system while under the care and custody of child protective services. A second way is when a youth with a prior, but not current, contact in child welfare commits an offense and enters the delinquency system. A third possible way is when a youth with no prior child welfare system contact enters the delinquency system and the probation department refers the case to the child welfare system for further investigation of abuse or neglect. For the purposes of this research brief, the term crossover youth refers to youth who are in the care and custody of the child welfare system and are subsequently charged with an offense. In particular, the current study examines the characteristics of crossover youth processed in Los Angeles County’s juvenile court between April 1 and December 31, 2004. The information presented on these youth is consistent with similar studies and should be informative for any jurisdiction considering and evaluating procedures for supervising the cases of crossover youth. Details: Sacramento: Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Coruts, Center for Families, Children & the Courts, 2008. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: ResearchUpdate: Accessed october 25, 2011 at: http://courts.ca.gov/documents/AB129-ExploringReseachUpdate.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://courts.ca.gov/documents/AB129-ExploringReseachUpdate.pdf Shelf Number: 123122 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Welfare SystemCrossover YouthJuvenile Offenders (California) |
Author: European Commission`s Daphne III Programme 2007 - 2013 Title: Research of the Current Situation in Latvia, Concerning Sexual Abuse of Children at Residential Institutions Summary: Child abuse is still a pending matter in Latvia, as well as still many children in comparison live at residential institutions. Therefore it was decided to do a research that would help to analyze the current situation in Latvia. This research has two goals: 1) To gather and analyze available information, statistical data, legal framework of the Republic of Latvia and good practices concerning child sexual abuse. 2) To gather and analyze available information and statistical data regarding children who live in residential institutions. Gathering and analyzing available information, legal framework and statistical data is the method used in this research. This research is based on child abuse definition introduced by World Health Organization (WHO): Child abuse or maltreatment constitutes all forms of physical and/or emotional ill treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child's health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power (WHO, 1999). World Health Organization also introduces the definition of child sexual abuse, which will also be used in this research. This definition prescribes, that child sexual abuse is the involvement of a child in sexual activity that he or she does not fully comprehend, is unable to give informed consent to, or for which the child is not developmentally prepared and cannot give consent, or that violate the laws or social taboos of society. Child sexual abuse is evidenced by an activity between a child and an adult or another child who by age or development is (WHO, 1999) in a relationship of responsibility, trust or power, the activity being intended to gratify or satisfy the needs of the other person. This may include but is not limited to: • The inducement or coercion of a child to engage in any unlawful sexual activity. • The exploitative use of a child in prostitution or other unlawful sexual practices. • The exploitative use of children in pornographic performances and materials (WHO, 1999) Children who are left without care in Latvia receive extra-familial care, which is ensured with a guardian, foster family, childcare institution for orphans and children who have been left without parental care. In turn, child care institution is defined as an institution in which social care and social rehabilitation for orphans and children left without parental care, as well as children for whom social rehabilitation is necessary or special care due to their state of health, is ensured. (Protection of the Rights of the Child Law, 1998). Details: Riga, Latvia: Dardedze, 2009. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 2, 2011 at: http://www.centrsdardedze.lv/eng/daphne_programme_of_european_commission/daphne_programme_of_european_commission/ Year: 2009 Country: Latvia URL: http://www.centrsdardedze.lv/eng/daphne_programme_of_european_commission/daphne_programme_of_european_commission/ Shelf Number: 123212 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual Abuse (Latvia)Children, Crimes Against |
Author: Finkelhor, David Title: Polyvictimization: Children’s Exposure to Multiple Types of Violence, Crime, and Abuse Summary: All too often, children are victims of violence, crime, and abuse. This victimization may take the form of physical assault, child maltreatment, sexual abuse, or bullying. They may also witness such events in their homes, schools, and communities. Some children suffer several different kinds of such victimization even over a relatively brief timespan. These children and youth are at particularly high risk for lasting physical, mental, and emotional harm. The National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV) was the first comprehensive national survey to look at the entire spectrum of children’s exposure to violence, crime, and abuse across all ages, settings, and timeframes. NatSCEV examined past-year and lifetime exposure to physical and emotional violence through both direct victimization and indirect exposure to violence (either as an eyewitness or through other knowledge). A focus of NatSCEV was multiple and cumulative exposures to violence. A large proportion of children surveyed (38.7 percent) reported in the previous year more than one type of direct victimization (a victimization directed toward the child, as opposed to an incident that the child witnessed, heard, or was otherwise exposed to). Of those who reported any direct victimization, nearly two-thirds (64.5 percent) reported more than one type. A significant number of children reported high levels of exposure to different types of violence in the past year: more than 1 in 10 (10.9 percent) reported 5 or more direct exposures to different types of violence, and 1.4 percent reported 10 or more direct victimizations. Children who were exposed to even one type of violence, both within the past year and over their lifetimes, were at far greater risk of experiencing other types of violence. For example, a child who was physically assaulted in the past year would be five times as likely also to have been sexually victimized and more than four times as likely also to have been maltreated during that period. Similarly, a child who was physically assaulted during his or her lifetime would be more than six times as likely to have been sexually victimized and more than five times as likely to have been maltreated during his or her lifetime (Finkelhor, Turner, Ormrod, Hamby, and Kracke, 2009). This helps explain why victimizations cumulate. More attention needs to be paid to children who are exposed to multiple types of violence, crime, and abuse. Most research has looked only at individual forms of child victimization — such as sexual abuse or bullying — without investigating the other exposures these same children may face. A new emphasis on the study of what is being called “polyvictimization” offers to help teachers, counselors, medical professionals, psychologists, child welfare advocates, law enforcement, juvenile justice system personnel, and others who work with children identify the most endangered children and youth and protect them from additional harm. This bulletin summarizes some of the key findings on polyvictimized youth, based on NatSCEV (see “History of the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence”) and the closely related Developmental Victimization Survey (DVS) (see “Methodology”). Among the key findings: 8 percent of all youth in the nationally representative NatSCEV sample had seven or more different kinds of victimization or exposures to violence, crime, and abuse in the past year. These polyvictimized youth had a disproportionate share of the most serious kinds of victimizations, such as sexual victimization and parental maltreatment. They also had more life adversities and were more likely to manifest symptoms of psychological distress. Polyvictimization tended to persist over time. It was most likely to start near the beginning of grade school and the beginning of high school, and was associated with a cluster of four prior circumstances or pathways: living in a violent family, living in a distressed and chaotic family, living in a violent neighborhood, and having preexisting psychological symptoms. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2011. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Juvenile Justice Bulletin: Accessed November 7, 2011 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/232273.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/232273.pdf Shelf Number: 123247 Keywords: BullyingChild Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual AbuseChild VictimizationChildren, Crimes Against (U.S.) |
Author: Cuthbert, Chris Title: All cabies count: Prevention and protection for vulnerable babies Summary: The NSPCC has produced a report highlighting the importance of early intervention to help children get the best possible start in life. The report sets out the evidence by drawing on research, consultation and original analysis to examine the disproportionate vulnerability of babies; the causes and consequences of infant abuse and neglect; and effective and promising interventions during pregnancy and the baby’s first year. The report includes new analysis into the number of babies under one year who are affected by parental substance misuse, mental illness and domestic abuse which are all important risk factors for abuse and neglect. Details: London, UK: National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC), 2011. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on December 8, 2011 at: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/resourcesforprofessionals/underones/all_babies_count_pdf_wdf85569.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/resourcesforprofessionals/underones/all_babies_count_pdf_wdf85569.pdf Shelf Number: 123534 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectCrimes Against Children |
Author: Picard-Fritsche, Sarah Title: The Bronx Family Treatment Court2005-2010: Impact on Family Court Outcomes and Participant Experiences and Perceptions Summary: The Bronx Family Treatment Court (FTC) is one of more than 50 family treatment courts across New York State. The Bronx FTC structure is loosely based on the adult drug court model. The court orders respondent parents with a child neglect case and an underlying substance abuse treatment allegation to treatment. The court supervises the treatment process through regular judicial status hearings, drug testing, intensive case management, and graduated sanctions and rewards. FTC participation is voluntary but requires an admission of “responsible” to the child neglect allegations. Departing from most drug courts, the Bronx FTC divides its caseload among three dedicated judges, each of whom presides over approximately one-third of the cases. The current evaluation assessed the court by comparing outcomes of respondent children whose parents enrolled in the FTC with similar children whose parents did not enroll. In addition, based on structured interviews with FTC and non-FTC parents, we assessed the court’s impact on service experiences; perceptions of the judge, case managers, and court process; and drug use. To enrich the analysis, we also conducted staff and stakeholder interviews; a focus group with public defenders who represent the parents; and an analysis of FTC court administrative data. Details: New York: Center for Court Innovation, 2011. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 12, 2012 at: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Full_Bronx_FTC.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.courtinnovation.org/sites/default/files/documents/Full_Bronx_FTC.pdf Shelf Number: 123558 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectFamily Courts (New York)Problem-Solving CourtsSubstance Abuse Treatment |
Author: Radford, Lorraine Title: Meeting the Needs of Children Living with Domestic Violence in London: Research Report Summary: The motivation for the research was to provide knowledge that could be used to improve children’s wellbeing. The aims were to explore the types of help given to children living with domestic violence in London, identify any gaps in knowledge and in services, and share learning about positive responses. In the 12 months to August 2011, the police recorded 47,297 domestic violence offences in London. Domestic violence accounts for 29 per cent of violent crime in London. One in seven (14.2 per cent) children and young people under the age of 18 will have lived with domestic violence at some point in their childhood. This is equivalent to at least 260,400 of London’s children and young people. Although not all will be affected in the same way, living with domestic violence can adversely affect children’s healthy development, relationships, behaviour and emotional wellbeing. Awareness has grown about the harm that can be caused to children in this way. Seeing or overhearing violence to another person in the home is recognised by law as potentially detrimental to children’s welfare. Research has shown that domestic violence is a central issue in child protection, being a factor in the family backgrounds of two-thirds of the serious case reviews (SCRs) where a child has died. It is also increasingly recognised that experiences of living with domestic violence vary and, although all children need to be safe, their need for support and help will vary. Over the last 10 years, changes have been made in policy and practice to cater for a continuum of children’s needs, ranging from preventative measures, to protect children from having to live with domestic violence, to the care and support of children who have suffered harm. Under the previous Government, ‘integrated children’s services’ were to bring together statutory services (such as child protection, education, social housing and health) with community and voluntary sector services to provide a range of coordinated support for children and their families, especially those most vulnerable or socially excluded. More differentiated and targeted responses have developed, where levels of support are designed to fit better with varied levels of need, including: • emphasis on early identification and intervention for vulnerable children • investment in Sure Start children’s centres • services for families with the combined problems of domestic violence, drug or alcohol abuse and poor mental health • Think Family approaches, which link adult and children’s services. However, Lord Laming’s report11 and Eileen Munro’s review of the child protection system both found that despite these changes, children living with domestic violence have not been given sufficient priority. Children’s needs tend to be overlooked when the focus is on the needs of the parent, while a focus on child protection can result in the impact of domestic violence on the abused parent being overlooked, highlighting the need for research into what help children living with domestic violence are given and what is effective for supporting both the child and the abused parent. The capital city presents particular challenges, but also some unique opportunities: • It has a diverse, mobile and changing population. • It includes areas of relative wealth as well as others of considerable deprivation. • The diversity of the population and the tendency of families to move from area to area, crossing borough boundaries, particularly when presenting to different services, places pressure on services working together to safeguard children and raises the risk of children falling through the gaps. • On the other hand, London has played a role in innovating and leading change, especially on coordinating approaches and on bringing together evidence and practice. Refuge and the NSPCC were each aware of examples of developing practice where knowledge could be shared. Details: London: NSPCC, 2011. 258p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 19, 2012 at: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/findings/domestic_violence_london_pdf_wdf85830.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/research/findings/domestic_violence_london_pdf_wdf85830.pdf Shelf Number: 123671 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChild WelfareDomestic Violence (London, U.K.)Family Violence |
Author: Daro, Deborah Title: The Duke Endowment Child Abuse Prevention Initiative: Durham Family Initiative Implementation Report Summary: The Durham Family Initiative (DFI) is one of two community-based child abuse prevention efforts that comprise The Duke Endowment’s Child Abuse Prevention Initiative. Beginning in 2002, the Endowment provided support to the Durham Family Initiative (DFI) in North Carolina and Strong Communities in South Carolina to develop a comprehensive approach to address four core outcomes: a reduction in child abuse rates; an improvement in parenting practices and behavior; strengthening community service systems; and an improvement in a community’s capacity to protect children and support parents. Both sites were given considerable latitude in defining how to achieve these objectives and were encouraged to develop strategies with the potential for replication throughout the Carolinas. Although sharing a set of common objectives with Strong Communities, DFI theorizes that child abuse can be prevented by addressing the risk factors and barriers that affect the healthy development of parent-child relationships. Adopting an ecological perspective, DFI staff formulated a work plan to strengthen and expand the pool of available evidence-based direct services, to identify and secure meaningful public policy reforms, and to build local community capacity. Details: Chicago: Chapin HIll at the University of Chicago, 2009. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 28, 2012 at http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/Duke%20DFI_Implementation_09_17_09.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/Duke%20DFI_Implementation_09_17_09.pdf Shelf Number: 123861 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectCommunity ParticipationEvaluative StudiesPrevention |
Author: Daro, Deborah Title: The Duke Endowment Child Abuse Prevention Initiative: Strong Communities Implementation Report Summary: The Strong Communities initiative is one of two community-based child abuse prevention efforts included in The Duke Endowment’s Child Abuse Prevention Initiative. Beginning in 2002, the Endowment provided support to both Strong Communities and the Durham Family Initiative (DFI)2 to develop a comprehensive approach for achieving four core outcomes: a reduction in child abuse rates; an improvement in parenting practices and behavior; the strengthening of community service systems; and an improvement in a community’s capacity to protect children and support parents. Both sites were given considerable latitude in defining how to achieve these objectives and were encouraged to develop strategies with the potential for replication throughout the Carolinas. Although sharing a set of common objectives with DFI, Strong Communities placed particular emphasis on building collective responsibility for prevention of child abuse and neglect and the promise of reciprocity of help. Project strategies were designed to assist the general public as well as local service providers in understanding the relationship among child maltreatment risk factors and how their individual and collective efforts could directly address this complex and often destructive web of interactions. The project’s logic model argued that once residents feel that their neighborhood is a place where families help each other and, indeed, the expected normative behavior is that individuals ask for and offer help, public demand will drive service expansion and system improvement. Details: Chicago: Chapin HIll at the University of Chicago, 2009. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 29, 2012 at http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/Duke%20SC%20Implementation_09_17_09.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/Duke%20SC%20Implementation_09_17_09.pdf Shelf Number: 123862 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectCommunity ParticipationEvaluative StudiesPrevention |
Author: Daro, Deborah Title: The Duke Endowment Child Abuse Prevention Initiative: A Midpoint Assessment Summary: Building on the Endowment’s longstanding commitment to enhancing the welfare of children in the Carolinas, substantial support was provided to planning teams in both North and South Carolina to develop, implement, and test a range of strategies designed to create multifaceted systems for improving supports and services for parents and young children. The two programs emerging from this planning process, the Durham Family Initiative and Strong Communities, embrace a range of strategies designed to improve parental capacity and functioning, community capacity and collective efficacy, and the public service response to child protection. Both projects operate within conceptual frameworks that reflect a keen understanding of the diversity and interdependency among the varied causes of child abuse, including aspects of individual functioning, familial and cultural values, and local social and institutional capacity. Both focus on reducing maltreatment rates by insuring that parents are in a better position to meet the needs of their children and live in communities more able to support them in this task. However, each operates under a distinct theory of change and has placed different emphasis on the individual, community, and public policy strategies essential for achieving their core objectives. Details: Chicago: Chapin HIll at the University of Chicago, 2009. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on January 29, 2012 at http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/Duke%20Mid_Point_Report_09_17_09.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/Duke%20Mid_Point_Report_09_17_09.pdf Shelf Number: 123863 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectCommunity ParticipationEvaluative StudiesPrevention |
Author: Jaffe, Peter Title: Confronting the Many Faces of Child Sexual Abuse: Developing a Comprehensive National Prevention Strategy Summary: This paper summarizes key ideas and recommendations from a national think tank on the prevention of child sexual abuse that took place on November 11-12, 2010 at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. The think-tank brought together 22 practitioners, researchers, and government officials from across Canada. The purpose of the think tank was to discuss child sexual abuse prevention. The purpose of this discussion paper is to reflect on current research, policy and practices across Canada that has been directed at preventing child sexual abuse and provides a framework for future directions. This framework represents the consensus of the discussion at the think-tank but does not reflect the individual views of each participant, individual provinces and territories or the Department of Justice who funded this initiative. The government policy experts were attending as resource persons and did not speak for their ministry in any official capacity. Several emerging issues around child sexual abuse prevention were identified. There is concern that there is a perception that the incidence rates of child sexual abuse are declining whereas the people working in the field do not seem to be experiencing this as a reality. Online exploitation is a rapidly growing area of concern. Prevention, education and awareness strategies have become less coordinated and comprehensive in some areas. These issues present many challenges across Canada but various provinces and helping systems have implemented promising practices that should be shared on a broader basis. Details: London, ONT: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women and Children, University of Western Ontario, 2010. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 6, 2012 at: http://www.crvawc.ca/documents/CSA%20recommendations%20paper%20(2).pdf Year: 2010 Country: Canada URL: http://www.crvawc.ca/documents/CSA%20recommendations%20paper%20(2).pdf Shelf Number: 123992 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChild Sexual Abuse (Canada) |
Author: Loman, L. Anthony Title: Differential Response Improves Traditional Investigations: Criminal Arrests for Severe Physical and Sexual Abuse Summary: This research paper is based upon data collected as part of the evaluation of the Missouri Family Assessment and Response Demonstration. The Institute of Applied Research (IAR) conducted the evaluation. This demonstration represented a fundamental change in the approach of the Missouri Children’s Division (CD) to a large majority of child abuse and neglect (CA/N) incident reports. Under the old Missouri system, all valid incident reports that were received via the state’s CA/N hotline were investigated by CD CA/N investigators. Under the demonstration, only 30 percent of child abuse and neglect incident reports were investigated and the response to the remaining reports was to provide family assessment home visits. The family assessment approach was designed to shift initial encounters with families in a more positive and supportive direction. The minority of incident reports that received an investigation were those in which very serious or criminal abuse or neglect was believed to be likely. An explicit objective of the new approach was to pursue criminal prosecution of perpetrators when investigations had uncovered potentially criminal acts. A number of factors implemented in the Missouri demonstration had the potential for improving investigations, as interviews with workers during site visits to local offices confirmed. The screening of hotlines, and the subsequent use of family assessments in many cases, reduced the number of incidents that were investigated. This reduction had consequences for the types of situations investigated and the manner in which they were investigated. As noted, nearly every investigation in demonstration areas involved serious allegations, if not the likelihood of criminal acts. In most demonstration areas, the large majority of investiga-tions became co-investigations with the local police department. In offices in which separate staffs conducted investigations and family assessments, investigative workers frequently spoke of a closer relationship with law enforcement. During interviews, workers reported an increase in the comprehensiveness of investigations and an improvement in their overall quality. Some also saw an improvement in their efficiency. Some workers also described a carry-over effect of the family assessment approach into investigations. Investigators were likely to be more aware of the social psychological dynamics involved in home visits, more sensitive to the feelings of families, and more focused on the timeliness of interventions. In a survey conducted near the end of the demonstration, investigators in demonstration areas were more likely to report that they had been able to interview all the people they thought they should during investigations conducted within the previous 30 days (82 percent versus 66 percent for comparison workers). In the review of sample cases, it was found that investigators in demonstration areas were more likely to have contacted a prosecutor in cases involving severe injury to children. The present paper describes a more elaborate analysis of criminal arrests in demonstration and comparison areas utilizing criminal records maintained by the Missouri Highway Patrol. Details: St. Louis, Missouri: Institute of Applied Research, 2005. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 19, 2012 at http://www.iarstl.org/papers/DiffRespAndInvestigations.pdf Year: 2005 Country: United States URL: http://www.iarstl.org/papers/DiffRespAndInvestigations.pdf Shelf Number: 124196 Keywords: ArrestsChild Abuse and NeglectIncident ReportsSexual Abuse |
Author: Blades, Rachel Title: Care - a stepping stone to custody? The views of children in care on the links between care, offending and custody Summary: Less than 1% of all children in England were looked after at March 2011. Compare this with the fact that up to half the children held in young offender institutions are, or have been previously, looked after and you need to ask the question: is care a stepping stone to custody? If so, how and why does this happen and what can be done to help children in care avoid getting into trouble and ending up in custody? Looked after children and care leavers have long been over-represented in our prisons. Research published by the Social Exclusion Unit in 2002 suggested that 27% of the adult prison population had once been in care. Annual surveys of 15-18 year olds in prison suggest that anywhere between a quarter and a half have been in care at some point previously. This is likely to be an under-estimate. Research on children in the youth justice system generally, and those who end up in custody in particular, has demonstrated the links between offending and vulnerability. A census of every child imprisoned over a 6 month period in 2008 highlighted this in stark detail: 76% had an absent father; 47% had run away or absconded; 39% had been subject to a child protection plan and/or experienced abuse or neglect; 27% had been or were looked after; and 13% had experienced the death of a parent or sibling. For children in care, these indices of disadvantage are likely to be heightened, as we know three quarters of looked after children are in care as a result of abuse, neglect or family dysfunction. Concerns at the involvement of looked after children in the youth justice system are not new. Government statistics have consistently shown that rates of known offending by children in care far outstrip those of their peers, and practice in some placements, especially children’s homes, has been criticised for bringing children in care into the justice system unnecessarily. In the year ending March 2010, 7.9% were given a reprimand, warning or conviction, compared with just 3% of all children. Yet, as we have seen, abuse and family breakdown are by far the most common reasons why children are taken into care, rather than offending. If we are better to understand the relationship between care and offending, and tackle the disproportionate number of children in custody who are, or have been, looked after, we need to understand the factors affecting looked after children’s chances of offending, and the relationship between them. We believe children with direct experience of being looked after are best placed to identify, and comment on, aspects of the care system which protect against, and those that increase the risk of, criminalisation. This research seeks to place the voice of looked after children at the heart of the debate on care and crime and proposes a blueprint for preventing offending which draws on their contributions. This report presents the findings of research carried out by the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) Research Centre to explore the views of children with relevant experiences. The research was commissioned by Out of Trouble, the Prison Reform’s Trust’s five year programme to reduce child and youth imprisonment, which is supported by The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. This qualitative study, set in the context of current research and policy, involved 23 indepth face to face interviews with children in care who were aged between 13 and 17 years old. Their experience of, and involvement in, the youth justice system varied. Some had no formal experience, having never been cautioned or convicted. Others had, and the majority were either in custody at the time of interview (including on remand) or had been previously. In partnership with VOICE (www.voiceyp.org), a children’s advocacy organisation for children living away from home, we set up an advisory group to support the research, more details of which can be found on page 63. This group of ten young people in care and care leavers helped to guide the research at three important points: design, analysis, and reporting. Details: London: Prison Reform Trust, 2011. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2012 at http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/careasteppingstonetocustody.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/careasteppingstonetocustody.pdf Shelf Number: 124233 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionCrime RatesFoster CareJuvenile DetentionJuvenile Justice System (U.K.)Juvenile Offenders (U.K.) |
Author: Barbour, Bruce: NSW Ombudsman Title: Keep Them Safe? A Special Report to Parliament under s31 of the Ombudsman Act 1974 Summary: The statutory child protection system in NSW has long struggled to cope with demand. For close to a decade, the system has undergone extensive reform aimed at improving the capacity to respond to children1 for whom serious safety concerns exist. Throughout this period, and in line with this office’s statutory role to oversight the child protection system, we have monitored the extent to which these reforms have improved the safety of vulnerable children. Stemming from recommendations made by the 2008 Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW (the Wood Inquiry), the former government’s reform program - Keep Them Safe: A shared approach to child wellbeing - represents a significant shift in the way that child protection and early support services are delivered in this state.2 Keep Them Safe aims to make child protection a shared responsibility across government and between government and non-government agencies, and to limit the statutory role of Community Services to children ‘at risk of significant harm’. Keep Them Safe also comprises a strong investment in universal and early intervention services, with the expectation that, over time, this will lead to a reduction in the number of children requiring statutory protection and out-of-home care services. In addition, the Wood Inquiry and Keep Them Safe recognise the need for the non-government sector to become a more significant partner in the delivery of child protection services, including a commitment to transfer responsibility for delivering most out-of-home care services from the government to the non-government sector. In keeping with the strong focus of the Wood Inquiry on improving service delivery to Aboriginal children and their families, Keep Them Safe also contains specific actions to enhance the capacity of service delivery to Aboriginal people, including responses to Aboriginal families in contact with the child protection system. It is now over 18 months since Keep Them Safe commenced. It is timely to document and discuss the progress that has been made, and some of the challenges currently facing the service sector. An important starting point for this work is analysing data from Community Services about the agency’s current operating environment. That data illustrates that significantly fewer child protection reports are coming into the statutory child protection system as a result of changes implemented under Keep Them Safe. However, the data - which relates to the first 12 months of operation of the new system - does not appear to reflect a corresponding increase in the recorded capacity of Community Services staff to undertake more face-to-face work with families. Given that a key objective of Keep Them Safe was to limit the number of child protection reports being made to Community Services so it could focus on those children most at risk of serious harm, we questioned whether this objective is being met. For this reason, we initiated an inquiry under section 11 of the Community Services (Complaints, Reviews and Monitoring) Act 1993 to examine whether Community Services’ capacity to adequately respond to children assessed as being at risk of significant harm has improved as a result of changes to the child protection system introduced through Keep Them Safe. This report examines this, and related issues, and makes a range of findings and recommendations. Details: Sydney: NSW Ombudsman, 2011. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 11, 2012 at http://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/publication/PDF/specialreport/SR%20to%20Parliament%20-%20keep%20them%20safe.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/publication/PDF/specialreport/SR%20to%20Parliament%20-%20keep%20them%20safe.pdf Shelf Number: 124444 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Protection (Australia)Evaluative Studies |
Author: UNICEF Regional Office for Latin America Title: Violence Against Children in the Caribbean Region Regional Assessment Summary: Worldwide, there has been increasing concern regarding levels of violence generally and in particular the effects of violence on children, our most vulnerable citizens. Violence not only leads to the obvious signs of physical harm when children are victims, but often to long term psychological consequences, whether the children are direct victims, observers of violence or its aftermath, or have family or friends who are victims. Younger children may show regression to more immature behaviour. Long term effects may include the children themselves demonstrating antisocial behaviour and aggression, and poor school achievement with the resultant reduced employability or earning potential. There have been a number of efforts to understand and address the problem of violence related to children: including studies to determine causes and effects, interventions to reduce different aspects of the problem, and legislation, policy and advocacy towards the protection of children from various forms of violence. In the Caribbean, however, these actions have often been uncoordinated and there has been a lack of interdisciplinary feedback on the usefulness and effectiveness of different approaches. This report is an attempt to look at the issue of violence and children in the Caribbean region in a holistic way across many disciplines, and to try to establish the status of this problem and efforts towards its solution. Details: Panama: Child Protection Section UNICEF Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, 2006. 120p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 17, 2012 at: http://www.uwi.edu/ccdc/downloads/Violence_against_children.pdf Year: 2006 Country: Central America URL: http://www.uwi.edu/ccdc/downloads/Violence_against_children.pdf Shelf Number: 125338 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChildren and ViolenceChildren, Crimes Against (Caribbean)Exposure to ViolenceVictims of Violence |
Author: Walsh, Wendy A. Title: Understanding Child Abuse in Rural and Urban America: Risk Factors and Maltreatment Substantiation Summary: Using a large national sample of child maltreatment reports, this brief compares the outcomes of child maltreatment cases in rural versus urban places and identifies the characteristics associated with substantiation. Child abuse cases substantiated in rural and urban areas share many caregiver risk factors, such as drug and alcohol abuse, and many family stressors. Substantiation is equally likely across income levels; approximately one-fourth of cases in each income level are substantiated. However, when place is taken into account, a greater share (36 percent) of higher-income families (that is, families with incomes greater than 200 percent of the federal poverty level) in rural areas have substantiated maltreatment reports than in urban areas. Details: Durham, NH: Carsey Institute, 2012. 4p. Source: Issue Brief No. 50: Internet Resource: Accessed June 19, 2012 at http://www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu/publications/IB-Walsh-Child-Abuse-Substantiation.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.carseyinstitute.unh.edu/publications/IB-Walsh-Child-Abuse-Substantiation.pdf Shelf Number: 125361 Keywords: Child AbuseChild Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentRural CrimeUrban Crime |
Author: George, Thomas P. Title: School Engagement and Juvenile Offending Among Maltreated Youth Who Vary by Race/Ethnicity, Gender, and Type of Child Maltreatment Summary: Child maltreatment is a pervasive social problem affecting millions of children and their families every year. While past research has documented the short and long-term deleterious outcomes of abused and neglected children, variations in outcomes based on type of maltreatment, race/ethnicity, and gender are not well understood. This study explored the interrelationships of these variables on youths’ school engagement and juvenile criminal offending in a large, diverse sample followed prospectively from the time of maltreatment until youths’ sixteenth birthday. Results indicated that maltreated boys were 2.7 – 3.5 times more likely than non-maltreated boys to exhibit poor school engagement (odds ratios = 3.7 – 5.3), and maltreated girls were 3.4 – 4.2 times more likely than non-maltreated girls (odds ratios = 5.3 – 6.9). The increased risk was even greater in relation to juvenile offending. Maltreated boys were 3.3 – 9.2 times more likely to have committed a misdemeanor, felony, or violent felony by the age of 16 (odds ratios = 4.5 – 9.4), and maltreated girls were 3.8 – 12.0 times more likely (odds ratios = 4.4 – 11.7). With respect to race/ethnicity, American Indian, Black, and Hispanic boys and girls tended to have poorer outcomes than Asian and White youths regardless of maltreatment status. Regarding type of abuse, physical abuse was related to suspensions/expulsions and criminal offending for both genders. However, sexual abuse among boys had the strongest relationship to violent felony offending with a rate 17.6 times higher than non-maltreated boys (8.8% vs .5%, OR = 9.5), and significantly higher than physically abused or neglected boys. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Center for Court Research, Administrative Office of the Courts, 2012. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 28, 2012 at: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/sac/nchip/gender_racial_differences_in_outcomes.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.ofm.wa.gov/sac/nchip/gender_racial_differences_in_outcomes.pdf Shelf Number: 125376 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Maltreatment (U.S.)Cycle of ViolenceEducational PerformanceRacial Disparities |
Author: West, Andy Title: City Kids: Urbanisation and Its Consequences for Children’s Right to be Protected from Abuse, Neglect, Exploitation and Violence Summary: During the second half of the 20th century the process of urbanisation has accelerated in developing countries. Over half of the world’s population – including a billion children – are now estimated to live in urban areas. This recent change from a predominantly rural to a majority urban population has implications for the protection of children from all forms of violence. Rising urban poverty deprives hundreds of millions of children of even basic services, particularly education, healthcare and child protection services. But to date, this has not been a priority on the migration, urbanisation and development agenda of local governments, international agencies or organisations focused on children’s welfare. This discussion paper focuses on urbanisation and its consequences for children’s right to be protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation and violence, and the importance of mainstreaming children’s needs into the routine practices of local governments. It highlights some of Save the Children’s child protection work in the context of urbanisation, notably in Ethiopia, South Africa, Romania, China, Bangladesh, Colombia, Libya, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Vietnam, and Latin America & the Caribbean. The paper also makes some important conclusions and points to the way forward. Details: Save the Children, 2012. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 29, 2012 at: http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se/content/library/documents/city-kids-urbanisation-and-its-consequences-children%E2%80%99s-right-be-protected- Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se/content/library/documents/city-kids-urbanisation-and-its-consequences-children%E2%80%99s-right-be-protected- Shelf Number: 125435 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentCrimes Against ChildrenUrban Areas |
Author: Spielberger, Julie Title: Building a System of Support for Evidence-Based Home Visiting Programs in Illinois: Findings from Year 2 of the Strong Foundations Evaluation Summary: In the fall of 2009, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), in collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and the Home Visiting Task Force (HVTF) of the Early Learning Council began the implementation of Strong Foundations. Funded by the Children’s Bureau of Administration for Children, Youth, and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Illinois was one of 17 grantees in 15 states to receive funding for 5 years to support the implementation, scale up, and sustainability of evidence-based home visiting programs for the prevention of child maltreatment. Each grantee was expected to conduct local implementation and outcome evaluations, along with an analysis of program costs, and contribute information to a national cross-site evaluation. Strong Foundations is based on the assumption that a well-functioning and effective infrastructure at the state level will be reflected in, and supportive of, a well-functioning and effective local system and the successful operation of program sites. It is further assumed that if programs operate successfully, they will produce long-term positive outcomes on maternal life course, child development, and the prevention of child maltreatment similar to those observed in randomized controlled trials of these evidence-based programs. Following these assumptions, the two overarching goals for Strong Foundations are to: implement activities to strengthen the infrastructure of supports for home visiting programs in Illinois and ensure that programs operate with fidelity to their model and are supported with necessary training and resources. The evaluation focuses on three models of evidence-based home visiting programs in Illinois—Parents as Teachers (PAT), Healthy Families America (HFA), and the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP). The primary research questions are:1 State system. To what extent do state partners in the Strong Foundations initiative collaborate and implement an effective state infrastructure to support evidence-based home visiting programs, for example, with respect to governance, funding, monitoring and quality assurance, and training and technical assistance? Community partnerships. How are communities supported and assisted by the state infrastructure in selecting evidence-based home visiting programs to meet the needs of families and in delivering services effectively? Are home visiting programs integrated into the full array of services and supports for families with young children in the community? Program quality and fidelity. Are home visiting programs being implemented and delivered in a way that is faithful to their program model, for example, with respect to staff selection, training, and supervision; engagement, participation, and retention of families; intensity, length, and frequency of services; and links to other community services? To address these questions, the evaluation includes a process evaluation to assess the implementation of the state system, local infrastructure, and the operation of local programs; a pilot study of the newly implemented Strong Foundations trainings on domestic violence, perinatal depression, and substance abuse, and an administrative data study of program performance, capacity, and fidelity. This second year report is based primarily on interviews in the spring of 2011 with state-level informants and program directors and supervisors at 15 local programs; surveys of supervisors and frontline staff; and records and other secondary information from local programs and state agencies. The report also includes an analysis of administrative data from the IDHS Cornerstone system for Healthy Families Illinois (HFI) programs for a 5-year baseline period prior to full implementation of Strong Foundations. Based on findings from the first two years, we conclude with preliminary recommendations to improve state level structures and supports for evidence based home visitation services, as well as program implementation and quality. Details: Chicago: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, 2012. 138p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 2, 2012 at: http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/Building%20Support%20System%20Report_05_25_12.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/Building%20Support%20System%20Report_05_25_12.pdf Shelf Number: 125448 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Maltreatment (Illinois)Child ProtectionHome Visitation Programs |
Author: United Children's Fund (UNICEF) Title: Child Maltreatment: Prevalence, Incidence and Consequences in East Asia and the Pacific. A Systematic Review of Research Summary: Child maltreatment – the physical, sexual and emotional abuse, exploitation and neglect of children – has been shown through the World Report on Violence and Health (2002) and the UN Secretary-General’s Study on Violence against Children (2006) to be widely prevalent in all societies. According to recent global data, more than one in four children worldwide reported having experienced severe and frequent physical abuse, while child sexual abuse was experienced by nearly one in five females and one in eleven males. Maltreatment can have profound and damaging consequences during childhood and adolescence and throughout adult life. Children who have experienced abuse or neglect are more likely to have poorer physical and/or mental health outcomes; social difficulties, such as insecure attachments with caregivers and problematic relationships with peers, and as adults later in life; cognitive dysfunction, attributable to the negative impact of excessive stress on brain development; high-risk behaviours, such as drug and alcohol abuse, early sexual activity and resulting teenage parenting; and behavioural problems, including aggression and adult criminality. In addition to addressing these crucial dimensions of children’s rights, investing in protecting children has a direct positive impact on a country’s human capital and economic growth and reduces the burden of government spending on the long-term consequences of abuse. National child protection systems are recognized as the most effective and sustainable means to protect children from all forms of maltreatment. The absence of such a system frequently leads to incomplete coverage, and to individual violations being addressed as separate, unrelated problems. UNICEF is strongly committed to working with partners to prevent and respond to child maltreatment. The Strengthening Child Protection System Series is a package of evidence and tools to support this effort in the East Asia and Pacific Region. It provides information and guidance on the scale and nature of child maltreatment, the immediate and long-term costs of such maltreatment to individuals, families and society, and effective and sustainable policies and programmes for child protection. The series is intended to contribute to an enhanced evidence base for rights-based interventions and the development of strong child protection systems in countries across the region. This publication, number 1 in the series, presents the findings of a systematic review of research over the last decade on the prevalence, incidence and consequences of child maltreatment in the region. While qualitative studies on particular forms of child abuse and exploitation in the region are numerous, scientific research on the overall extent of child maltreatment is severely lacking. This review has applied a rigorous methodology in identifying and analysing peer reviewed research as well as grey literature on the scale and nature of child maltreatment in the region to provide as reliable a picture as possible of current knowledge and understanding. The findings are intended to support the development of a model to estimate costs of child maltreatment, as a credible means of estimating the minimum, lifetime direct and indirect costs of child maltreatment across countries in East Asia and the Pacific. Such a model can demonstrate the potential economic savings to governments and society that would accrue from effective, evidence-based policies and programmes for the prevention of child maltreatment. Details: Bangkok, Thailand: UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, 2012. 232-. Source: Internet Resource: Strengthening Child Protection Systems Series: No 1: Accessed September 10, 2012 at: http://www.unicef.org/eapro/Child_Maltreatment.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Asia URL: http://www.unicef.org/eapro/Child_Maltreatment.pdf Shelf Number: 126289 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Maltreatment (Asia)Child ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseChildren, Crimes Against |
Author: Benedetti, Genevieve Title: Innovations in the Field of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention: A Review of the Literature Summary: Child abuse and neglect prevention is a complex field due, in part, to the diverse and numerous factors that can lead to maltreatment. As a result, prevention strategies, interventions, and initiatives must address multiple issues and rely on expertise from a variety of disciplines. This literature review considers recent and multidisciplinary research that can lead to innovative and improved ways to target, design, and monitor child abuse prevention efforts. The author identifies and explores eight promising trends or lines of learning. The paper discusses implications for future research, program planning and public policy relevant to preventing maltreatment, strengthening families, and promoting the health and well-being of children. Details: Chicago: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, 2012. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 25, 2012 at: http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/Child%20Abuse%20&%20Neglect%20Prevention_09_11_12.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/Child%20Abuse%20&%20Neglect%20Prevention_09_11_12.pdf Shelf Number: 126449 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Maltreatment |
Author: United Nations General Assembly. Human Rights Council Title: Joint Report of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children on Prevention of and Responses to Violen Summary: The present report, submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 18/12, builds upon the 2006 United Nations Study on Violence against Children, which remains a foundational document for the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children in all settings, including within the juvenile justice system. This report describes the current situation of violence against children in the juvenile justice system, identifies the risks of violence to which children are exposed and analyses the systemic factors which contribute to violence. It provides a number of recommended strategies to prevent and respond to violence against children in the juvenile justice system. Details: Vienna: United Nations, 2012. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 27, 2012 at: http://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org/document/a-hrc-21-25_505 Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org/document/a-hrc-21-25_505 Shelf Number: 126471 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentJuvenile Justice SystemViolence Against Children |
Author: Nicholas, Roger Title: Breaking the Silence: Addressing Family and Domestic Violence Problems in Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Practice in Australia Summary: This literature review examines the relationships between alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and “family and domestic violence” (FDV) in the context of AOD treatment settings. It focuses on strategies that may be developed to enhance the responses of alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment providers to FDV issues affecting clients and their children. Details: Adelaide, South Australia: National Centre for Education and Training on Addiction (NCETA), Flinders University, 2012. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 24, 2012 at: http://nceta.flinders.edu.au/files/6513/5285/7437/EN469_Nicholas_2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://nceta.flinders.edu.au/files/6513/5285/7437/EN469_Nicholas_2012.pdf Shelf Number: 126989 Keywords: Alcohol AbuseAlcohol Treatment ProgramsChild Abuse and NeglectDomestic ViolenceDrug Abuse and AddictionDrug TreatmentFamily Violence (Australia) |
Author: Aalders, Rachel Title: Children and Young People at Risk of Social Exclusion: Links between homelessness, child protection and juvenile justice Summary: Current research demonstrates relationships between child abuse and neglect, homelessness and criminal activity. This report presents key findings from analysis of a data set linking three community-sector data collections: Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP), juvenile justice supervision, and child protection notifications and substantiations in Victoria and Tasmania. While this project demonstrated that linking these collections is both feasible and worthwhile, the results are limited by data availability (this project used 3 years of SAAP data, 10 years of juvenile justice data, 18 years of Victorian child protection data and 3 years of Tasmanian child protection data). The accumulation of data over multiple years for all sectors would enable the flows between services over the long term to be identified, but despite the data limitations, the results highlight the possibilities for data linkage in these sectors although caution must be used in generalising these findings. People with involvement in one of the three sectors are more likely to be involved in another of the sectors than the general population Almost 15% of young people under juvenile justice supervision had received SAAP support in the year before their most recent supervision and 8% received support in the year after their most recent supervision. For those with a substantiated child protection notification, 6% received support in the year before and 7% in the year after their most recent substantiated notification. In contrast, about 1% of those aged 10 and older in the general population receive SAAP services as a client in a year and about 2% receive services as an accompanying child (AIHW 2010). More than 10% of those who received SAAP support as an adult had a history of juvenile justice supervision— by comparison, about 1% of those aged 16 or 17 (the peak age for juvenile justice supervision) are under supervision in any given year (AIHW 2011c). (National figures on the proportion of the adult population with a history of juvenile justice supervision are not available.) Young people with a child protection history enter juvenile justice supervision at a younger age Of those under juvenile justice supervision who had one or more substantiated child protection notifications, 21% first entered supervision aged 10–13 compared with 6% of those with no substantiated notifications. Young people without substantiated notifications were more likely to have entered supervision when they were older, with 33% doing so at age 17 compared with 11% of those who had one or more substantiated notifications. Young people, particularly young women, completing a detention sentence are at greater risk of homelessness Within 1 month after the end of a period of sentenced detention, 3% of periods were followed by a period of SAAP support—this increased to 9% within 6 months. Young women were twice as likely as young men to receive SAAP support in the month after the end of a sentenced detention period. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2012. Source: Internet Resource: Data Linkage Series, Number 13: Accessed November 24, 2012 at: www.aihw.gov.au/publication-detail/?id=60129542237 Year: 2012 Country: Armenia URL: Shelf Number: 126995 Keywords: At-risk YouthChild Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionDelinquency PreventionHomelessnessJuvenile JusticeJuvenile Offenders (Australia) |
Author: Cashmore, Judy Title: The Long-Term Effects of Child Sexual Abuse Summary: This paper reviews recent Australian and international research on the long-term effects of child sexual abuse. It aims to assist practitioners and policy-makers who work with survivors of sexual abuse and their families to understand the significant findings from this large and sometimes complex body of research. Details: Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2013. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: CFCA Paper No. 11: Accessed February 8, 2013 at: http://www.aifs.gov.au/cfca/pubs/papers/a143161/cfca11.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aifs.gov.au/cfca/pubs/papers/a143161/cfca11.pdf Shelf Number: 127553 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild Sexual Abuse (Australia) |
Author: New South Wales. Ombudsman Title: Responding to Child Sexual Assault in Aboriginal Communities A report under Part 6A of the Community Services (Complaints, Reviews and Monitoring) Act 1993 Summary: This report outlines the findings and recommendations from our audit of the implementation of the NSW Interagency Plan to Tackle Child Sexual Assault in Aboriginal Communities. The Interagency Plan was released in January 2007 and operated for five years. Approximately $60 million was earmarked for implementing Interagency Plan initiatives. The Plan committed 11 government agenciesii and a number of non-government organisations to implementing 88 actions. The goals underpinning the Interagency Plan recognise that child sexual assault in Aboriginal communities cannot be tackled in isolation of the broader issues of disadvantage – including poor health, education and employment outcomes, and the overrepresentation of Aboriginal children in the child protection and criminal justice systems. In response to recommendation 18.1 of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services, the Ombudsman was required to audit the implementation of the Interagency Plan. When Justice Wood assessed what the Interagency Plan had achieved in its early years, he found that it had generated significant levels of activity but it was ‘difficult to assess’ the actual impact on Aboriginal communities, or on those children who are experiencing or are at risk of sexual abuse. Throughout the period of the Plan’s implementation, a range of major initiatives have been introduced. In particular, the reforms to the child protection system arising from the Special Commission of Inquiry and the Government’s response, Keep Them Safe, as well as a range of initiatives linked to the National Indigenous Reform Agreement, settled by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in November 2008. In August 2011, several months before the Interagency Plan was due to end, the NSW Government established a Ministerial Taskforce in recognition of the need to improve service delivery and accountability in Aboriginal affairs and, in particular, to improve employment and educational outcomes for Aboriginal people in NSW. Although the Ministerial Taskforce has not specifically focused on the issue of child sexual assault, it has recognised the strong alignment between its commitment to building strong accountability across government and what is required to properly address child sexual assault in Aboriginal communities into the future. Throughout our audit, we have used a series of inquiries to focus agencies’ attention on issues that need to be addressed if specific child protection strategies are to have an impact, especially in high-need locations. Two of these inquiries have culminated in reports to Parliament – Inquiry into service provision to the Bourke and Brewarrina communities (December 2010) and Addressing Aboriginal Disadvantage: the need to do things differently (October 2011). We also issued a confidential report provided directly to lead agencies about our review of a group of schoolaged children in two Western NSW towns (July 2012). Each report highlights measures needed to create an environment where child wellbeing is paramount and communities can thrive, thereby paving the way for more effective child sexual abuse prevention measures. These reports, collectively, constitute our formal report to the Minister on our audit. Details: Sydney: NSW Ombudsman, 2012. 310p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2013 at: http://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/7961/ACSA-report-web1.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ombo.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/7961/ACSA-report-web1.pdf Shelf Number: 127995 Keywords: AboriginalsChild Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChild Sexual Abuse (Australia)Indigenous Peoples |
Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary Title: "Mistakes Were Made." HMIC's review into allegations and intelligence material concerning Jimmy Savile between 1964 and 2012 Summary: HMIC's review of allegations made against Jimmy Savile during his lifetime finds mistakes were made by the police; and while policies and practices designed to improve the experience of child victims are now available, we raise serious concerns over why so many victims felt unable to come forward and report what had happened to the authorities. Details: London: HMIC, 2013. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2013 at: http://www.hmic.gov.uk/media/review-into-allegations-and-intelligence-material-concerning-jimmy-savile.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.hmic.gov.uk/media/review-into-allegations-and-intelligence-material-concerning-jimmy-savile.pdf Shelf Number: 128010 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectJimmy SavileOperation YewtreePolice InvestigationsPolice Misconduct (U.K.) |
Author: Koziol-McLain, Jane Title: Hospital Responsiveness to Family Violence: 96 Month Follow-Up Evaluation Summary: The Ministry of Health (MOH) Violence Intervention Programme (VIP) seeks to reduce and prevent the health impacts of violence and abuse through early identification, assessment and referral of victims presenting to designated District Health Board (DHB) services. The Ministry of Health-funded national resources support a comprehensive, systems approach to addressing family violence. This evaluation summary documents the result of measuring system indicators at 27 hospitals (20 DHBs), providing Government, MOH and DHBs with information on family violence intervention programme implementation. Based on previous audit scores and programme maturity, 10 DHBs transitioned to self audit only for the 96 month follow-up audit, all other data is based on external audit scores for 2011/2012. Details: Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Ministry of Health, 2013. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 22, 2013 at: http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/hospital-responsiveness-family-violence-96-month-follow-evaluation Year: 2013 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.health.govt.nz/publication/hospital-responsiveness-family-violence-96-month-follow-evaluation Shelf Number: 128076 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectFamily Violence (New Zealand)Health CareHospitalsIntimate Partner AbuseVictims of Violence |
Author: Protection Project, Johns Hopkins Unviersity Title: Child Protection Model Law. Best Practices: Protection of Children from Neglect, Abuse, Maltreatment, and Exploitation Summary: In September 2009, The Protection Project at The Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies started a joint project with the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children to draft a Model Law on Child Protection aimed at protecting children from all forms of neglect, abuse, maltreatment, and exploitation. The project envisioned the holding of various expert group meetings globally to accompany the drafting process by identifying key issues of child protection in each region of the world and suggesting legislative solutions. The Model Law was written through six drafting stages – each version being carefully revised and expanded to reflect the discussions at the regional expert meetings. The final version of the Model Law incorporates international standards and best practices of child protection, based on the protection measures of the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its two optional protocols from the year 2000, the Optional Protocol to the CRC on the sale of children, child prostitution and pornography (OPSC) and the Optional Protocol to the CRC on the involvement of children in armed conflict (OPAC). Over the course of the project, more than 400 national laws relating to child protection from over 150 countries were researched and analyzed to identify best practices. Details: Washington, DC: The Protection Project, The Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS); Alexandria, VA: The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), 2013. 253p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 30, 2013 at: http://www.protectionproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/CP-Model-Law_Jan-2013_Final-w-cover.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.protectionproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/CP-Model-Law_Jan-2013_Final-w-cover.pdf Shelf Number: 128172 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild LaborChild MaltreatmentChild Protection (International)Child Sexual Exploitation |
Author: Mathews, Shanaaz Title: Child Homicide Patterns in South Africa: Is There a Link to Child Abuse? Summary: The South African Constitution’s Bill of Rights provides children the right to care and protection, yet thousands of children experience abuse daily (physical/sexual and psychological). Not much is known about child homicides in South Africa. Only one South African study using data from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS) for four urban areas among 0-14 year olds report homicide rates following similar patterns to global rates, with the highest rate among young male children aged 0-4 years. Of significance, studies from high income countries indicate that a substantial proportion of child homicides are due to child abuse and neglect, including physical and sexual abuse as well as neglect and negligent behaviour. Generally younger children are most at risk of fatal child abuse and neglect due to their dependence on carers and inability to protect themselves. The Gender & Health Research Unit of the South African Medical Research Council has completed a national study of child homicides in 2009 and this research brief summarises its findings on the magnitude of child homicide and deaths related to child abuse and neglect. Key Findings • Three children a day are murdered in South Africa • South Africa has an overall child homicide rate of 5.5/100 000 population • Child homicide in South Africa has a distinct gender pattern with more younger age girl children murdered and an increase in male homicide during adolescence • The teenage male homicide rate of 21.7/100 000 population is excessive and mirrors the pattern of adult male homicide • Nearly half (44.5%) of all child homicides were due to child abuse and neglect • 16% of all child homicides were due to abandonment within the first week of life. Details: Tygerberg, South Africa: South African Medical Research Council, 2012. 4p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Brief: Accessed April 4, 2013 at: http://www.mrc.ac.za/policybriefs/childhomicide.pdf Year: 2012 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.mrc.ac.za/policybriefs/childhomicide.pdf Shelf Number: 128210 Keywords: Child AbandonmentChild Abuse and NeglectChild Homicides (South Africa)Child Protection |
Author: Kelly, Liz Title: Realising Rights: Case studies on state responses to violence against women and children in Europe Summary: The commitment within Europe to combating violence against women (VAW), and to a lesser extent violence against children, has increased throughout the last decade as a result of sustained actions by women’s movements, non-governmental organisations, and initiatives such as DAPHNE. The initial set of DAPHNE activities were carried out on an annual basis between 1997 and 1999. Thereafter, those activities were continued by the European Commission in the form of DAPHNE I (2000-2003), DAPHNE II (2004-2008 with a budget of EUR 50 million), and DAPHNE III (2007-2013 with a budget of EUR 166 million). The projects funded under DAPHNE have addressed VAW and violence against children and youth, with most focusing on one or the other. Realising Rights (RRS) is part of the current DAPHNE III programme and explores both fields of violence. The aims of the RRS project were threefold: · to provide a comprehensive analysis of existing European legislation in the fields of violence against women (VAW) and child maltreatment (CM); · to undertake in depth case studies on approaches to, and effectiveness of, protection and justice; · to present an analytic overview of promising directions and gaps in legislation and implementation, in order to suggest directions for further reforms in laws, procedures and public policy. Mapping legislation was begun in 2009 and then carried over and deepened in a feasibility study for the European Commission1 which also included sexual orientation violence. That research project covered the first aim, and to some extent the third. In this report we present the multi-country case studies from phase 2 of RRS focused on the wider policy context and the social and institutional processes that define the practices covering: national action plans (NPA) on VAW; child protection processes; and protection for women living with domestic violence. One of our starting points is to develop a deeper understanding of how and why the same principles and concepts lead in diverse directions or why diverse legal frameworks seem to achieve similar results in terms of implementation and understandings of women and children’s human rights. Whilst core principles are established in human rights discourse for addressing VAW and VAC respectively, historical, societal and cultural diversity and legal traditions appear to shape their interpretation, especially when different rights can be interpreted as being in tension. Three case studies were developed to explore this conundrum more fully, involving the four specialised institutions collaborating in this project: · Child & Woman Abuse Studies Unit (CWASU, London Metropolitan University, United Kingdom); · International Victimology Institute Tilburg (INTERVICT, the Netherlands); · Institute for Educational Science, University of Osnabrück (Germany). · German Institute for Human Youth Services and Family Law, Heidelberg (DIJuF, Germany) CWASU undertook the NPA case study involving the following countries: Bulgaria, Finland, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Serbia, Turkey and the UK. These countries were selected in order to provide a reasonable geographic spread, a diversity of legal frameworks, and different social, economic and cultural traditions and conditions. The Institute for Educational Science of the University of Osnabrueck and the German Institute for Human Youth Services and Family Law (DIJuF) in Heidelberg undertook the study on child maltreatment and child protection practice across a range of countries, while INTERVICT in Tilburg, the Netherlands, conducted the study on barring orders. Each case study used a slightly different methodological approach to the case studies, meaning that these are documented within each chapter. The first chapter supplements the European Commission report on legal responses (European Commission, 2010), presenting data on an additional 11 non-EU countries with respect to VAW and VAC. Chapters 2-4 present the three case studies and the final chapter explores cross-cutting themes. Details: London: Child and Women Abuse Studies Unit, London Metropolitan University, 2011. 223p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 22, 2013 at: http://www.cwasu.org/ Year: 2011 Country: Europe URL: http://www.cwasu.org/ Shelf Number: 128433 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentGender-Based ViolenceViolence Against Women (Europe) |
Author: Spielberger, Julie Title: Building a System of Support for Evidence-Based Home Visitation Programs in Illinois: Findings from Year 3 of the Strong Foundations Evaluation Summary: In the fall of 2009, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS), in collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and the Home Visiting Task Force (HVTF) of the Early Learning Council began the implementation of Strong Foundations. Funded by the Children’s Bureau, Illinois was one of 17 grantees in 15 states to receive funding for 5 years to support the implementation, scale-up, and sustainability of evidence-based home visiting programs for the prevention of child maltreatment. Drawing primarily from interviews with state-level informants, program directors and supervisors at a sample of local programs, focus groups and surveys with home visitors, and analysis of administrative records, these reports from the first three years of implementation provide findings and recommendations on aspects of the state-level structures and supports for evidence-based home visitation services, as well as program implementation and quality. These recommendations fall into several areas, including local system building; staff development and training; monitoring and quality assurance; and communication. The report also notes that despite a number of challenges to system building, strong advocacy and leadership in the state, growing collaborations at the local community level, and sustained participation by a wide range of stakeholders provide a good foundation to meet those challenges. Details: Chicago: Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, 2013. 201p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2013 at: http://www.chapinhall.org/research/report/building-system-support-evidence-based-home-visitation-programs-illinois-early-findi-2 Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.chapinhall.org/research/report/building-system-support-evidence-based-home-visitation-programs-illinois-early-findi-2 Shelf Number: 128652 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Maltreatment (Illinois)Child ProtectionEvidence-Based ProgramsHome Visitation Programs |
Author: War Child Title: An Unwanted Truth? FOCUSING THE G8: Shining a Spotlight on Sexual Violence against Children in Conflict Summary: This report warns that international governments are failing to take seriously the scale of sexual abuse against children in conflict. According to War Child, G8 countries, whose foreign ministers are meeting today in London, have a “once in a lifetime chance” to stop sexual violence against children. According to An Unwanted Truth? millions of children around the world are regularly subjected to sexual abuse: Every day, over 600,000 children around the world are estimated to be raped or suffer sexual violence: more children than live in Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool and Sheffield combined. In some war-torn countries, including the Central African Republic, over 50% of children surveyed reported having been victims of sexual abuse or exploitation. Over 51% of cases of sexual violence in the post-election crisis in Côte d’Ivoire were children. Despite this, the report says that international governments, including the G8 of leading nations, have overlooked child victims of abuse and instead focused on sexual violence as a women’s issue and on more visible aspects of humanitarian disasters. The report says it is crucial that G8 foreign ministers meeting in London this week commit to using their international influence and finance to stop this child abuse. Download the report below. Details: London: War Child, 2013. 25p. Source: Internet Resosurce: Accessed May 9, 2013 at: http://cdn.warchild.org.uk/sites/default/files/An-Unwanted-Truth-April-2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://cdn.warchild.org.uk/sites/default/files/An-Unwanted-Truth-April-2013.pdf Shelf Number: 128693 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild RapeChild Sexual AbuseSexual Violence |
Author: United Nations Children's Fund. Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary on Violence against Children Title: Protecting Children from Harmful Practices in Plural Legal Systems with a Special Emphasis on Africa Summary: Across regions, millions of children continue to suffer from various forms of harmful practices, including female genital mutilation, early and forced marriage, breast ironing, son preference, female infanticide, virginity testing, honour crimes, bonded labour, forced feeding and nutritional taboos, accusation of witchcraft, as well as a great number of other less known practices. Harmful practices may be traditional or emerging, but generally have some cultural, social or religious underpinning. Common for most harmful practices is that they have devastating consequences on the child’s life, development, health, education and protection. The UN Study on Violence against Children urged states to prohibit by law all forms of violence against children, including harmful practices. This recommendation is a key priority for the mandate of the Special representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children as well as for Plan International. To advance progress in the implementation of this recommendation, they co-organized an expert consultation, in June 2012. This thematic report was informed by those important discussions. Details: New York: UNICEF, 2012. 51p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 6, 2013 at: http://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org/sites/default/files/publications_final/SRSG_Plan_harmful_practices_report_final.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Africa URL: http://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org/sites/default/files/publications_final/SRSG_Plan_harmful_practices_report_final.pdf Shelf Number: 128966 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChildren, Crimes AgainstForced MarriageHonor Related ViolenceViolence Against Children (Africa) |
Author: U.S. Attorney General's National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence Title: Report of the Attorney General’s National Task Force on Children Exposed to Violence Summary: Exposure to violence is a national crisis that affects approximately two out of every three of our children. Of the 76 million children currently residing in the United States, an estimated 46 million can expect to have their lives touched by violence, crime, abuse, and psychological trauma this year. In 1979, U.S. Surgeon General Julius B. Richmond declared violence a public health crisis of the highest priority, and yet 33 years later that crisis remains. Whether the violence occurs in children’s homes, neighborhoods, schools, playgrounds or playing fields, locker rooms, places of worship, shelters, streets, or in juvenile detention centers, the exposure of children to violence is a uniquely traumatic experience that has the potential to profoundly derail the child’s security, health, happiness, and ability to grow and learn — with effects lasting well into adulthood. Exposure to violence in any form harms children, and different forms of violence have different negative impacts. Sexual abuse places children at high risk for serious and chronic health problems, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, suicidality, eating dis-orders, sleep disorders, substance abuse, and deviant sexual behavior. Sexually abused children often become hypervigilant about the possibility of future sexual violation, experience feelings of betrayal by the adults who failed to care for and protect them. Physical abuse puts children at high risk for lifelong problems with medical illness, PTSD, suicidality, eating disorders, substance abuse, and deviant sexual behavior. Physically abused children are at heightened risk for cognitive and developmental impairments, which can lead to violent behavior as a form of self-protection and control. These children often feel powerless when faced with physical intimidation, threats, or conflict and may compensate by becoming isolated (through truancy or hiding) or aggressive (by bullying or joining gangs for protection). Physically abused children are at risk for significant impairment in memory processing and problem solving and for developing defensive behaviors that lead to consistent avoidance of intimacy. Intimate partner violence within families puts children at high risk for severe and potentially lifelong problems with physical health, mental health, and school and peer relationships as well as for disruptive behavior. Witnessing or living with domestic or intimate partner violence often burdens children with a sense of loss or profound guilt and shame because of their mistaken assumption that they should have intervened or prevented the violence or, tragically, that they caused the violence. They frequently castigate themselves for having failed in what they assume to be their duty to protect a parent or sibling(s) from being harmed, for not having taken the place of their horribly injured or killed family member, or for having caused the offender to be violent. Children exposed to intimate partner violence often experience a sense of terror and dread that they will lose an essential caregiver through permanent injury or death. They also fear losing their relationship with the offending parent, who may be removed from the home, incarcerated, or even executed. Children will mistakenly blame themselves for having caused the batterer to be violent. If no one identifies these children and helps them heal and recover, they may bring this uncertainty, fear, grief, anger, shame, and sense of betrayal into all of their important relationships for the rest of their lives. Community violence in neighborhoods can result in children witnessing assaults and even killings of family members, peers, trusted adults, innocent bystanders, and perpetrators of violence. Violence in the community can prevent children from feeling safe in their own schools and neighborhoods. Violence and ensuing psychological trauma can lead children to adopt an attitude of hypervigilance, to become experts at detecting threat or perceived threat — never able to let down their guard in order to be ready for the next outbreak of violence. They may come to believe that violence is “normal,” that violence is “here to stay,” and that relationships are too fragile to trust because one never knows when violence will take the life of a friend or loved one. They may turn to gangs or criminal activities to prevent others from viewing them as weak and to counteract feelings of despair and powerlessness, perpetuating the cycle of violence and increasing their risk of incarceration. They are also at risk for becoming victims of intimate partner violence in adolescence and in adulthood. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 2012. 256p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 3, 2013 at: http://www.justice.gov/defendingchildhood/cev-rpt-full.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.justice.gov/defendingchildhood/cev-rpt-full.pdf Shelf Number: 129237 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseChildren and ViolenceChildren, Crime AgainstCommunity ViolenceFamily ViolenceViolenceViolence Against Children (U.S.) |
Author: Gulliver, Pauline Title: Measurement of Family Violence at a Population Level: What might be needed to develop reliable and valid family violence indicators? Summary: This Issues Paper reviews some of the available sources of data on family violence, assesses strengths and limitations of these data sources for measuring trends in family violence, and seeks to assist the reader to develop an understanding of the issues associated with family violence data collections. Government agencies, non-government organisations and researchers all require reliable measures of family violence to understand the magnitude of the problem, to appropriately target resources, and to identify strategies that are effective in reducing and ultimately eliminating family violence. In this paper we: • Draw attention to the data that is currently available in New Zealand; • Assess the strengths and weaknesses of this data in relation to monitoring trends in family violence at the population level; • Highlight opportunities for further development of existing datasets, drawing on the experiences of other developed countries; • Consider some of the implications for reporting family violence data at the national level; and • Suggest some future courses of action which could support the development of reliable and valid family violence indicators. Details: Auckland, NZ: New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse, 2012. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Issues Paper 2: Accessed July 10, 2013 at: http://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/Measurement-of-family-violence-at-a-population-level-June-2012.pdf Year: 2012 Country: New Zealand URL: http://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/Measurement-of-family-violence-at-a-population-level-June-2012.pdf Shelf Number: 129345 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDomestic ViolenceFamily Violence (New Zealand)Intimate Partner ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Murphy, Clare Title: Understanding Connections and Relationships: Child maltreatment, intimate partner violence and parenting Summary: This Issues Paper reviews the evidence on the frequency with which intimate partner violence and child maltreatment co-occur. The United States NatSCEV study showed: • 34% of the children who had witnessed intimate partner violence had also been subjected to direct maltreatment in the past year, compared to 9% of those who had not witnessed intimate partner violence. • Over their lifetimes, over half of those (57%) who had witnessed intimate partner violence were also maltreated, compared to 11% of those who had not witnessed intimate partner violence. • Men were more likely to perpetrate intimate partner violence incidents that were witnessed by children than were women, with 68% of children witnessing violence only by men. Exposure to violence can have ongoing negative impacts on children and young people’s health, education, social and economic wellbeing. Recommendations from this paper include the need for greater recognition of: • The links between child maltreatment and intimate partner violence • The detrimental effects of children’s exposure to intimate partner violence • The disruption to mother-child relationships due to intimate partner violence • The poor fathering that can accompany perpetration of intimate partner violence This needs to translate to greater understanding of the importance of supporting children’s relationships with the non-abusive parent. This work needs to include creating conditions of safety, and may need to include active work to help restore relationships between non-abusive parents and their children. Work to address poor fathering is also necessary. Details: Auckland, NZ: New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse, 2013. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Issues Paper 3: Accessed July 10, 2013 at: http://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/issues-paper-3-2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: New Zealand URL: http://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/issues-paper-3-2013.pdf Shelf Number: 129346 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner Violence (New Zealand) |
Author: Sarrouh, Layal T.E. Title: Where Are They?: The situation of children and armed conflict in Mali Summary: Three months after the start of the current conflict in Mali, which began in January 2012, the non-state armed groups the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and Ansar Dine, with assistance from Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), captured the three northern regions in Mali: Gao, Kidal, and Tombouctou. Ideological differences led to clashes amongst the four armed groups, and by July 2012, Ansar Dine, AQIM, and MUJAO were in control of most of the captured territory, and were enforcing their own severe interpretation of Sharia on the remaining population through threat of force. In December 2012, the United Nations (UN) Security Council authorized the establishment of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) to assist the Government of Mali reclaim control over its territory. However, on 10 January 2013, Ansar Dine, AQIM, and MUJAO began advancing south towards the capital, Bamako, prompting the launch of a French-led military intervention and the hurried deployment of AFISMA. As a result, the armed groups retreated into the surrounding areas and desert, shifting the conflict to asymmetric warfare. In late April 2013, the UN Security Council authorized the establishment of a UN-led peacekeeping force for Mali, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), expected to begin 1 July 2013. The conflict has led to the displacement of nearly 475,000 Malians: 300,783 of them internally displaced. Given the dearth of information on the conflict’s effect on children, Watchlist undertook two missions to Mali in November-December 2012 and in February-March 2013, to research grave violations, notably: the recruitment or use of children, killing and maiming, attacks on schools, and rape and sexual violence; as well as the response in place to protect children. The title of the report, “Where are they?” refers to multiple layers of the findings: It asks where are the recruited children, many of whom seemingly disappeared with the retreat of the armed groups; it refers to the number of children against whom grave violations are being committed, unknown due to the lack of data and monitoring; and finally, it asks where is the international community, specifically the child protection actors with the expertise and knowledge for responding to conflicts of this nature. Where are they all? Details: Watch List on Children and Armed Conflict, 2013. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2013 at: http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Watchlist%20Where%20are%20they.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Mali URL: http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Watchlist%20Where%20are%20they.pdf Shelf Number: 129416 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Protection (Mali)Violence Against Children |
Author: Great Britain. House of Commons. Home Affairs Committee Title: Child Sexual Exploitation and the Response to Localised Grooming Summary: The report 'Child Sexual Exploitation And The Response To Localised Grooming (HC 68-I)' examines the results of an inquiry into the sexual exploitation of children, and the failures of agencies appointed to protect them. The quality of the response to instances of child sexual exploitation is often dependent on the area in which it occurs; the failures in these cases have been both systemic and cultural, with rules and guidelines not being followed. The Committee recommends that officials who fail to act must not be allowed to evade responsibility through early retirement or resignation for other reasons, and should not be paid compensation of any kind. Suggested reforms to the court processes include: • section 28 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 should be implemented; • the introduction of specialist courts either for child sexual exploitation cases or for sexual offences as a whole; and • the Lord Chief Justice should recommend specific training on child sexual exploitation cases to be developed and provided to the Judicial College. The police, social services and the Crown Prosecution Service must all bear responsibility for the way in which vulnerable children have been left unprotected by the system. Details: London: The Stationery Office limited, 2013. 79p. Source: Internet Resource: Second Report of Session 2013–14: Accessed August 5, 2013 at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmhaff/68/68i.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmselect/cmhaff/68/68i.pdf Shelf Number: 129523 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectioinChild Sexual Abuse (U.K.)Child Sexual Exploitation |
Author: Arthur, Joy Title: 'It's Not OK!' in Paeroa : A local campaign to raise awareness of the effect of alcohol-fuelled family violence on the children of Paeroa Summary: This is a report about the Paeroa ‘It’s Not OK!’ family violence primary prevention campaign that ran over a four month period from September 2012 to January 2013. The project focused on raising awareness about the effect of alcohol fuelled family violence on children and facilitating sustainable change in community attitudes using messages from the campaign. There were 26 local champions promoting campaign messages on billboards, posters and slide-shows, as well as at several community events. Campaign messages also featured in the media and on local radio stations. Research for this report included a review of current literature on community mobilization and interviews with the campaign organizing committee, the champions and members of the public attending the launch of the campaign. A street survey was conducted toward the end of the campaign period to ascertain community awareness of the campaign, as well as any changes in community attitudes attributable to the campaign messages. Pre and post campaign police callouts to incidents of family violence and the knowledge and use of support services are also examined in the report for indications of a change in community attitudes toward family violence issues. The launch and street surveys revealed raised awareness of family violence issues in the Paeroa Community. A majority of participants displayed a good overall knowledge of campaign messages, particularly those featuring the local champions, and were able to identify where to go for support with family violence issues. Reports from the champions and the working party contained anecdotal evidence of local families making significant changes in their attitudes toward family violence. There is also evidence of a change from the Collaborative Case Management (FVIARS) Project for Paeroa which reveals a considerable decrease in the number of family violence incidents attended by police post campaign compared with the same period pre-campaign, as well as fewer family violence callouts involving alcohol. Overall, the evaluation of the project reveals an inclusive, culturally sensitive campaign that has successfully used local role models to raise awareness of the effect of alcohol fuelled family violence on those in the community. The champions also played a key part in motivating others in the community to make a change in their attitude toward family violence. The ‘It’s Not OK in Paeroa!’ campaign is an excellent example of a programme that has used community strengths to meet community needs and one that has the potential to contribute a good deal toward future campaigns. Recommendations for use in future campaigns include: Recognizing the importance of the champions’ role in this and other projects by developing a tool-kit to assist organizing committees in recruiting, training and supporting them. Extending the campaign time-frame to facilitate ongoing support for local activists who wish to ‘refresh’ campaign messages in the community. Details: Christchurch, NZ: Alcohol Advisory Council, 2013. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 8, 2013 at: http://www.nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/paeroa-report-2012.pdf Year: 2013 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/paeroa-report-2012.pdf Shelf Number: 129578 Keywords: Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder (New Zealand)Child Abuse and NeglectFamily ViolenceMedia CampaignPublicity Campaign |
Author: Queensland. Crime and Misconduct Commission Title: Vulnerable Victims: Child Homicide by Parents Summary: Vulnerable victims are those who are susceptible to becoming victims of violence because of their limited capacity to protect and remove themselves from danger. Generally speaking, criminal investigations involving vulnerable victims are protracted, sensitive and labour-intensive. The investigations can be particularly complex and challenging to carry out using conventional law enforcement powers. For cases where conventional practices have not proved effective, the Queensland Police Service (QPS) may request access to the special investigative powers of the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC), if it is considered that the use of the coercive hearings power may benefit the investigation. Historically, these types of investigations were referred to the CMC on a case-by-case basis at the request of the Commissioner of Police. The CMC’s vulnerable victims research program was established to help the CMC to conduct coercive hearings under the new referral. Papers in the vulnerable victims research program review published literature from a range of subject areas, including law enforcement, criminology, psychology and pathology. This Research and Issues Paper focuses on cases of suspected homicide of vulnerable victims under the age of 16, particularly homicide perpetrated by a parent. Although police investigators are the paper’s primary audience, the paper is also a useful reference for professionals such as clinicians, ambulance officers or child protection workers who may encounter children at risk of being murdered by their parent. Details: Brisbane: Crime and Misconduct Commission, 2013. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Research and Issues No. 10: Accessed August 12, 2013 at: http://www.cmc.qld.gov.au/research-and-publications/publications/research/vulnerable-victims-child-homicide-by-parents Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://www.cmc.qld.gov.au/research-and-publications/publications/research/vulnerable-victims-child-homicide-by-parents Shelf Number: 129628 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Homicide (Australia)Family HomicideInfanticideViolence Against Children |
Author: Queensland. Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian Title: Fatal Assault and Neglect of Queensland Children Report Summary: The purpose of the Fatal assault and neglect of Queensland children report (the report) was to examine a sample of fatal assault and neglect child deaths in Queensland to identify key risk factors and develop targeted prevention messages to reduce the incidence of these preventable child deaths. The report comprises an examination of all types of death (both natural and external cause deaths) for children under five years of age that occurred in Queensland between 2004 and 2006 and were reported to the coroner for investigation. This resulted in a total of 312 child deaths for review (29% of the 1061 child deaths for children under five that occurred during this timeframe). The Commission selected this broad scope to ensure that every child death that could not be readily medically accounted for was examined for the presence of circumstances indicative of fatal assault and neglect. Additionally, the report focused on children under five years as they are among the most vulnerable in our community and are over-represented in cases of fatal assault and neglect1. Key findings There were 16 child deaths (of the 312 reviewed, or 5%) identified in Queensland between 2004 and 2006 where it was probable or confirmed that fatal assault or neglect caused the child’s death. Males and females were equally represented in fatal assault and neglect child deaths (8 of 16, or 50% each). Children under one year were over-represented in fatal assault and neglect child deaths (8 of 16, or 50%). In all but one (15 of 16, or 94%) fatal assault and neglect child death, the child’s parents or step-parents were identified as the alleged perpetrator. In all but one (15 of 16, or 94%) fatal assault and neglect child death, there was at least one reported vulnerability characteristic present in the child’s family (i.e. a history of domestic violence, parental drug/alcohol abuse, criminal offending, child protection concerns). Domestic homicide was the most common type of death examined in the project sample (9 of 16, or 56%), more than double the occurrence of fatal child abuse which was the next most common type of death (4 of 16, or 25%). In two-thirds of all domestic homicides (6 of 9, or 67%), there was evidence that a breakdown in the parental relationship was a factor. Details: Brisbane: Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian, 2013. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2013 at: http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/resources/publications/fatal-assault-and-neglect-of-Qld-children/Fatal_assault_and_neglect_of_Qld_children_report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/resources/publications/fatal-assault-and-neglect-of-Qld-children/Fatal_assault_and_neglect_of_Qld_children_report.pdf Shelf Number: 129629 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Homicide (Australia)Family Violence |
Author: Finkelhor, David: Jones, Lisa Title: Have Sexual Abuse and Physical Abuse Declined Since the 1990s? Summary: This bulletin summarizes statistics on trends for sexual and physical abuse. A decline in sexual abuse since the early 1990s is a conclusion supported by 3 independent sources of agency data and 4 separate large victim surveys. The trend for physical abuse is less clear, since several of the data sources show conflicting patterns. Details: Durham, NH: Crimes against Chidlren Research Center, University of New Hampshire, 2012. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 19, 2013 at: http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/pdf/CV267_Have%20SA%20%20PA%20Decline_FACT%20SHEET_11-7-12.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.unh.edu/ccrc/pdf/CV267_Have%20SA%20%20PA%20Decline_FACT%20SHEET_11-7-12.pdf Shelf Number: 129637 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectCrime StatisticsRapeSexual Abuse (U.S.) |
Author: Robertson, Neville Title: Evaluation of the Whānau Ora Wellbeing Service of Te Whakaruruhau : final report Summary: Domestic violence and child abuse represent significant threats to whanau ora. Conversely, the weakening or loss of whanau ties can increase the vulnerability of whanau members to domestic violence and child abuse. Thus enhancing whanau ora in the context of domestic violence and child abuse is both a high priority and a significant challenge. Te Whakaruruhau Maori Women's Refuge has been providing safe housing, support and advocacy to women and children for over two decades and has become a key agency in family violence networks in Kirikiriroa. The development of the Whanau Ora Wellbeing Service, the focus of this evaluation, was a logical extension of Refuge services as Te Whakaruruhau broadened its interventions from an initial focus on safe housing to advocacy within the community, from a focus on crisis to supporting women and children to make a successful transition to violence‐free lives in the community, and from advocating for women and children in the context of Crown and other services to advocating for them in the context of whanau, hapu and iwi. The aim of the Whanau Ora Wellbeing Service is "to strengthen and achieve whanau ora through interventions which empower (whanau) to live their lives free from violence (Te Whakaruruhau, p.4). It is based on an assumption "that whānau empowered are whānau who can manage and reduce crisis while increasing opportunities and pathways to success" (Te Whakaruruhau, 2010, p.3). The Maori and Psychology Research Unit was commissioned in mid‐2011 to conduct this evaluation. It is based on ten case studies of clients in the programme, interviews with Te Whakaruruhau staff and key informants in allied agencies, and participant‐observation of Refuge activities. The case studies provide insights into the lived experience of women dealing with violence, their attempts to protect themselves and their children, and their experiences of - and reflections upon the Whanau Ora Wellbeing programme. The case studies reveal all the women to have experienced significant physical assaults, threats of assaults, emotional abuse and intimidation. Even though some of the women sustained serious injuries, when they described the impact of the abuse, the women typically highlighted the damage it had done to them emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. The use of alcohol and/or other drugs to self‐medicate against the psychic pain of the abuse featured in several case studies. Women also gave accounts of how the violence had affected their children. Often, recognising this impact was an important factor in their decision to seek help Details: Hamilton, N.Z. : Māori and Psychology Research Unit, University of Waikato, 2013. 88p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 6, 2013 at: http://www.nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/whanau-ora-TWH-final-report-2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/whanau-ora-TWH-final-report-2013.pdf Shelf Number: 131591 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDomestic ViolenceFamily Violence (New Zealand)Gender-Related ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceMaoriVictims of Family Violence |
Author: Wijk, Nikil Phoebe Licorice van Title: Domestic Violence By and Against Men and Women in Curacao: A Caribbean Study Summary: The available domestic violence literature offers few clues on the situation in the Caribbean. General violence indicators support the assumption of high prevalences, but how these may be affected by, for example, gender relations and family structures is unclear. Reliable statistical data on the prevalence, nature, and consequences of domestic violence are not available, the prevalence of domestic violence in Curacao has never been studied before. The central question of this thesis is: What are the prevalences, risk factors and consequences of domestic violence against men and women on Curacao? Curacao is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located in the southwestern Caribbean, and has a population of 140.000. The island's population comes from many ethnic backgrounds. For its size, the island has a considerably diverse economy which does not rely mostly on tourism alone as is the case on many other Caribbean islands. International financial services, the harbor and trade are important economic sectors as well. In contrast to the relatively isolated Western-style nuclear family, family structures in the Caribbean are often characterized by matrifocal, (grand)mother-dominated households with several generations living in the same house or in houses built close to each other on a compound, sharing resources and carer's duties. Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, friends or cohabitation. Domestic violence against adults can be divided into three main categories: psychological, physical and sexual violence. Other relevant aspects of domestic violence are initiation, intention and motivation: 'common couple violence' is distinguished from 'intimate terrorism'. Common couple violence is expressive and characterized by minor forms of violence. Intimate terrorism on the other hand is instrumental, to control, subdue, and reproduce subordination. Compared to common couple violence, it is more rare and serious, tends to escalate over time, and peaks after separation. When surveying sensitive topics, serious underreporting of the phenomena under study is a grave danger to the validity of the data. Domestic violence is a prime example of a sensitive topic, as it concerns behavior that is socially frowned upon, may be illegal, and concerns the private domain. A special mixed-mode survey was designed to assess the prevalence of domestic violence on Curacao and its health consequences. Great care was taken to reduce selective non-response and stimulate open and honest responses on this topic. Our study clearly shows that respondents from different demographic segments have different preferences as for type of data collecting mode. Overall, almost a quarter of our respondents chose a face-to-face interview, while for the segment of low educated, elderly people, the interview option was chosen by over half of the respondents. This supports our expectations that a mixed mode approach pulls in those respondents that we would have missed if we restricted ourselves to a single mode approach. The tailored mixed-mode strategy leads to higher number of completed questionnaires, and restores partly the non-response bias by pulling in more lower educated and elderly, groups that are in general underrepresented. The results of this study indicate that one out of three people (25% of men, 38% of women) in Curacao have experienced some form of domestic violence as adults, and the lifetime victimization rates are 39% of men, 51% of women. The most significant risk factors for domestic violence in Curacao are the female gender, a young age, low education and experiencing domestic violence victimization in childhood. Divorce, single parenthood and unemployment increase the risk for women, but not for men. Possible explanations for the high victimization rates of divorced women are the fact that domestic violence rates spike during separation and higher denial rates among couples who are still together: domestic violence victims that are still in a relationship Domestic violence against women on Curacao is for the most part (ex-) partner violence. Against men, it is primarily violence from parents, family and friends. Parents are the main perpetrators of domestic violence against children, except for sexual violence, which is primarily perpetrated by family members and friends. The majority of the Curacao victims of physical domestic violence have experienced more severe forms of abuse, like being hit with objects. Men and women have similar rates of committing domestic violence; this is consistent with findings in Western countries. The self reports reveal that 25%-33% have committed psychological domestic violence, 11%-17% physical violence and 1%-6% sexual violence. Antecedents of perpetrating domestic violence are similar for both sexes, too. Being a victim of domestic violence increases the probability to become a perpetrator for both genders, especially in case of severe physical violence victimization. Other perpetrator risk factors are a high education for perpetrating psychological violence, and having children in the household for perpetrating physical violence. Curacao is a collectivist country, which is associated with higher male perpetration rates, with a matrifocal orientation and high gender empowerment, which is associated with gender similarity in perpetration rates. Since we found gender similarity in the perpetration rates on Curacao, we conclude that the influence of gender empowerment seems to be more decisive than the collectivistic/individualistic society dimension. Nevertheless we should interpret these results with caution, since we have measured domestic violence perpetration rates and not intimate partner violence perpetration rates. It is still very well possible that intimate partner violence is more often perpetrated by men, and that women direct their aggression more towards other family members, like children. Consistent with the current international literature, we found a strong association between different forms of abuse and negative healthcare outcomes. Victims of domestic violence have worse self assessed health, more health problems and more health care use than non-victims. All types of violence (psychological, physical and sexual) have specific effects on the victims health and consequently on the medical use and costs. Further research on the context, nature and severity of domestic violence in the Caribbean is necessary. Studies should preferably combine the strengths of national crime surveys and family conflict studies: nationally representative samples (including men and women), and questionnaires that include all possible experiences of psychological, physical and sexual assaults by current and former partners, family and friends. Details: Amsterdam: Vrije Universiteit, 2012. 142p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed November 22, 2013 at: http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/handle/1871/38342/dissertation.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2012 Country: Caribbean URL: http://dare.ubvu.vu.nl/bitstream/handle/1871/38342/dissertation.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 131613 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDomestic Violence (Curacao)Family ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceViolence Against MenViolence Against Women |
Author: Mytton, Julie Title: The Feasibility of Using a Parenting Programme for the Prevention of Unintentional Home Injuries in the Under-Fives: A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial Summary: Most injuries in preschool children occur at home, and many are preventable. Parenting programmes,supporting parents to make changes to their behaviour, have been shown to improve outcomes in children. This study explored whether or not a parenting programme could prevent home injuries in preschool children. We were asked to target parents whose child had recently been injured. We were concerned that parents asked to take part would fear that they were considered poor parents. We know that parents are interested in learning first aid, so we developed a programme to include first aid and safety advice to make it more appealing. To find out if it would be feasible to run a trial of the parenting programme, we tried to recruit 96 parents from eight children's centres to a small study with four randomly chosen centres providing the programme and four not doing so. After 10 months we had recruited only 40 parents, so we opened the study to all parents, whether or not their child had been injured. This helped us engage another 11 parents over 2 weeks. We ran the programme four times and 15 parents completed the course. Based on our experience we have made improvements to the programme and made recommendations about how a future trial could be run, including making it available to all parents using children's centres in disadvantaged areas. We have advised how to measure the number of injuries in children, and how to find out if the programme provides value for money. Details: Southampton, UK: National Institute for Health Research, Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Programme, 2014. 212p. Source: Internet Resource: Health Technology Assessment, 18(3): Accessed March 20, 2014 at: http://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/98451/FullReport-hta18030.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.journalslibrary.nihr.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/98451/FullReport-hta18030.pdf Shelf Number: 131982 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChildhood InjuriesCrime PreventionParenting Programs |
Author: Koziol-McLain, Jane Title: Hospital Responsiveness to Family Violence: 108 Month Follow-Up Evaluation Summary: This report documents the result of measuring system indicators at 20 DHBs, proving Government, Ministry of Health and DHBs with information on family violence intervention programme implementation. Based on programme maturity, 16 DHBs completed a self audit for the 108 month follow-up audit; the remaining 4 were independently audited. All data are based on the combined self audit and external audit scores for 2012/2013. Details: Auckland, NZ: Ministry of Health, 2013. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: ITRC Report No. 12: Accessed April 23, 2014 at: http://www.aut.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/447285/WEB_108M-VIP-FU-REPORT-2013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.aut.ac.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/447285/WEB_108M-VIP-FU-REPORT-2013.pdf Shelf Number: 132153 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectFamily Violence (New Zealand)Health CareHospitalsIntimate Partner AbuseVictims of Violence |
Author: Darkins, Tina Title: The Anger Change Programme Research Report Summary: The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of the Anger Change Programme for Mothers. The Anger Change programme is a New Zealand-based child abuse prevention programme, developed in 1990 by Pye Bowden, as a specialised therapeutic intervention for mothers who were abusing their children or who were afraid that they might do so. The format is a therapeutic group process, using discussion, mind/body techniques and psychodynamic processes to create healing. Counselling services who took part in the study were: Jigsaw North, Whangarei who were the lead agency for the study; Family Works - Hawkes Bay; East Coast Family Works (Hastings); Family Support Service - Whanganui Trust (trading as Jigsaw Whanganui); and Presbyterian Support Services - South Canterbury (Family Works). The research question is: How effective has the Anger Change for Mothers Programme been from the prospective of graduate mothers over the past four-plus years and from the prospective from other stakeholders associated with the programme' and what is the current level of community need for the programme? Details: Whangarei, New Zealand: Jigsaw North, 2013. 274p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 7, 2014 at: http://www.communityresearch.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/formidable/The-Anger-Change-Programme-For-Mothers-Report-2013-Jigsaw-North.pdf Year: 2013 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.communityresearch.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/formidable/The-Anger-Change-Programme-For-Mothers-Report-2013-Jigsaw-North.pdf Shelf Number: 132278 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Abuse PreventionChild ProtectionDomestic Violence (New Zealand)Family Violence |
Author: Hornby Zeller Associates, Inc. Title: Evaluation of Maine's Family Treatment Drug Courts: A Preliminary Analysis of Short and Long-term Outcomes Summary: The high correlation between child maltreatment and the abuse of drugs and alcohol among parents or other caregivers is well documented. Indeed, parental substance abuse is one of the major reasons why children are removed from their homes and placed into protective custody. Today, it is estimated that nearly eighty percent of all substantiated child abuse and neglect cases involve parental substance abuse. Many parents with substance abuse problems never regain custody of their children. This is due in large part to the fact that these caregivers are significantly less likely to enter into or complete court ordered treatment services. Pervasive among this population are other issues that hamper reunification efforts including inadequate or unstable housing, mental illness, transportation issues and unemployment, to name a few. Family drug courts were developed as a means to respond to the complex problems posed by substance abuse among parents involved in the child welfare system. Through a combination of intensive judicial oversight, case management supervision, drug testing and dedicated treatment and protective custody caseworker assignments, the family drug court represents a nexus between the court, child welfare and substance abuse treatment systems. The overarching goal of the family drug court is to protect the safety and welfare of the child while providing parents the opportunity to enter into treatment and learn the skills they need to become healthy, responsible caregivers. Nationally, there are approximately 200 family drug courts in operation in 43 states across the country. The first family drug court program in Maine became operational in October, 2002. Today, there are three family drug courts currently in operation with locations in Belfast, Augusta and Lewiston. As of January 1, 2007, thirteen parents have successfully completed these programs and graduated, forty-one have been expelled and twenty-three are currently active participants in Maine's family drug court programs. Preliminary findings from a recently released national study suggest several promising outcomes for family drug court programs. The current study contributes to the ongoing discussion about the effectiveness of these programs and how well they operate in Maine. Overall findings in this report are consistent with those reported elsewhere, indicating that Maine's family drug court programs are also generating important outcomes across a variety of key measures. Key findings of this report include the following: - Seven drug-free babies were born to mothers participating in the drug court program. - Family drug court participants are significantly more likely than other parents with substance abuse problems in having greater child welfare system and criminal justice system involvement. - Families in drug court are more likely to receive treatment and adjunctive services such as child care. - Family drug court participants are significantly more likely to enter into and subsequently complete treatment. - Children of family drug court participants have significantly fewer placement changes and spent less time in foster care. - Once returned to the home, children of family drug court participants are less likely to experience a subsequent removal from the home. - Significant predictors of successful parent-child reunification relate to caregiver mental health, relative foster care setting, treatment completion and days out-of-home placement. - Among cases involving a TPR, children of family drug court participants were more likely to be adopted. - Savings generated from the family drug court program result from differences in the types of foster care settings utilized as well as fewer days in foster care. - The likelihood of even greater cost-savings will result in more families being enrolled in the family drug court with expanded capacity. Details: Portland, ME: Hornby Zeller Associates, Inc., 2007. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 14, 2014 at: http://www.courts.state.me.us/maine_courts/drug/Statewide%20FTDC%20Evaluation%202007.pdf Year: 2007 Country: United States URL: http://www.courts.state.me.us/maine_courts/drug/Statewide%20FTDC%20Evaluation%202007.pdf Shelf Number: 102595 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDrug OffendersFamily Drug Courts (Maine)Problem Solving CourtsSubstance Abuse Treatment |
Author: World Health Organization Title: Preventing Violence: Evaluating Outcomes of Parenting Programmes Summary: Violence is both a serious human rights violation and a major public health concern. It affects the general well-being, physical and mental health, and social functioning of millions of people; it also puts strain on health systems, lowers economic productivity, and has a negative effect on economic and social development. In particular, the number of children affected by violence each year is a major concern. Child maltreatment affects children's physical, cognitive, emotional and social development. It can lead to the body's stress response system being overactive, which can harm the development of the brain and other organs, and increase the risk for stress-related illness and impaired cognition (the capacity to think, learn and understand). Maltreatment is a risk factor for mental health, education, employment and relationship problems later in life. It also increases the likelihood of behavior that is a risk to health, such as smoking, drinking heavily, drug use, over-eating and unsafe sex. These behaviours are, in turn, major causes of death, disease and disability, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and suicide - sometimes decades later. Victims of maltreatment are also more likely to become perpetrators and victims of other types of violence later in life. Child maltreatment negatively affects a country's economy, due to expenses relating to treating victims' health problems, welfare costs, lowered economic productivity and so forth. In the United States of America (USA), in 2010, the lifetime cost for each victim of non-fatal child maltreatment was estimated to be US$ 210 012. The many serious economic, physical and mental health consequences of child maltreatment mean that it makes sense to develop and implement effective prevention strategies. Child maltreatment is more likely in families that have difficulties developing stable, warm and positive relationships. Children are at increased risk of being maltreated if a parent or guardian has a poor understanding of child development, and therefore has unrealistic expectations about the child's behaviour. This is also the case if parents and guardians do not show the child much care or affection, are less responsive to the child, have a harsh or inconsistent parenting style, and believe that corporal punishment (for example, smacking) is an acceptable form of discipline. Strengthening parenting therefore plays an important role in preventing child maltreatment. One way of strengthening parenting is through parenting programmes. Although many parenting programmes do not specifically aim to reduce or prevent violence, those which aim to strengthen positive relationships through play and praise, and provide effective, age-appropriate positive discipline, have the potential to do so. Parenting programmes to prevent violence usually take the shape of either individual or group-based parenting support. An example of individual parenting support is home visits, which involve trained home visitors visiting parents (typically only the mother) in their homes both during and after their pregnancy. The home visitor supports and educates parents so as to strengthen parenting skills, improve child health and prevent child maltreatment. Group-based parenting support, on the other hand, is typically provided by trained staff to groups of parents together. These programmes aim to prevent child maltreatment by improving parenting skills, increasing parents' understanding of child development and encouraging the use of positive discipline strategies. Most parenting programmes that have proven to be effective at preventing violence have been developed and tested in high-income countries such as the USA and the United Kingdom. There is very little work on parenting programmes in lowand middle-income countries. However, there is evidence from low-resource settings that positive parent-child relationships and a positive parenting style can buffer the effects of family and community influences on children's development, including violent behaviour later in life. From what is already known, there is good evidence to support promoting parenting programmes across different cultural and economic backgrounds. Because we do not know enough about parenting programmes in low- and middle-income countries, evaluations of programmes are critical. First, we need to confirm that desired results are achieved in new contexts. Second, because of the lack of resources available to fund programmes in poorer countries, evaluations can prevent time and money from being wasted on programmes that do not work. Third, the results from outcome evaluations can be used to influence governments to fund parenting programmes. This document was designed to help strengthen the evidence for parenting programmes aimed at preventing violence in low- and middle-income countries. The intended audiences are: - policy-makers; - programme developers, planners and commissioners; - high-level practitioners in government ministries, such as health and social development; - nongovernmental organisations; - community-based organisations; and - donors working in the area of violence prevention. Details: Geneva, SWIT: World Health Organization, 2013. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 14, 2014 at: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/85994/1/9789241505956_eng.pdf?ua=1 Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/85994/1/9789241505956_eng.pdf?ua=1 Shelf Number: 104859 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionCrime PreventionDelinquency PreventionParenting Programs |
Author: Harwin, Judith Title: Changing Lifestyles, Keeping Children Safe: an evaluation of the first Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) in care proceedings Summary: This report presents the findings from an independent evaluation of the pilot Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC). FDAC is an innovative approach to care proceedings where parental drug or alcohol misuse is a key feature of the case. The FDAC pilot began in January 2008 at the Inner London Family Proceedings Court in London. The pilot was funded by the Department for Education, the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office, the Department of Health and three inner-London local authorities (Camden, Islington, and Westminster) - the pilot local authorities. Since April 2012, when government funding came to an end, the FDAC specialist team has been funded by a consortium of five London authorities, including Southwark and Hammersmith & Fulham as well as the original three. The specialist team is provided by a partnership between the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust and the children's charity, Coram. Parental substance misuse is a formidable social problem and a major risk factor for child maltreatment. It is a factor in up to two-thirds of care applications and parents with substance misuse problems are often involved in repeat care proceedings in relation to subsequent children. There has also been a rise in the number of care proceedings since 2008, so the scale of the problem is substantial. FDAC has been adapted to English law and practice from a model of Family Treatment Drug Courts (FTDCs) that is used widely in the USA and shows positive results. The US national evaluation of over 2,000 cases found that, compared to proceedings in the ordinary court, more FTDC parents and children were able to remain together safely, and there were swifter alternative permanent placement decisions for children if parents were unable to stop misusing, all of which meant savings on the cost of foster care during and after proceedings. The catalysts for the UK pilot were the encouraging evidence from the US evaluation and concerns about the response to parental substance misuse through ordinary care proceedings in England. These concerns were about poor child and parent outcomes; insufficient co-ordination between adult and children's services; late intervention to protect children; delay in reaching decisions; and the soaring costs of proceedings, linked to the length of proceedings and the cost of expert evidence. Details: Uxbridge, UK: Brunel University, 2014. 188p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 17, 2014 at: http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/sites/default/files/files/FDAC_May2014_FinalReport_V2.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/sites/default/files/files/FDAC_May2014_FinalReport_V2.pdf Shelf Number: 1322487 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionDrug Abuse and AddictionFamily CourtsProblem-Solving CourtsSubstance Abuse |
Author: Burwick, Andrew Title: Costs of Early Childhood Home Visiting: An Analysis of Programs Implemented in the Supporting Evidence-Based Home Visiting to Prevention Child Maltreatment Initiative Summary: Home visiting programs offer a promising method for delivering support services to at-risk families and children and preventing child maltreatment. As interest grows in scaling up home visiting programs as a strategy to promote parent and child well-being and prevent child maltreatment, program implementers and policymakers are seeking more information about the costs of implementing these programs. The Cost Study of Evidence-Based Home Visiting Programs applied a uniform approach and common time frame to analyze costs among agencies implementing five different home visiting program models. The study assessed (1) the total cost of providing home visiting programs during a year of steady-state operation, (2) the allocation of annual costs among cost categories and program activities or components, (3) the cost to serve a participating family, and (4) variation in average costs across program models and other agency characteristics. Mathematica Policy Research and Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago conducted the study with support from the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and in collaboration with Casey Family Programs. It included agencies that participated in the Supporting Evidence-Based Home Visiting to Prevent Child Maltreatment (EBHV) initiative, a five-year grant program launched in 2008 by the Children's Bureau of the Administration for Children and Families at HHS. In 2011, the EBHV grant program was formally incorporated into the Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV) State Formula Grant Program administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration of HHS. The cost study sample includes 25 implementing agencies (IA) that delivered home visiting services in 13 states.3 The IAs offered one of five home visiting program models: (1) Healthy Families America (HFA, 7 IAs), (2) the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP, 10 IAs), (3) Parents as Teachers (PAT, 3 IAs), (4) SafeCare (SC, 4 IAs), and (5) the Positive Parenting Program (Triple P, one IA). Most of the IAs (15 agencies) were private nonprofit organizations. Seven were state or county government agencies, and 3 were hospitals or medical centers. IAs located in urban areas (16 agencies) were more common than those located in suburban or rural areas (5 and 4 agencies, respectively). We analyzed program costs from the implementing agency's perspective. Costs include all resources used by an agency to deliver a program during a one-year period of "steady-state" operation (July 1, 2011, through June 30, 2012), and cost estimates provide an indication of the resources that an agency would need in order to replicate a program at a similar scale in a similar context. To conduct the study, we collected three types of data from IAs: (1) data on resources used for program operations, to estimate total costs; (2) data on staff time use, to allocate costs among program components; and (3) data on the number of families served and their receipt of home visiting services, to estimate costs per family. The cost analysis was conducted using the "ingredient" or resource cost method, which involved itemizing the types of resources (or ingredients) needed to provide services, gathering information on the types and value of resources used by each agency during the study period, and aggregating costs to estimate total program costs (Levin and McEwan 2001). To represent more accurately the total resources required to implement a program, we incorporated costs not typically captured by budgets or accounting records, including donated resources such as volunteer time and in-kind contributions of services or materials, as well as the value of staff time spent on the program beyond normal working hours (and not reflected in salaries or fringe benefits). Details: Princeton, NJ: Mathematica Policy Research, 2014. 108p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 17, 2014 at: http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/documents/Costs%20of%20EC%20Home%20Visiting.Final%20Report.January%2030%202014.2.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.chapinhall.org/sites/default/files/documents/Costs%20of%20EC%20Home%20Visiting.Final%20Report.January%2030%202014.2.pdf Shelf Number: 132494 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentCost-Benefit AnalysisCosts of Criminal JusticeCrime Prevention ProgramsEvidence-Based PracticesHome Visiting Programs |
Author: Ronken, Carol Title: Child Sexual Assault: Facts and Statistics Summary: Determining a definitive estimate of the prevalence of child sexual assault in our society is difficult. Available figures are rare. Goldman and Padayachi (1997) suggest that aside from anecdotal evidence from fragmented sources there are no National, or State data available on child sexual assault in Australia. However, research over the past decade have provided us with an indication of the prevalence and effects of child sexual assault. This document contains statistics and facts on child sexual assault that have been compiled by Bravehearts. Every effort has been made to ensure complete references have been provided. Details: Arundel, QLD: Bravehearts, 2012. 65p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2014 at: http://www.bravehearts.org.au/files/Facts%20and%20Stats_updated141212.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bravehearts.org.au/files/Facts%20and%20Stats_updated141212.pdf Shelf Number: 132654 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual Exploitation |
Author: Human Rights Watch Title: "Where Do You Want Us to Go?" Abuses against Street Children in Uganda Summary: Over half of all Ugandans are under the age of 15 and children are the single largest demographic group living in poverty. Street children in Uganda's urban centers face the risk of violence, abuse, and discrimination at the hands of the police and the population at large. They lack basic necessities, including access to clean water, food, medical attention, shelter, and education. Based on interviews with over 130 current and former street children, "Where Do You Want Us to Go?" documents human rights violations against street children by the police, local government officials, older street children and adults, and members of the community. Police and other officials, such as those from the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA), have beaten, extorted money, and arbitrarily detained street children often in roundups. Although Uganda has put in place a legal framework designed to protect child rights, including those of street children, key state child protection agencies are failing to respond adequately or effectively to the needs of these children. Human Rights Watch calls on the government of Uganda to end to the roundups and abuses against street children and implement its child protection system. Those responsible for abuse, including police and officials, should be investigated and prosecuted. International partners should consider supporting civil society organizations involved in child protection and activities directly targeting street children throughout the country. Details: New York: HRW, 2014. 83p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 17, 2014 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/uganda0714_forinsert_ForUpload.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Uganda URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/uganda0714_forinsert_ForUpload.pdf Shelf Number: 132705 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionHomeless YouthPovertyStreet Children |
Author: Campbell, Lesley Title: ReachOut Men's Community Outreach Service: Connections and Conversations With a Purpose Summary: Family violence is a major issue that affects the lives of many New Zealanders and creates significant social and economic costs across the wider society (Ministry of Social Development, 2002). The New Zealand Police's reported incidences of family violence have substantially increased over the past decade. Incidents rose by 140% from about 11,300 in 1994/1995 to 27,165 in 2004/2005. Offences rose by 87%, from about 14,600 to 27,343 (Lievore and Mayhew, 2007). In the Canterbury region, the reported incidence and severity of family violence has also increased since the significant earthquake events and continued aftershocks during the period from September 2010. For example, a "53% ... increase in domestic violence (was reported) following the September 2010 earthquake" and in the Waimakariri district, immediately after the February 2011 earthquake event, the North Canterbury Police reported a 40% increase in reported family violence and levels of reported family violence continued to be greater than those recorded before this natural disaster. In order to address this burgeoning problem of family violence in North Canterbury and to address a significant service gap for men responsible for family violence incidents, Aviva (formerly Christchurch Women's Refuge) applied for and successfully secured funding to support the design, implementation and evaluation of ReachOut. A first in New Zealand, this unique and innovative service is an outreach initiative involving collaborative partnerships with the Police, Child Protection Workers and those working across the family violence, criminal justice, local government and other sectors. In 2012 Aviva commissioned an independent evaluation of the process and impact of ReachOut during its first twelve months of operation. The objectives for the evaluation of ReachOut were: - To provide an indication about the benefits and the extent and level of progress made against the outcomes sought for a) men as family violence perpetrators b) women and children, who have experience of family violence and c) the North Canterbury community. - To understand more fully and articulate key aspects of the ReachOut service that are expected to influence and bring about the desired outcomes - To provide an evidence base with which to inform decisions about continuous quality improvements to ReachOut's operation - To provide an evidence base to inform decisions about its potential for rollout and transferability to other locations. The evaluation adopted a multiple methods approach in order to maximise the comprehensiveness of the qualitative and quantitative information collected to answer the evaluation questions and address the evaluation objectives. The principle evaluation methods used included the synthesis of the pertinent international and national literature and the operationalisation of a single case, time series design. This design involved a holistic analysis of the people, service, decisions, policies and organisations involved in the ReachOut service and drew on both secondary data and primary data collected through participant observation, interview and focus group methods. Details: Christchurch, NZ: Aviva, 2014. 283p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 6, 2014 at: http://www.avivafamilies.org.nz/resources/file/final_evaluation_report_reachout_april_2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.avivafamilies.org.nz/resources/file/final_evaluation_report_reachout_april_2014.pdf Shelf Number: 132906 Keywords: Abusive MenChild Abuse and NeglectDomestic ViolenceFamily Violence (New Zealand)Intimate Partner ViolenceTreatment ProgramsViolence Against Women, ChildrenViolence Prevention |
Author: Herbert, Ruth L. Title: The Way Forward: An Integrated System for Intimate Partner Violence and Child Abuse and Neglect in New Zealand Summary: New Zealand has an epidemic of intimate partner violence (IPV) and child abuse and neglect (CAN). This fact is well known and there is widespread acceptance that IPV and CAN are among New Zealand's biggest social issues. Over the past 20 years there have been countless formal groups, meetings, conferences, strategies, reviews, and investigations into the prevalence and problem of IPV and CAN in New Zealand undertaken by government, non-government agencies and academics. There have been hundreds of reports identifying the problem and areas that need to be addressed. There have been action plans containing an endless stream of largely one-off initiatives or new developments. Yet despite the plethora of documents, a strong legislative framework and the efforts of successive governments and many NGOs that have strategised and delivered services to try and 'fix' the problem, real improvements seem to remain elusive. New Zealand has not made significant traction in responding to or reducing the problem. Details: Wellington, NZ: The Impact Collective, 2014. 165p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2014 at: http://www.theimpactcollective.co.nz/thewayforward_210714.pdf Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.theimpactcollective.co.nz/thewayforward_210714.pdf Shelf Number: 133082 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDomestic Violence (New Zealand)Family ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceViolence Against Women |
Author: Macvean, Michelle Title: Evidence review: An analysis of the evidence for parenting interventions in Australia Summary: Overview This analysis of parenting programs was conducted by the Parenting Research Centre for the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), the funders of Family Support Programs (FSP) in Australia. The report provides an analysis of the evidence for parenting interventions, with a focus on: target populations; target child, parent and family outcomes; and ratings of effectiveness. Factors to consider when implementing programs in the Australian context are also presented. Methods Step A: Program information and effectiveness ratings were collated from international web-based clearinghouses and evidence for additional programs was sought from systematic reviews of parenting programs. Step B: A Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) of Australian evaluations of parenting programs was conducted. Published and unpublished literature dated 2002-2012 was included, with programs rated for effectiveness. Findings The analysis found 34 international and 25 Australian programs with strong evidence, with only two programs with strong evidence at both the international level and within Australia (i.e., Triple P and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy). A large proportion of the programs with good evidence targeted child behaviour specifically in children with identified behavioural problems. Other outcomes, in particular basic child care, were targeted infrequently in the programs with strong evidence. There is little evidence for programs targeting specific groups of parents, such as those with intellectual disabilities or mental illnesses and teen parents. Conclusions and limitations Further rigorous program evaluations are needed to determine the effectiveness of many of the reviewed programs. Although systematic in its approach, this analysis was time-limited and some programs may have been missed from review. Readers are advised to seek updated evidence before selecting and implementing programs. Details: Melbourne: Parenting Research Centre, 2013. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2014 at: http://www.parentingrc.org.au/images/stories/evidence_review_parenting_interventions/main_report_evidencereviewparentinginterventions.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.parentingrc.org.au/images/stories/evidence_review_parenting_interventions/main_report_evidencereviewparentinginterventions.pdf Shelf Number: 133083 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionDelinquency PreventionInterventionsParenting Programs |
Author: Robertson, Jeremy Title: Effective Parenting Programmes: A review of the effectiveness of parenting programmes for parents of vulnerable children Summary: The urgent need to address New Zealand's high rate of child maltreatment has led to the search for effective interventions to reduce child maltreatment and its main risk factors. The 2012 White Paper for Vulnerable Children highlighted the importance of positive parenting practices for optimal child development and the value of supporting parenting, especially in the early years. An action from the White Paper was for SuPERU to review and report on effective parenting programmes by the end of 2013. For the purposes of this review we focused on parenting support programmes for parents of vulnerable children aged zero to six years. This included parent education, parent training programmes and home visiting programmes, but excluded general support that does not address parenting (such as financial assistance, mental health and drug abuse programmes). We aimed to provide evidence on the effectiveness of parenting support programmes in reducing maltreatment, or the risk of maltreatment, of vulnerable children. We first reviewed international research, determining common features of successful programmes overseas. We then reviewed the evidence for the effectiveness of New Zealand programmes. The review highlighted a number of issues related to the effectiveness of programmes (such as programme implementation) and these are also covered in this report. Details: Wellington, NZ: SuPERU, a division of Families Commission, 2014. 190p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report no. 1/14: Accessed August 22, 2014 at: http://www.familiescommission.org.nz/sites/default/files/downloads/Effective-Parenting-Programme-Report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.familiescommission.org.nz/sites/default/files/downloads/Effective-Parenting-Programme-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 133084 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentDelinquency PreventionParenting Programs |
Author: United Nations Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children Title: Toward a World Free from Violence: Global Survey on Violence Against Children Summary: Every year, and in every region of the world, millions of children suffer the cumulative impact of physical, mental and emotional violence, and millions more are at risk. Violence against children takes place in every setting, including those where children should be safest - in schools, in care institutions and at home. Like a contagion, violence spreads through communities and is transmitted to future generations. Across regions and countries, it threatens children's survival and development, erodes family structures, jeopardizes education, generates social insecurity and consumes precious national resources. The Global Survey on Violence against Children, conducted under the auspices of the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Violence against Children, examines the measures in place around the world to ensure follow-up to the recommendations set out in the 2006 UN Study on Violence against Children, especially those recommendations intended to prevent violence against children, protect child victims and hold perpetrators to account. The Survey reveals that there has been some progress on these issues since the 2006 study, but this progress has been too slow, too uneven and too fragmented to bring violence to an end. Most girls and boys who are exposed to violence still live in isolation, loneliness, and fear. Many children simply do not know where to turn for help, especially when the perpetrator is a family member, caregiver, teacher or anyone else responsible for their protection and well-being. Freedom from violence is a fundamental human right, enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). The CRC is clear and unambiguous: any form of violence against children is unacceptable and children must be protected from any practice that threatens their well-being and human dignity. Freedom from violence is a right that the international community has promised to safeguard for all children, everywhere and at all times. It is time to deliver on that promise. Details: New York: United Nations, 2013. 161p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2014 at: http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se/sites/default/files/documents/2013_unicef_-_toward_a_world_free_of_violence1_0.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://resourcecentre.savethechildren.se/sites/default/files/documents/2013_unicef_-_toward_a_world_free_of_violence1_0.pdf Shelf Number: 133171 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChildren as VictimsViolence Against Children |
Author: United Nations Children's Fund - UNICEF Title: Hidden in Plain Sight: A statistical analysis of violence against children Summary: Interpersonal violence - in all its forms - has a grave effect on children: Violence undermines children's future potential; damages their physical, psychological and emotional well-being; and in many cases, ends their lives. The report sheds light on the prevalence of different forms of violence against children, with global figures and data from 190 countries. Where relevant, data are disaggregated by age and sex, to provide insights into risk and protective factors Details: New York: UNICEF, 2014. 206p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 9, 2014 at: http://www.unicef.org/publications/index_74865.html Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.unicef.org/publications/index_74865.html Shelf Number: 133249 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild HomicideChild ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseEmotional AbuseFamily ViolenceViolence Against Children |
Author: Jay, Alexis Title: Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Rotherham (1997 - 2013) Summary: No one knows the true scale of child sexual exploitation (CSE) in Rotherham over the years. Our conservative estimate is that approximately 1400 children were sexually exploited over the full Inquiry period, from 1997 to 2013. In just over a third of cases, children affected by sexual exploitation were previously known to services because of child protection and neglect. It is hard to describe the appalling nature of the abuse that child victims suffered. They were raped by multiple perpetrators, trafficked to other towns and cities in the north of England, abducted, beaten, and intimidated. There were examples of children who had been doused in petrol and threatened with being set alight, threatened with guns, made to witness brutally violent rapes and threatened they would be next if they told anyone. Girls as young as 11 were raped by large numbers of male perpetrators. This abuse is not confined to the past but continues to this day. In May 2014, the caseload of the specialist child sexual exploitation team was 51. More CSE cases were held by other children's social care teams. There were 16 looked after children who were identified by children's social care as being at serious risk of sexual exploitation or having been sexually exploited. In 2013, the Police received 157 reports concerning child sexual exploitation in the Borough. Over the first twelve years covered by this Inquiry, the collective failures of political and officer leadership were blatant. From the beginning, there was growing evidence that child sexual exploitation was a serious problem in Rotherham. This came from those working in residential care and from youth workers who knew the young people well. Within social care, the scale and seriousness of the problem was underplayed by senior managers. At an operational level, the Police gave no priority to CSE, regarding many child victims with contempt and failing to act on their abuse as a crime. Further stark evidence came in 2002, 2003 and 2006 with three reports known to the Police and the Council, which could not have been clearer in their description of the situation in Rotherham. The first of these reports was effectively suppressed because some senior officers disbelieved the data it contained. This had led to suggestions of cover-up. The other two reports set out the links between child sexual exploitation and drugs, guns and criminality in the Borough. These reports were ignored and no action was taken to deal with the issues that were identified in them. In the early 2000s, a small group of professionals from key agencies met and monitored large numbers of children known to be involved in CSE or at risk but their managers gave little help or support to their efforts. Some at a senior level in the Police and children's social care continued to think the extent of the problem, as described by youth workers, was exaggerated, and seemed intent on reducing the official numbers of children categorised as CSE. At an operational level, staff appeared to be overwhelmed by the numbers involved. There were improvements in the response of management from about 2007 onwards. By 2009, the children's social care service was acutely understaffed and over stretched, struggling to cope with demand. Seminars for elected members and senior officers in 2004-05 presented the abuse in the most explicit terms. After these events, nobody could say 'we didn't know'. In 2005, the present Council Leader chaired a group to take forward the issues, but there is no record of its meetings or conclusions, apart from one minute. By far the majority of perpetrators were described as 'Asian' by victims, yet throughout the entire period, councillors did not engage directly with the Pakistani-heritage community to discuss how best they could jointly address the issue. Some councillors seemed to think it was a one-off problem, which they hoped would go away. Several staff described their nervousness about identifying the ethnic origins of perpetrators for fear of being thought racist; others remembered clear direction from their managers not to do so. In December 2009, the Minister of State for Children and Families put the Council's children's safeguarding services into intervention, following an extremely critical Ofsted report. The Council was removed from intervention thirteen months later. The Rotherham Safeguarding Children Board and its predecessor oversaw the development of good inter-agency policies and procedures applicable to CSE. The weakness in their approach was that members of the Safeguarding Board rarely checked whether these were being implemented or whether they were working. The challenge and scrutiny function of the Safeguarding Board and of the Council itself was lacking over several years at a time when it was most required. In 2013, the Council Leader, who has held office since 2003, apologised for the quality of the Council's safeguarding services being less than it should have been before 2009. This apology should have been made years earlier, and the issue given the political leadership it needed. There have been many improvements in the last four years by both the Council and the Police. The Police are now well resourced for CSE and well trained, though prosecutions remain low in number. There is a central team in children's social care which works jointly with the Police and deals with child sexual exploitation. This works well but the team struggles to keep pace with the demands of its workload. The Council is facing particular challenges in dealing with increased financial pressures, which inevitably impact on frontline services. The Safeguarding Board has improved its response to child sexual exploitation and holds agencies to account with better systems for file audits and performance reporting. There are still matters for children's social care to address such as good risk assessment, which is absent from too many cases, and there is not enough long-term support for the child victims. Details: Rotherham, UK: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, 2014. 159p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 11, 2014 at: http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/downloads/file/1407/independent_inquiry_cse_in_rotherham Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.rotherham.gov.uk/downloads/file/1407/independent_inquiry_cse_in_rotherham Shelf Number: 133285 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProstitutionChild ProtectionChild RapeChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual Exploitation (Rotherham, UK)Child TraffickingSex Offenders |
Author: Farrell, Mary Title: Taking the First Step: Using Behavioral Economics to Help Incarcerated Parents Apply for Child Support Order Modifications Summary: The Behavioral Interventions to Advance Self-Sufficiency (BIAS) project is the first major effort to apply a behavioral economics lens to programs that serve poor and vulnerable families in the United States. This report presents findings from a behavioral intervention designed to increase the number of incarcerated noncustodial parents in Texas who apply for modifications to reduce the amount of their child support orders. Using a method called "behavioral diagnosis and design" the program redesigned the mailings informing these parents of the option to apply for an order modification. The redesigned materials resulted in a significant increase in applications at relatively low cost and demonstrated the promise of applying behavioral economics principles to improve program implementation and outcomes. Details: Washington, DC: Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2014. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: OPRE Report No. 2014-37: Accessed September 12, 2014 at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/resource/taking-the-first-step-using-behavioral-economics-to-help-incarcerated-parents-apply-for-child-support-order-modifications Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/resource/taking-the-first-step-using-behavioral-economics-to-help-incarcerated-parents-apply-for-child-support-order-modifications Shelf Number: 133287 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild SupportChildren of Prisoners (U.S.)Inmates Families |
Author: Gohir, Shaista Title: Unheard Voices: The Sexual Exploitation of Asian Girls and Young Women Summary: The purpose of this pilot study is to uncover the hidden experiences of Asian / Muslim girls and young women so that we may better understand how to support and protect them. It is important to stress that this study is not suggesting that sexual exploitation is more of a problem in Asian and / or Muslim communities. In any case the scope of this research does not enable us to make such propositions. In fact, this research shows that sexual grooming is not about race but about vulnerability, the exploitation of that vulnerability and opportunism. By raising awareness that Asian / Muslim girls and young women are also victims of sexual exploitation, it is hoped that they will not continue to be overlooked by service providers and support agencies and that their experiences are also taken into account when determining new policies and resources to tackle this issue. It is important that vulnerable girls and young women from all backgrounds are helped and supported. Details: Digbeth Birmingham, UK: Muslim Women's Network UK, 2013. 126p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 12, 2014: http://www.mwnuk.co.uk//go_files/resources/UnheardVoices.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.mwnuk.co.uk//go_files/resources/UnheardVoices.pdf Shelf Number: 129920 Keywords: AsiansChild Abuse and NeglectChild ProstitutionChild ProtectionChild Sexual Abuse (U.K.)Child Sexual ExploitationMuslims |
Author: Hughes, Karissa Title: Literature Review: Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children Summary: - While various promising program models and strategies for providing services to victims of the commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) have been occurring for over a decade, the lack of a current evidence-base related to prevention, identification and interventions available to inform such programs and practices underscores the need for additional work in this area. - Currently, federal (Federal Strategic Action Plan on Services for Victims of Human Trafficking, 2013-2017) and state (the California Child Welfare Council CSEC Action Team) efforts are underway to strategically respond to the existing gaps in knowledge and practice around CSEC, in order to better identify and meet the needs of victims. - In the meantime, while not exhaustive this literature review intends to highlight an array of current efforts and components that merit additional attention when considering residential placement types and the provision of services to this vulnerable population. - The perception that victims of CSEC should be handled in the juvenile justice system as opposed to the child welfare system is changing with evidence supporting the key role child welfare agencies play. Even if child welfare agencies are not currently required to intervene with CSEC victims under the existing California Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) Section 300, the reality is CWS staff are already working with a significant number of victims and survivors of these crimes, whether or not they recognize them as such. Thus two roles emerge, preventing CSEC among populations already involved in child welfare, and identifying/assisting CSEC victims in their care. - Understanding the extreme physical, psychological, emotional and social harms associated with CSEC and the stages of change youth experience as they attempt to exit CSE informs the need for a range of victim services across a number of agencies and a continuum of care model to fully address their spectrum of needs. Therefore broad-based multi-sector response including interagency collaborative approaches/community coalitions should be utilized. - Coordinated communication between service providers is necessary in order to share information on available resources, services and trends which will allow involved systems/agencies/service providers to more efficiently and effectively provide the services needed at any given point in the restoration process. - Based on the literature more support is needed for comprehensive and specialized programs that provide youth with a safe place to stay, positive support networks that address their needs and empower them to make safe choices; and interventions for trauma and behavioral issues that make it difficult for them to function in traditional settings. - Components of promising services and strategies identified by providers who serve CSEC victims include safety planning, collaboration across providers, trust and relationship building to foster consistency, culturally appropriate services, trauma-informed programming, and survivor involvement in the development and implementation of programming. Services for CSEC victims and those at-risk should also be informed by a comprehensive and standardized screening assessment that evaluates particular needs and levels of risk. - In terms of shelter/housing additional residential placements are needed to specifically serve CSEC with appropriate security features to prevent access by exploiters, clear protocols, allowance to return following runaways, and qualified personnel. - Several promising models for better understanding and serving CSEC victims via the child welfare system are shared across the nation. Such policies and procedures may provide beneficial for California, particularly to integrate this population into their missions and mandates. Broadly, the main areas include: designating CSEC as a specific form of child abuse to improve case management, requiring reporting to child protective services, raising awareness and building capacity in child welfare, and developing child welfare system guidelines, protocols and tools for working with CSEC victims. - Additionally in May 2013, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) released as part of their Human Trafficking Briefing Series Emerging Practices within Child Welfare Responses, highlighting 10 promising practices already underway in child welfare agencies across the United States. This is included in Section X of the literature review. - In addition to the work of child welfare, law enforcement, and other governmental organizations, several nongovernmental and community-based organizations play a key role in providing direct services to victims. These include the 10 programs identified by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse (CEBC) for Child Welfare in the area of "Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents: Services for Victims." While some of these may offer promise for replication locally, at this point none of these ten programs have been given a scientific rating by the CEBC, meaning currently there are not sufficiently published, peer-reviewed research evidence examining outcomes for these programs. - Recently there has been an emphasis on the importance of expanding outreach to the at-risk population so they can better protect themselves from CSEC and recognize risky situations. Disseminating educational materials and providing training programs to these youth as well as to CSEC victims and service providers will increase awareness of CSEC and the services available to victims. Examples of existing CSEC training and prevention programs are provided in Section XII. - In conclusion a range of web resources, resource guides, action plans, publications and reports on the topic are offered for additional information and further developments on the topic of CSEC. Details: San Diego, CA: Academy for Professional Excellence at San Diego State University School of Social Work, 2014. 112p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 15, 2014 at: https://theacademy.sdsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/sachs-csec-lit-review-02-2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://theacademy.sdsu.edu/programs/SACHS/literature/SACHS_CSEC_Lit_%2https://theacademy.sdsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/sachs-csec-lit-review-02-2014.pdf Shelf Number: 133302 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProstitutionChild ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual ExploitationChild WelfareVictim Services |
Author: Jejeebhoy, Shireen J. Title: Gender-based violence: A qualitative exploration of norms, experiences and positive deviance." Summary: India has articulated its commitment to eliminating violence against women and girls through numerous policies, laws and programmes (for example, the National Policy for the Empowerment of Women 2001, the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005, and the strategies outlined in the XIth Five-Year Plan). However, violence against women remains widespread. Nationally, one in three (35%) women aged 15-49 has experienced physical or sexual violence, in general, increasing to 56 percent among women in Bihar (International Institute for Population Sciences and Macro International, 2007). The key challenge underlying the gap between policy and programme commitments and realities is the limited evidence on both what drives violence against women and girls, and effective programme strategies that reduce such violence. With support from UK aid, the Population Council undertook formative research in the district of Patna to better understand the context of violence-physical, emotional and sexual-against women and girls, and notably, the prevailing norms about what constitutes acceptable violence in terms of severity and provocation, and gender norms about men's entitlement and women's acquiescence to violence. It compares the perceptions of women and girls with those of men and boys, respectively, with regard to the prevalence, severity and acceptability of violence committed against women and girls by husbands/boyfriends, family and community members, and looks into the likely factors that precipitate such violence. It also explores factors that may be associated with positive deviance, that is, the characteristics and motivations of nonviolent men. Finally, it explores the extent to which study participants were aware of programmes and entitlements intended to address violence against women and girls, and the obstacles they face in seeking help, and concludes with their recommendations regarding action that may be undertaken to reduce violence against women and girls in their community. Details: New Delhi: Population Council, 2013. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 27, 2014 at: http://r4d.dfid.gov.uk/pdf/outputs/ORIE/Qualitative_report_Formative_Study_VAWG_Bihar_DFID_India.pdf Year: 2013 Country: India URL: http://r4d.dfid.gov.uk/pdf/outputs/ORIE/Qualitative_report_Formative_Study_VAWG_Bihar_DFID_India.pdf Shelf Number: 133461 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectFamily ViolenceGender-Based ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceSexual ViolenceViolence Against Women (India) |
Author: Parker, Christina Title: For-Profit Family Detention: Meet the Private Prison Corporations Making Millions by Locking Up Refugee Families Summary: In this joint report by Grassroots Leadership and Justice Strategies, we review the history of charges of sexual abuse and neglect of children, indifference to medical needs, inadequate and unsanitary food, and brutal treatment by staff, levied in lawsuits, government investigations, and allegations by those held in family detention facilities operated by private, for-profit, prison corporations. These same corporations are now being contracted by the federal government to detain refugee families arriving at our southern border after fleeing the violence in Central America. Details: Charlotte, NC: Grassroots Leadership; Brooklyn, NY: Justice Strategies, 2014. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 9, 2014 at: http://www.justicestrategies.org/sites/default/files/publications/For%20Profit%20Family%20Detention%20Oct%202014_0.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.justicestrategies.org/sites/default/files/publications/For%20Profit%20Family%20Detention%20Oct%202014_0.pdf Shelf Number: 133907 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectIllegal ImmigrantsImmigrant ChildrenImmigrant DetentionPrison Privatization (U.S.)Private PrisonsRefugees |
Author: Pereznieto, Paola Title: The costs and economic impact of violence against children Summary: This briefing paper presents the main findings of a report commissioned by ChildFund Alliance, exploring the economic impacts and costs of violence against children. It presents a summary of the available evidence from different countries and provides some estimates of the global costs of violence and exploitation against children. The briefing discusses government spending to prevent and respond to violence against children as well as good preventive practices. It also provides some policy recommendations. In summary, this report finds that there are significant costs for individuals, communities, governments and economies from the different forms of violence against children. In the case of global costs resulting from physical, psychological and sexual violence, these costs can be as high as 8% of global GDP. Considering other forms of violence, such as children's involvement in hazardous work, the global costs are estimated to be $97 billion every year, which is equivalent to seven times Iceland's 2013 GDP. The economic impact of another form of violence against children - that of children associated with armed forces or groups - has been estimated to be $144 million annually. Details: London: Overseas Development Institute, 2014. 79p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 24, 2014 at: http://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/9177.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/9177.pdf Shelf Number: 133815 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ExploitationChild LaborChild Sexual AbuseCosts of CrimeViolence Against Children (International) |
Author: United Nations Children's Fund - UNICEF Title: Ending Violence Against Children: Six Strategies for Action Summary: Ending Violence Against Children: Six Strategies for Action provides evidence of effective programmes to address violence against children drawn from UNICEF's decades of experience, and informed by key partners. Case studies from around the globe illustrate how well-crafted prevention and response strategies can reduce the prevalence and impact of violence against children. The report is released as part of the #ENDviolence global initiative calling for an end to all forms of violence against children. It is directed at government leaders, civil society representatives, the private sector and the international development community Details: New York: UNICEF, 2014. 68p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 30, 2014 at: http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/Ending_Violence_Against_Children_Six_strategies_for_action_EN_9_Oct_2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.unicef.org/publications/files/Ending_Violence_Against_Children_Six_strategies_for_action_EN_9_Oct_2014.pdf Shelf Number: 133836 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ExploitationChild MaltreatmentChild Sexual AbuseViolence Against Children |
Author: Woodley, Alex Title: It's Not OK Campaign: Phase Three Summary: The Campaign for Action on Family Violence, the "It's not OK" campaign, is a community-based social marketing initiative that seeks to change the way New Zealanders think and act about family violence. In 2010 a new phase of the campaign began, looking at the practical things friends, whanau and families can do to keep each other safe. A new set of advertisements, 'cut-outs' was commissioned to encourage people to notice when things start to go wrong, and to support people to get the help they need. This research has been commissioned by Family and Community Services at the New Zealand Ministry of Social Development in order to understand whether, and if so how, attitudes and behaviours relating to the willingness, confidence and capacity to give and/or receive help have been influenced by the cut-out advertisements. In addition, this research aims to understand whether the It's not OK campaign has helped to support the conditions that encourage help giving and receiving. The research focussed on asking those who have given or received help or taken action after seeing the advertisements, to describe the dynamics of their actions e.g. what motivated them to take action, and what that help or action looked like. The data were collected using a combination of phone interviews and an online survey. Overall, the research found that recognition of the It's Not OK campaign is high, with 89 percent of those (603 of 677 people) who took part in the initial phase of the interviews and online survey indicating they had seen advertising about family violence in which the line "it's not OK" was said or shown. More than half of these (51% or 307 people) have taken steps or actions (however small) around family violence in their home, whanau/family or community. Much of this action is recent, with eight out of ten indicating their action had been undertaken in the three months prior to the interview or survey (i.e. since the beginning of Phase Three of the campaign). Details: Auckland, NZ: Point Research Ltd, 2011. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 12, 2014 at: http://www.areyouok.org.nz/assets/Document-files/research/Its-not-OK-phase-3-influence-report.pdf Year: 2011 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.areyouok.org.nz/assets/Document-files/research/Its-not-OK-phase-3-influence-report.pdf Shelf Number: 134059 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDomestic ViolenceFamily InterventionsFamily Violence (New Zealand)Media Campaigns |
Author: Vetten, Lisa Title: Domestic violence in South Africa Summary: South Africa's response to domestic violence is of relatively recent origin, with 1993 marking both the introduction of the first legal remedy to address domestic violence, and the recognition of marital rape as a crime. This first attempt to deal with domestic violence through legislation, namely the Prevention of Family Violence Act, was further developed and strengthened through the Domestic Violence Act of 1998 (DVA), which is widely considered one of the more progressive examples of such legislation internationally. This policy brief describes the extent and nature of domestic violence in South Africa and considers aspects of the implementation of the DVA, the state's most prominent intervention in the problem of domestic violence. Details: Pretoria, South Africa: Institute for Security Studies, 2014. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Policy Brief 71: Accessed November 13, 2014 at: http://www.issafrica.org/uploads/PolBrief71.pdf Year: 2014 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.issafrica.org/uploads/PolBrief71.pdf Shelf Number: 134074 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDomestic Violence (South Africa)Elder AbuseMarital RapeRapeSexual AssaultViolence Against Women |
Author: Child Protection Monitoring and Evaluation Group Title: Measuring Violence against Children - Inventory and assessment of quantitative studies Summary: Research and data on violence against children are scarce and inconsistent, especially in low- and middle-income countries. As a result, rigorous evidence on the extent, nature and impact of violence against children and on the underlying social norms and attitudes that perpetuate it is limited. Robust data are needed to develop evidence-based programmes and policies that can prevent and respond to violence, to establish baselines and monitor progress, and for advocacy. Such data are also needed to inform the development of and improve campaigns, laws, regulations and services that contribute to children's protection and well-being. The last two decades have witnessed a proliferation of different measurement activities aimed at filling the existing gaps, primarily through population-based sample surveys. Initiatives have been undertaken by or with the support of international agencies, international and local non-governmental organizations (NGOs), government institutions and researchers. The fact that governments and others have expressed interest in advancing in this area and have invested in improving related data-collection efforts is a positive step forward. While many organizations and individuals are active in research on violence against children, no gold standard for measuring this sensitive issue has been agreed upon internationally. As a result, different approaches have been developed to gather data, including the use of diverse indicators, questionnaires and study designs. This combination of factors has often led to the collection of inconsistent and unreliable data. It has also raised important questions about the risks and ethical issues that arise when the data-collection process involves children. The Child Protection Monitoring and Evaluation Reference Group's (CP MERG) Technical Working Group on Data Collection on Violence against Children was established to provide guidance in this area and to produce outputs that can assist countries and partners in their efforts to gather data that are both reliable and useful and obtained in an ethically sensitive manner. The goal is to support, facilitate and coordinate the development of guidelines, standards and tools for the collection of data on violence against children at global, regional and national levels. With these objectives in mind, the Working Group decided to undertake a review of quantitative studies on violence against children to provide an overview of some recent data-collection activities that will feed into the development of guidelines. This review focused mainly on studies conducted in low- and middle-income countries; however, three studies from Western Europe (Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom) and one study from the United States were also included. The review was based upon interviews with key informants, the identification of large-scale studies on violence against children, and an in-depth assessment of surveys from six countries and one subregion: Chile, the Eastern Caribbean, Georgia, India, the Republic of Moldova, the United Kingdom and the United Republic of Tanzania. Surveys conducted as part of larger international survey programmes, such as the Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys and Demographic and Health Surveys, were not included in the review. Details: New York: Division of Data, Research and Policy, UNICEF,2014. 109p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 18, 2014 at: http://data.unicef.org/corecode/uploads/document6/uploaded_pdfs/corecode/CP-MERG-REPORT_205.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://data.unicef.org/corecode/uploads/document6/uploaded_pdfs/corecode/CP-MERG-REPORT_205.pdf Shelf Number: 134137 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionSocioeconomic Conditions and CrimeViolence Against Children |
Author: Steven, David Title: If Not Now, When? Ending Violence Against the World's Children Summary: Key Messages -- A target to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence, and torture against children has been proposed as part of the post-2015 development agenda. Support for this target is based on the recognition that no violence against children is justifiable and all violence against children is preventable. It forms part of a broader commitment to the role peaceful and inclusive societies play in sustainable development. At present, an epidemic of violence undermines child survival and development, while causing broader economic damage and trapping children into cycles of violence they may not escape as adults. Ambitious post- 2015 commitments on children's education, health, and wellbeing cannot be met as long as so many children live in fear. While the challenge of protecting all children is a substantial one, strategies exist for tackling violence and other forms of abuse. With the right policies and sufficient resources, substantial improvements in child safety can be achieved in less than a decade. Proposed targets to protect, prevent and address violence against children must be included in the final version of the new development agenda, with governments persuaded this is a signature issue that will resonate with the public around the world. But as Nelson Mandela wrote a decade ago, safety and security don't just happen: they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We must now begin preparing for implementation of new targets, moving beyond aspirations to credible plans. We now have an historic opportunity to unite the world behind a global, national, and local movement to protect children from violence, based on increased political will, a global partnership that will protect children, and the identification of pathfinder countries that will be ready to deliver the new agenda from January 2016. The next twelve months are critical. We must: 1. Secure an unequivocal global commitment to ending violence against children. Governments must be convinced that tackling violence is an essential and resonant priority that will significantly improve the lives of children. A target to end violence against children must be retained in the post-2015 development agenda. 2. Develop foundations that will allow implementation to begin in January 2016. An aspiration to end violence must be turned into something more concrete. Priorities include forming the partnership to scale up action to prevent violence and protect children and the coalition of pathfinder countries prepared to act first. 3. Create opportunities for world leaders to pledge support for urgent action to protect children. Champions are needed to advocate for implementation of targets to end all forms of violence against children. The Financing for Development conference in July and Heads of State and Government Summit in September 2015 should be used to announce ambitious commitments. Details: New York: New York University, Center on International Cooperation, 2014. 23p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 18, 2014 at: http://www.globaldashboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/If_Not_Now_When_Final_201014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.globaldashboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/If_Not_Now_When_Final_201014.pdf Shelf Number: 134138 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ExploitationChild MaltreatmentChild TraffickingChild VictimsViolence Against Children |
Author: Crinall, Karen Title: 'Safe at home' programs in the context of the Victorian Integrated family Violence Service System Reforms: A review of the literature Summary: Family violence is a leading cause of homelessness, poverty (FaCHSIA 2009, COAG 2010), preventable death, disability and illness for Victorian women aged 15-45 years (VicHealth 2004). Exposure to family violence is now widely recognised as a form of child abuse (Statewide Steering Committee 2005, FaCHSIA 2009). Family violence costs the Australian economy an estimated $13.6 billion per year (FaCHSIA 2009:34), if not effectively and appropriately addressed, the total cost in 2021-22 is estimated to be $15.6 billion (FaCHSIA 2009:36). Although domestic and family violence began to be taken seriously by Australian governments in the latter half of the twentieth century, a growing body of evidence revealed that prevalence was not decreasing. At the same time, there was recognition that the best interests of women and children experiencing this form of violence were not necessarily being well served (Rorke 2008). In response to calls from the family violence sector, the Victorian government embarked on a program of major legislative and service system reform by adopting a 'whole of government' approach to redressing family violence incidence and responding to the needs of affected women and children. The new approach to family violence involves integration of the Victorian family violence service system, and is guided by the goals of ensuring the safety of women and children and holding men who use violence accountable (see Green, ADFVC, record#170). This wide-ranging initiative represents a profound shift in the way government, police, judiciary and service providers respond to, and seek to prevent family violence. Enabling women to have the choice to remain safely within their own homes, rather than believing they must leave and seek refuge, is a key component in this reform program. Referred to here as 'safe at home', the strategy signifies a new direction in the way the family violence service system supports women and their children to escape family violence. This literature review was undertaken to develop a more complete understanding of 'safe at home' as a service system response, with a particular focus on its capacity to contribute to the Victorian reform goals of ensuring the safety of women and children and holding men who use violence against women accountable. The review examines 'safe at home' in the context of National and state family violence policy and practice initiatives. Specific focus is given to determining elements required for successful and effective implementation. The aims are to: - further understand 'safe at home' as an intervention strategy within the Victorian integrated family violence service system; - explore how the 'safe at home' strategy might contribute to enhancing the safety of women and children; - consider whether 'safe at home' interventions are able to hold men who use violence against women accountable; - to identify elements necessary for successful implementation of 'safe at home' programs. Key questions informing the review are: - How is 'safe at home' defined in policy and practice? - Is there evidence to indicate that 'safe at home' programs have enhanced the safety of women and children? - Is there evidence to suggest that 'safe at home' as a response is able to hold men who use violence against women accountable? - What is required for successful implementation of 'safe at home' programs? - What supports are necessary to enable women and children to stay in their home, if they prefer this option? Details: Melbourne: Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare, Monash University, University of Melbourne, 2014. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 18, 2014 at: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/safehomereview_with_covers.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/safehomereview_with_covers.pdf Shelf Number: 134139 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDomestic ViolenceFamily Violence (Australia)Violence Against WomenViolence Prevention Programs |
Author: McLanahan, Sara Title: An Epidemiological Study of Children Exposure to Violence in the Fragile Families Study Summary: A large body of research shows that children raised in low-income families are exposed to more violence than children raised in high-income families, including neighborhood violence, domestic violence and parental violence, also referred to as 'harsh parenting.' Violence, in turn, is known to be associated with children's mental health and human capital development. This report summarizes what we have learned from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study about the prevalence, predictors and consequences of children's exposure to 1) neighborhood violence, 2) intimate partner violence (IPV), and 3) harsh parenting. By identifying violence as a threat to the public's mental health and recognizing the role of mental health challenges in increasing the risk for both victimization and perpetration of violence, the need to address violence in its varied forms becomes clear. Below are some of the over-arching action steps listed in the report that should be considered. Funding more research with diverse populations into the causes of violence Supporting policies to help vulnerable populations access mental health services, prevent violence, and improve cultural competency of mental health care providers Training and hiring more qualified people from vulnerable communities to be counselors and educators Coordinating care across different sectors -- including housing, education and workforce -- to reflect the interconnections between types of violence and the common stressors that increase risk Details: Princeton, NJ: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2014. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 20, 2014 at: http://www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/issue_briefs/2014/rwjf415091/subassets/rwjf415091_1 Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/issue_briefs/2014/rwjf415091/subassets/rwjf415091_1 Shelf Number: 134169 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChildren and ViolenceChildren Exposed to Violence (U.S.)Domestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceNeighborhoods and Crime |
Author: Kahui, Sherilee Title: Measuring the Economic Costs of Child Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence to New Zealand Summary: There is no excuse for child abuse or intimate partner violence. This would be true, even if the economic cost of these behaviours was zero. As this fresh perspective on the financial and economic costs of child abuse and intimate partner violence (IPV) demonstrates, however, the costs are unacceptably high. As well as reflecting gross reductions in the wellbeing of those involved, they represent the size of impacts which undermine the effectiveness of other factors that would otherwise contribute positively to economic output. More importantly, by far the greatest costs are for unalleviated pain and suffering, for the provision of services that treat immediate pain and crisis while failing to address the root cause and provide pathways to positive results and for cleaning up the mess when brought to the attention of families, enforcement agencies, employers and others. If there was no child abuse and intimate partner violence, the study is conclusive that there would be savings greater than what is currently earned annually from the New Zealand's export of wood. At the high end, the cost of child abuse and intimate partner violence, as estimated by this study, is equal to 60% of what was earned from dairy exports in 2013. The costings in this report were produced to better understand the economic scale and the nature of the impact of child abuse and intimate partner violence. Even updated New Zealand costings of family violence have been largely based on the Coopers & Lybrand cost of family violence based on evidence collected in 1993/94. A more recent study estimating the cost of child abuse was published by Infometrics in 2010. Hence, this is a fresh approach to update both our current state of knowledge, to take another look at what data is available and how to specify the gaps in data. The framework, based on a 2009 KPMG study for Australia, is called the ECCAIPV framework, the Economic Cost of Child Abuse and Intimate Partner Violence framework. Details: Wellington, NZ: The Glenn Inquiry, 2014. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 20, 2014 at: https://glenninquiry.org.nz/uploads/files/ECONOMIC_COSTS_OF_CHILD_ABUSE_INTIMATE_PARTNER_ABUSE2.pdf Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: https://glenninquiry.org.nz/uploads/files/ECONOMIC_COSTS_OF_CHILD_ABUSE_INTIMATE_PARTNER_ABUSE2.pdf Shelf Number: 134172 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectCosts of Crime (New Zealand)Economics of CrimeFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner Violence |
Author: World Health Organization Title: Global Status Report on Violence Prevention 2014 Summary: Despite indications that homicide rates decreased by 16% globally between 2000 and 2012, violence remains widespread. Released today, the "Global status report on violence prevention 2014" reveals that 475 000 people were murdered in 2012. Homicide is the third leading cause of death globally for males aged 15-44 years. These facts highlight the importance of creating more decisive action to prevent violence. Jointly published today by WHO, the United Nations Development Programme, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the report indicates that: only one third of the 133 countries surveyed are implementing large-scale initiatives to prevent violence, such as bullying prevention programmes, visits by nurses to families at risk, and support to those who care for older people; just over half the countries are fully enforcing a set of 12 laws generally acknowledged to prevent violence, although 80% of countries have enacted them; only half of all countries have services in place to protect and support victims of violence The "Global status report on violence prevention 2014" is the first report of its kind to assess national efforts to address interpersonal violence, namely child maltreatment, youth violence, intimate partner and sexual violence, and elder abuse. Individual country profiles reflect the extent to which key violence prevention programmes and laws and selected services for victims of violence are being implemented. Details: Geneva, SWIT: WHO, 2014. 292p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 10, 2014 at: http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/status_report/2014/en/ Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/status_report/2014/en/ Shelf Number: 134305 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentElder AbuseHomicidesInterpersonal ViolenceSexual ViolenceViolenceViolence PreventionViolent CrimeYouth Violence |
Author: Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics Title: Family Violence in Canada: A statistical profile, 2013 Summary: Section 1 Overview of family violence - In 2013, police reported that there were 87,820 victims of family violence in Canada. This represents a rate of 252.9 victims of family violence for every 100,000 individuals in the population. In comparison, the rate of victimization for violent crimes that were not family-related was 712.8 per 100,000 population. - Spousal violence was the most common form of family violence in 2013, with nearly half (48%) of family violence occurring at the hands of a current or former spouse (married or common law). - Following spousal violence, victimization by a parent was the next most common form of police-reported family violence, representing 17% of family violence victims. - In 2013, more than two-thirds (68%) of all family violence victims were female. - The risk of family violence varies with age and overall, tends to be lowest for seniors, followed by young children (9 years and under), and highest for adults in their 30s. While this pattern was generally similar for male and female victims, female rates of family violence peaked at age 30 to 34, whereas for males, rates were highest from age 15 to 19. - Common assault was the most frequent form of family violence reported to police, experienced by over half (58%) of victims, followed by intimidation offences (17%), such as criminal harassment, indecent telephone calls or uttering threats. - More than half (55%) of family violence victims suffered no physical injury. For those that sustained injuries, the vast majority of these injuries were minor, calling for no professional medical treatment or first aid only. When injuries were sustained, they were much more likely the result of the use of physical force (84%) against the victim, rather than the use of a weapon (16%). - Charges were laid more often in police-reported family violence incidents (56%) than in violent incidents that were not family-related (46%). - Trend data indicate that police-reported incidents of family violence have decreased in recent years. From 2009 to 2013, rates for the most prevalent form of police-reported family violence, physical assault, dropped 14%, spousal victimization declined 17% and incidents involving other family members fell 10%. - Rates of homicides committed by family members continue to fall for both male and female victims. Family-related physical and sexual assaults have also declined modestly in recent years. Section 2 Intimate partner violence - In 2013, there were more than 90,300 victims of police-reported violence by an intimate partner (including spousal and dating partners) accounting for over one quarter of all police-reported victims of violent offences. - Dating violence accounted for 53% of police-reported incidents of intimate partner violence, while spousal violence represented 47%. - As with violent crime in general, adults in their twenties and thirties experienced the greatest risk of violent victimization by an intimate partner. In particular, rates of intimate partner violence were highest among 20- to 24-year olds. - Similar to previous years, common assault (level 1) was the most frequent type of police-reported intimate partner violence. Major assault (levels 2 and 3), uttering threats and criminal harassment were the next most frequent offences. - Charges were laid or recommended in the majority (71%) of intimate partner violence incidents reported to police. - Rates of intimate partner homicide have remained stable in recent years. In 2013, the rate of homicides committed against a female intimate partner stood at 3.74 per million population. The rate of intimate partner homicide was 4.5 times higher for female victims than for male victims. - Between 2009 and 2013, the rate of the most prevalent form of police-reported intimate partner violence, common assault (level 1), fell 11%. Section 3 Family violence against children and youth - According to police-reported data for 2013, about 16,700 children and youth, or 243.5 for every 100,000 Canadians under the age of 18, were the victims of family-related violence. This represented over one-quarter (29%) of all children and youth who were the victims of a violent crime. - Physical assault was the most common type of police-reported family violence against children and youth. Sexual offences were the second most common type of police-reported family violence against children and youth. - Parents (60%) were the family members most often accused of violence against children and youth, especially in incidents involving children under the age of four. - The rate of police-reported family violence committed against children and youth tends to increase with age of the victim. However, when younger children (i.e., under the age of four) were victimized, they were more likely to be victimized by a family member. - Overall, homicides against children and youth are relatively rare. When they do occur, unlike with other types of family violence, familial homicides were more common among younger age groups, with children under the age of one at greatest risk. - Girls were more likely than boys to be victims of police-reported family violence, especially sexual assault. In 2013, the overall rate of police-reported family violence victimization for girls was 1.5 times higher (298.2 per 100,000) than the rate for boys (191.5 per 100,000); and the rate of sexual victimization by a family member was four times higher for girls (125.0 per 100,000) compared to boys (30.2 per 100,000). - Physical injuries were reported for about 4 in 10 victims of family violence against children and youth; the vast majority of these were minor, requiring no medical treatment or requiring first aid. - Charges were laid in less than half (45%) of family violence incidents against children and youth, compared to 59% of police-reported family violence involving adult victims aged 18 years and over. Section 4 Family violence against seniors - Seniors represented a relatively small proportion of all family violence victims, out 3%, and had lower rates of family violence than any other age group. - Rates of police-reported family violence are generally highest among younger seniors and gradually decline with age. - In 2013, the police-reported rate of family violence for senior women (62.7 per 100,000) was higher (+26%) than the rate for senior men (49.7 per 100,000). Nevertheless, the difference between female and male rates of family violence among seniors is notably smaller than the gap observed between the sexes for younger victims. - Similar to previous years, family members made up one-third of those accused in police-reported incidents of violent crime against seniors (aged 65 and over) in 2013, with just over 2,900 seniors (56.8 victims per 100,000 seniors) victimized by a family member that year. In total, nearly 8,900 (173.9 victims per 100,000 seniors) of persons aged 65 and over were the victims of a violent crime in Canada in 2013. - Senior victims of family violence were most likely to be victimized by their own adult children. About 4 in 10 senior victims of police-reported family violence indicated that the accused was their grown child; spouses (28%) were the second most likely family members to be identified as perpetrators of family violence against seniors. - Common assault accounted for more than half (55%) of violence committed against seniors by family members. Weapons were involved in fewer than one in six (15%) family violence incidents against senior victims. Most incidents (85%) involved the use of physical force or threats. - A majority (61%) of senior victims of family violence did not sustain physical injuries. Among those who were injured, most sustained minor injuries requiring little or no medical attention (e.g., some first aid). - Family violence against seniors that escalates to homicide continues to be rare. In 2013, the overall rate of family-related homicides was 3.2 for every 1 million persons aged 65 and over. Details: Ottawa: Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, 2015. 85p. Source: Internet Resource: Juristat vol. 34, no. 1: Accessed January 21, 2015 at: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2014001/article/14114-eng.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Canada URL: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2014001/article/14114-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 134432 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectCrime StatisticsCriminal VictimizationElder Abuse and NeglectFamily Violence (Canada)Gender-Related ViolenceHomicidesInterpersonal ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceSexual ViolenceSpouse Abuse |
Author: Moestue, Helen Title: Digitally Enhanced Child Protection: How new technology can prevent violence against children in the Global South Summary: The last decade has witnessed growing appreciation of the potential of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to protect children from violence. The issue of violence against children (VAC) is of singular importance. And while the full scope and scale of VAC remains hidden from view there is wide spread consensus that "every year and in every region of the world, millions of children suffer the cumulative impact of physical, mental and emotional violence, and millions more are at risk". Although ICT innovation for child protection is comparatively advanced in North America and Western Europe, there is less known about new tools in lower- and middle-income settings in the Americas, Africa and Asia. This Strategic Paper begins filling this knowledge gap and reviews the emerging character and functions of ICTs to prevent VAC in the global South. Drawing on assorted cases from Benin, Brazil, Kenya, Uganda and other countries, it provides a hint of the diversity of emerging experiences around the world. In the process, the Strategic Paper provides insights into emerging trends, typologies, and threats. Key findings include: - Mobile and digital technology are being harnessed in multiple ways to protect children, including through: (a) the digitization of existing child protection systems (b) helplines (c) citizen reporting and crowd mapping (d) mobile research and survey tools(e) big data analysis, and (f) tech-driven campaigning and information sharing; - These initiatives frequently combine the offer of assistance to children with the collection of real time data. This model in turn generates critical information for advocacy and can inform future child protection interventions; - Such approaches save time and money, and are breaking down the social, cultural and practical barriers to violence reporting. However, digital data collection raises important ethical questions about consent and confidentiality; - Innovation is emerging from a wide range of fields, including child protection, social development, the humanitarian sector, public health and the wider violence prevention field, and is often facilitated by creative public-private partnerships. Different disciplines are using the same tools; - Basic SMS based reporting systems have immense potential. Certain open source digital platforms offer the potential for scaling-up, especially systems such as Frontline SMS, Rapid SMS and Ushahidi, which integrate basic mobile phones for crowd-sourcing violence reporting and community mapping; and - There is a widening array of initiatives that enable children themselves to be informed, empowered and included in their own protection. Digitized survey tools, that can be used for and by children even in emergency settings, include Open Data Kit and Kobo Toolbox. The Strategic Paper considers the emerging landscapes of ICTs for VAC. It first sets the scene exploring the character and dynamics of violence against children, especially in low- and middle-income settings. The opening section also considers the expansion of ICTs and ethical implications in their application among children and youth. The second section introduces a typology of different ICTs including the digitization of child protection systems, child helplines, citizen reporting and crowd mapping, mobile research tools, Big Data analytics and technology-enabled campaigns. Section three explores how different sectors and disciplines are engaging with these new tools - including child protection experts, relief and development professionals and the public health community. The Paper closes with a brief consideration of next steps in the evolution of ICTs to prevent and reduce VAC. Details: Rio de Janeiro: Igarape Institute, 2014. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Strategic Paper 10: Accessed January 28, 2015 at: http://igarape.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Artigo-estrategico-10-Child-Protection-4.pdf Year: 134475 Country: International URL: http://igarape.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Artigo-estrategico-10-Child-Protection-4.pdf Shelf Number: 134475 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChildren, Crimes AgainstDigital TechnologiesViolence Against Children |
Author: CP MERG Title: Ethical principles, dilemmas and risks in collecting data on violence against children: A review of available literature Summary: Ethical guidelines are crucial when carrying out research on violence against children (VAC). Such guidelines help to minimize the risk of potential harm resulting from the data collection process to participants, researchers and others, and ensure that any remaining risks are outweighed by the potential benefits. Research ethics and methodologies are closely linked, with ethically sound research protocols and tools adding to the value of the research. Recent years have seen growing efforts to collect data on VAC and close gaps on child protection monitoring, evaluation and research. However, there are, as yet, no internationally recommended or agreed upon ethical guidelines for VAC research. This literature review is a contribution to the foundations for the development of such ethical guidelines. It aims to capture current thinking around ethical issues and provide empirical support to guide recommendations for ethical research practice and decision-making in collecting data on VAC. The review was prepared on behalf of the Technical Working Group on Data Collection on Violence against Children (part of the Child Protection Monitoring and Evaluation Reference Group). A sister project that has been carried out simultaneously to this research provides a more detailed inventory and assessment of existing tools and methods to collect data on VAC. This review examines documentation, including both published and 'grey' literature that is of specific relevance to research ethics in collecting data on VAC. It includes ethics guidelines, codes, protocols and practice-related documentation, as well as research-based publications. An Internet-based search was used to identify and locate documentation for review. The review has six main sections: 1. An introduction to the review and its aims. 2. A discussion of the scope and methodology of the review. 3. A review of ethics documentation, such as guidelines, codes and standards, focusing on aspects relevant to VAC. This starts with an overview of ethical principles and frameworks to provide a philosophical context for the paper, followed by a review of the documentation used to guide the implementation of ethics in research with children, and ethical policy and codes. 4. A review of publications relevant to ethics in research on VAC. 5. A discussion of the ethical challenges and dilemmas that emerged during the review process and possible recommendations from the literature. 6. Concluding comments. Details: New York: Statistics and Monitoring Section/Division of Policy and Strategy, UNICEF, 2012. 93p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 7, 2015 at: http://data.unicef.org/corecode/uploads/document6/uploaded_pdfs/corecode/EPDRCLitReview_193.pdf Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://data.unicef.org/corecode/uploads/document6/uploaded_pdfs/corecode/EPDRCLitReview_193.pdf Shelf Number: 134563 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionCriminal Justice EthicsViolence Against Children |
Author: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Title: Too Much Pain: Female Genital Mutilation and Asylum in the European Union Summary: Female genital mutilation (FGM) includes procedures that intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. This harmful traditional practice is most common in the western, eastern, and north-eastern regions of Africa; in some countries in Asia and the Middle East; and among migrant and refugee communities from these areas in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States of America. FGM is recognized internationally as a violation of the human rights of girls and women. The practice also violates a person's rights to health, security and physical integrity; the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment; and the right to life when the procedure results in death. The practice of FGM is also considered as a criminal act in all EU Member States. This statistical overview has been prepared on the occasion of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) study on FGM in the European Union and Croatia. Little is known about FGM in the European Union in general, and this statement holds true about FGM and asylum more specifically. In light of the recognized need for country- and community-tailored responses, this study provides some of the statistical evidence needed to advance the discussion on the necessary policies and tools to address the specific vulnerabilities of female asylum-seekers with FGM in the asylum system on the one hand, and of refugee girls and women living with FGM and integrating in EU Member States on the other hand. In addition, in the absence of statistical data on asylum claims relating to this harmful traditional practice, this document also provides estimates that draw attention to the specific needs for international protection girls (and their parents) as well as women may raise in relation to FGM. Details: Geneva, SWIT: UNHCR, 2013. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 12, 2015 at: http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/512c72ec2.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/512c72ec2.pdf Shelf Number: 134617 Keywords: Asylum SeekersChild Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionFemale CuttingFemale Genital Mutilation Gender-Related ViolenceHuman Rights AbusesViolence Against Women |
Author: Horvath, Miranda Title: "It's a lonely journey": A rapid assessment on intrafamilial child sexual abuse Summary: A report into child sexual abuse in the family environment published today reveals alarming gaps in knowledge about its prevalence, effects, and how best to prevent it. Concern about the findings has led the Deputy Children's Commissioner for England to use the Children's Commissioner's legislative powers to today launch a national inquiry into this troubling form of child sexual abuse. The report, "It's a lonely journey" A Rapid Evidence Assessment on Intrafamilial Child Sexual Abuse is based on an examination of 57,226 research studies into child sexual abuse commissioned by the Office of the Children's Commissioner from Middlesex University. It found glaring omissions in what is known about child sexual abuse in family environments. This includes an almost complete lack of research directly looking into children and young people's experiences of what would help to prevent it or to support those who have been abused. The report highlights a particular lack of knowledge about the experiences of disabled children and those from minority ethnic groups. It also finds that most services to support people who have experienced child sexual abuse within a family context are targeted at adult survivors rather than children. Worryingly, little is known about the prevalence of long-term psychological and physical harm caused by sexual abuse in family environments and almost nothing about the economic cost this places on society. The Office of the Children's Commissioner's two-year national Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse In The Family Environment will seek to determine how widespread it is, what must be done to support the victims, and how it can best be prevented. The Inquiry will investigate children's experiences of this type of sexual abuse and make recommendations on how services should respond. It will examine evidence of what works well to prevent it from occurring, as well as how children who have experienced it should be helped. The forced marriage of children will fall within the scope of the Inquiry as this invariably leads to child sexual abuse. Details: London: Office of the Children's Commissioner, 2014. 152p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 19, 2015 at: http://eprints.mdx.ac.uk/13688/ Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: v Shelf Number: 134655 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual Abuse (U.K.)Forced Marriage |
Author: World Health Organization Title: Improving efforts to prevent children's exposure to violence: a handbook for defining programme theory and planning for evaluation in the new evidence-based culture Summary: As part of a global movement to direct greater attention and resources to child protection, programmes aimed at reducing children's exposure to violence are being implemented with increasing frequency across the world. These programmes are diverse and range from raising public awareness of the issues to widening and strengthening government policies and protective structures, improving children's and families' access to medical, therapeutic and legal support, and increasing children's and parents' protective skills. Over the last several decades a substantial body of research has accumulated, providing much needed information about the experience of violence in childhood. We now know that child abuse, neglect, peer violence, sexual victimization and exposure to domestic and community violence are suffered by very large numbers of children. We understand much more about the serious negative consequences of violence exposure on children's physical and mental health, effects that can carry through from generation to generation. In addition, we have come to appreciate that children's health and safety concerns often cluster together, and that children and families with the fewest resources often suffer from disproportionate levels of exposure to violence. Evaluation research has also helped us to identify which prevention and intervention strategies work well and make the biggest difference to children's well-being. What is needed now is a global movement to build on this knowledge in order to channel programme efforts in increasingly effective ways. Given the seriousness of the problem of children's exposure to violence and the scarcity of resources with which to tackle it, our focus should be to ensure that: - new programmes and initiatives are grounded in research knowledge; - programmes are routinely evaluated so that we continue to learn more about what works and what does not. It is only by sharing, using and growing the evidence base that we will hasten our positive impact on the lives and well-being of children worldwide. This handbook is intended to help implementing agencies (e.g. nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), development/foreign aid agencies, community-based organizations, not-for-profit agencies) make better use of existing research and plan for evaluation when designing and implementing child violence prevention programmes, and also to convey these intentions to potential funding organizations. Details: Geneva, SWIT: WHO, 2014. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 12, 2015 at: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/144308/1/9789241507882_eng.pdf?ua=1 Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/144308/1/9789241507882_eng.pdf?ua=1 Shelf Number: 134911 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionEvidence-Based PracticesViolence Against Children |
Author: Champion, Sarah, Chair Title: Report of the Parliamentary inquiry into the effectiveness of legislation for tackling child sexual exploitation and trafficking within the UK Summary: Child sexual exploitation (CSE) is a form of child abuse, which can happen to boys and girls from any background or community. It can range from seemingly 'consensual' relationships, informal exchanges of sex in order to get affection, accommodation or gifts, through to exploitation by gangs involved in serious, organised crime. We are asking the UK Government to: -raise awareness to enable early identification of CSE -improve statutory responses to CSE and access to services -increase the evidence base on the prevalence and forms of CSE -improve prosecution procedures with an emphasis on victim support. Details: Ilford, Essex, UK: Barnardo's, 2014. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 22, 2015 at: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/cse_parliamentary_inquiry_report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/cse_parliamentary_inquiry_report.pdf Shelf Number: 135335 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sex TraffickingChild Sexual Abuse (U.K.)Child Sexual ExploitationOrganized Crime |
Author: Martin, Shawn M. Title: Policy Evaluation of Hillsborough County's Family Dependency Treatment Court Summary: Child abuse and neglect is a troubling issue all too familiar with courts in the United States. The problem becomes even more complicated when substance abuse is involved. In 2004, approximately 500,000 children were removed from their homes because of abuse and neglect issues1. In the past few years, a judicial model appeared to address both substance abuse and child dependency issues. This model, entitled Family Dependency Treatment Court (FDTC) enables the court to mandate treatment for parents and make reunification dependent on treatment compliance. The FDTC program in Hillsborough County, Florida is now in its second year and has raised a host of policy and procedural issues. As such, 20 key FDTC informants and 6 clients were interviewed to identify strengths and weaknesses of the program. Key areas identified as requiring improvement include increasing communication and collaboration among key stakeholders, training on FDTC inclusion criteria, and increased funding for treatment services and resources. Identified strengths included being a court-based treatment program, providing a supportive atmosphere for clients, and maintaining reunification as a goal. The results of this evaluation emphasize the importance of diverse organizations working collaboratively to achieve this often difficult objective within the child welfare setting. Details: Tampa, FL: Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, University of South Florida, 2013. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Mental Health Law & Policy Faculty Publications. Paper 579; Accessed May 23, 2015 at: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1578&context=mhlp_facpub Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1578&context=mhlp_facpub Shelf Number: 135773 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChild WelfareFamily Treatment CourtsProblem Solving Courts |
Author: Galm, Beate Title: Combating Child Abuse and Neglect: Child Protection in Germany Summary: The Federal Republic of Germany is a federal state with 16 partially sovereign constituent Lander (Federal States). The authorities of the Lander extend to legislation. The distribution of legislative and other competences between the federal government and the Lander is governed by the German Constitution, which is binding for all. The constitution stipulates the basic rights of its 82 million citizens. To promote and protect the child's rights, the constitution stipulates the distribution of responsibilities between parents and government as follows: Childcare and the education of children are the right and duty of the parents. The national community monitors their activities. Only if the parents fail to fulfill their care and educational duties sufficiently, then state is not only entitled to intervene but also mandated. This happens in child endangerment cases, which the parents themselves cannot or do not want to avert. Moreover the state has the general duty to support families in their task of care and education. So far, there is no significant information available in Germany about how often cases become known in the children and youth protection system, where violence against children transgresses the threshold of child endangerment. In fact, there is a nationwide unified official child and youth welfare statistic; however, it focuses on actions and not on cases or case situations. Currently, a Federal Child Protection Act (Bundeskinderschutz-gesetz) is under way which is likely to come into force in 2012. It provides for expanding the child and youth welfare statistic with the objective of collecting the number of cases of child endangerment known in the area of child and youth welfare. In general, only limited assertions can be made concerning the extent of various types of violence against children in Germany. These are based on few studies with a representative selection of the population, on methodologically insufficient estimates (overview in Pothmann, 2006), and on smaller samples in the area of healthcare and Children and Youth Services. Moreover, various statistics (e.g. child and youth statistic, the crime statistic of the police, the statistic of the cause of death) provide information about various partial quantities, e.g. cases of abuse, which are criminally prosecuted or cases, in which children are removed from the family for a short or long-term. In light of the widespread child neglect and psychological child abuse there is a recent representative study (Hauser et al., 2011). Lesser intensity of neglect included, almost 50% of the respondents (juveniles and adults were surveyed, n = 2504) report physical neglect and nearly 50% report emotional neglect in their childhood and adolescence. Serious physical neglect was experienced by 10.8%, serious emotional neglect by 6.6%. The proportion auf psychological abuse reported is 15%, if moderate intensity is included and 1.6% for serious psychological abuse. Non-representative data suggest that child neglect is by far the most common form of endangerment known in the area of child and youth welfare. This assertion is strengthened by the tendency that the situation is similar in all countries, which so far have examined the frequency of various forms of child endangerment (Galm et al., 2010, p. 38-40). In the case of Germany, this was confirmed by a study based on cases over which the family court had to decide about an intervention concerning the parental care (Munder et al., 2000, n = 318). In nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of the cases, the presence of child neglect was affirmed by the social workers. In every second case (50 percent), it was seen as the main cause for endangerment. The same study described psychological child abuse as the second most frequent form of endangerment after child neglect and before physical abuse and sexual abuse of children. Moreover, there is a high rate of overlapping between various forms of child endangerment. These findings are reflected internationally as well (e.g. Jonson-Reid et al., 2003). The few representative study results suggest, that the majority of parents in Germany - even with a decreasing trend - still use at least some minor forms of corporal punishment against their child such as a light slap in the face or a spanking (Bussmann, 2004, 2005, 2008, Wetzels, 1997, Pfeiffer et al., 1997, 1999, Baier et al., 2009). In this connection, Germany is in a middle position in a European comparative study about corporal punishment (Bussmann, 2008). This study also shows that most parents - in Germany about 90% - are aiming to raise their children free of violence. In a summary of German study results, Engfer (2005) concludes that 10% to 15% of parents use more severe and more frequent corporal punishments. In the survey of Hauser et al. (2011) 12% of the respondents re-port physical and 2.8% serious physical violence. In three representative surveys, women, men (Wetzels & Pfeiffer, 1995, Wetzels, 1997, Bienek et al., 2011, Hauser, 2011), juvenile girls, and boys (repeat survey of BZgA, 2010) are asked among others about sexual violence during their childhood and youth. The results show that based on a wider definition of sexual violence up to 19% of women and 8% of men were affected by sexual violence during childhood in Germany. The follow up survey (n = 11,428) by Bienek et al. (2011) is interesting: The results show a significant reduction of sexual violence in the last 20 years. Depending on the definition, in international studies the figures fluctuate between 7% and 36% in affected women and between 3% and 19% in affected men concerning the extent of sexual violence (Finkelhor, 2005). Since the end of the last century the awareness of the negative effects of partnership violence on children has increased in Germany (Kavemann, 2006) According to international studies, partnership violence, which has a special potential for injury and which is embedded in forms of control and debasement is mainly initiated by men toward their partners (research over-views e.g. in Johnson, 2001, Saunders, 2002). In Germany, these findings are confirmed by a representative study (a representative community sample of 10,000 women from all over Germany) concerning living situations, security, and health of women commissioned by the Federal Ministry for Families, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (Muller et al., 2004). This study concludes that at least every fourth woman (25 %) between the ages of 16 and 85 years, who has lived in a partnership, has experienced one or several times physical (23 %) or - in part additionally - sexual (7 %) violence by their partner (Muller et al., 2004, p. 8). Compared to the prevailing data from other European studies (overview in Hagemann-White 2001), these results are in the medium to upper level, whereby the methods and instruments of the survey, the topic and content of focus as well as the included age and examination samples vary greatly and make a comparison the more difficult. In this survey 60% of the women, who had experienced a violent relationship were living with children at the time (N=485). Asked about how they thought this affected their children 57% of these women reported that the children had overheard violent situations, 50% that children had seen these situations and 25% stated that children had tried to defend them against their violent partner. 23% of the women believed that the children had not noticed the partnership violence at all. (Muller et al., 2004, pp. 276-277) In surveys of unreported incidents with juveniles (Enzmann & Wetzels, 2001), approx. 7 % of the ones surveyed stated that they experienced frequent violence of the (social) father against the mother or of both parents against one another during the year prior to the survey. Details: Munich: Deutsches Jugendinstitut e.V., 2011. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2015 at: http://www.youthpolicy.nl/yp/downloadsyp/Daphne-report-Germany.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Germany URL: http://www.youthpolicy.nl/yp/downloadsyp/Daphne-report-Germany.pdf Shelf Number: 135901 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChild WelfareCorporal Punishment |
Author: Quadara, Antonia Title: Conceptualising the prevention of child sexual abuse: Final report Summary: Significant numbers of Australian children have experienced neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse. The adverse, long-term consequences of these experiences are well demonstrated in the research literature and recognised by the policy and practice communities. This report: identifies the conceptual, policy and practice challenges that the prevention of child sexual abuse presents; presents a conceptual mapping of dynamics associated with child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation; outlines key directions that could be taken to strengthen prevention strategies. The report is divided into two sections: Part A: Background literature Part B: Child sexual abuse: Current issues and future directions Details: Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2015. 85p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report no. 33: Accessed July 9, 2015 at: https://aifs.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/rr33.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: https://aifs.gov.au/sites/default/files/publication-documents/rr33.pdf Shelf Number: 135983 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual Exploitation |
Author: Jutte, Sonja Title: How Safe Are Our Children? The Most Comprehensive Overview of Child Protection in the UK Summary: Our report compiles and analyses the most robust and up-to-date child protection data that exists across the 4 nations in the UK for 2015. The report sets out 20 different indicators. Each indicator looks at the question of 'how safe are our children?' from a different perspective. They also include historic data, to help track progress over time Key messages More support is needed for the victims of abuse We've seen a rise in the number of people coming forward about their experiences of abuse. The support must match this increased willingness to speak out. Victims of child abuse need more therapeutic support, and age-appropriate support at every stage of the criminal justice process. We must not lose sight of neglect While child sexual exploitation is dominating the media, it's important to remember that neglect remains the most common form of child abuse across the UK. We need to continue to gather evidence into what works in tackling neglect. Early intervention is key We need to intervene early to address problems before they become more serious and entrenched. By intervening early we can protect children more effectively and save money. Key findings All 4 countries in the UK have seen the number of recorded sexual offences against children increase over the last year. There's been an increase in contacts to the NSPCC helpline and ChildLine about sexual abuse. Neglect remains the most common form of child abuse in the UK. The number of children dying as a result of homicide or assault remains in long term decline. Details: London: NSPCC, 2015. 88p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 24, 2015 at: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/how-safe-children-2015-report.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/how-safe-children-2015-report.pdf Shelf Number: 136151 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChild Sexual Abuse |
Author: Sumner, Steven A. Title: Prevalence of Sexual Violence Against Children and Use of Social Services -- Seven Countries, 2007-2013 Summary: Sexual violence against children erodes the strong foundation that children require for leading healthy and productive lives. Globally, studies show that exposure to violence during childhood can increase vulnerability to a broad range of mental and physical health problems, ranging from depression and unwanted pregnancy to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and sexually transmitted diseases, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (1,2). Despite this, in many countries, the extent of sexual violence against children is unknown; estimates are needed to stimulate prevention and response efforts and to monitor progress. Consequently, CDC, as a member of the global public-private partnership known as Together for Girls, collaborated with Cambodia, Haiti, Kenya, Malawi, Swaziland, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe to conduct national household surveys of children and youth aged 13-24 years to measure the extent of violence against children. The lifetime prevalence of experiencing any form of sexual violence in childhood ranged from 4.4% among females in Cambodia to 37.6% among females in Swaziland, with prevalence in most countries greater than 25.0%. In most countries surveyed, the proportion of victims that received services, including health and child protective services, was 10.0%. Both prevention and response strategies for sexual violence are needed. During 2007-2013, CDC and UNICEF, in partnership with host country governments, communities, and academic institutions developed and administered Violence Against Children Surveys (VACS) in seven countries. The first VACS were administered in Swaziland in 2007; most recently, VACS were administered in Malawi in 2013. Protocols were approved by host country and CDC institutional review boards. VACS are a multistage cluster survey with national coverage, administered by host country survey workers (trained by CDC and local partners) via household, face-to-face interviews. Surveys are initiated at the request of host-country governments. Informed consent/assent is obtained from all participants, special safeguards are incorporated for confidentiality, all participants receive a referral list of available services, and any victims desiring aid are referred for social services. This report focuses on lifetime childhood sexual violence (before age 18 years) among male and female respondents aged 18-24 years. Sexual violence included unwanted touching, unwanted attempted sex, pressured/coerced sex, and forced sex. Sex was specifically defined as vaginal/anal penetration by the penis, hands, fingers, mouth, or objects, or oral penetration by the penis except in Swaziland (penetration of vagina/anus by penis only) and Malawi (oral, vaginal, or anal sex or vaginal/anal object insertion). Patterns in the prevalence of any form of childhood sexual violence differed by country (Figure). Swaziland had high reported prevalence of sexual violence among females (37.6%). Reported sexual violence among females in Zimbabwe also was high (32.5%), yet Zimbabwe had a considerably lower reported prevalence of sexual violence against males (8.9%). Haiti had high prevalence rates for both males (21.2%) and females (25.7%). Cambodia reported the lowest rates for both females (4.4%) and males (5.6%). Among respondents who reported childhood sexual violence, the proportion who also reported receiving services, including health care, legal/security aid, or counseling support, was low for both males and females (Table 1). Swaziland had the largest proportion (24.0%) of females receiving services. In a few countries, data were readily available on the proportion of children who sought services in addition to the percentage who received services. In Malawi, 9.6% of female and 5.9% of male victims sought services. In Kenya, 6.8% of females and 2.1% of males attempted to seek services. Finally, in Tanzania, 16.2% of female and 10.8% of male victims sought services. Among all victims in these countries, the proportion receiving services was no higher than 11.7% (female victims in Tanzania). Completed acts of unwanted sex (i.e., pressured or forced penetrative sex acts) generally were higher among females than males (Table 2). Approximately 17.5% of females in Swaziland reported experiencing an episode of unwanted, completed sex. The lifetime childhood prevalence of unwanted, completed sex also was high among females in Zimbabwe (13.5%), Kenya (11.8%), and Haiti (9.0%). Details: Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2015. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 5, 2015: Accessed July 24, 2015 at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6421a1.htm Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6421a1.htm Shelf Number: 136152 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual Exploitation |
Author: Roguski, Michael Title: 'It's not OK' Campaign community evaluation report Summary: The 'It's not OK' Campaign has resulted in increased awareness of family violence and a number of attitude and behaviour changes at an individual, families/whanau and community level. However,. these changes have occurred incrementally. Within a context of intergenerational family violence and wider cultural antecedents that contribute to family violence there is a need for a long-term family violence Campaign. The evaluation found that the campaign had: - increased awareness and message infiltration; - increased willingness to discuss family violence; - inspired people to intervene; - led to young people changing their behaviour; - led to changes to organisational culture; - developed a sense of community ownership; and, - led to an increase in family violence reports to Police and lower thresholds for people reporting. The critical success factors in common across the seven communities show how the Campaign has supported change. They were identified as: - the national It's not OK media campaign - support and resourcing from the national It's not OK Campaign; - local leadership; - a dedicated local Campaign coordinator; - community awareness of family violent incidents; and, - local champions. The national Campaign and the campaign team were seen as critical in providing expertise, funding and resources to the projects. Local projects could leverage off the national media messages. The national Campaign team's partnership approach in encouraging local ownership and leadership of the Campaign, local messages and the development of local champions was also seen as a factor of success. Details: Wellington, NZ: Ministry of Social Development, 2015. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 10, 2015 at: http://www.areyouok.org.nz/assets/RUOK-Uploads/f-MDS17572-Evaluation-Doc-1a.pdf Year: 2015 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.areyouok.org.nz/assets/RUOK-Uploads/f-MDS17572-Evaluation-Doc-1a.pdf Shelf Number: 136374 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectCommunity ProgramsFamily ViolenceViolence Prevention |
Author: Fulu, E. Title: Why Do Some Men Use Violence Against Women and How Can We Prevent It? Quantitative Findings from the United Nations Multi-country Study on Men and Violence in Asia and the Pacific Summary: How do masculinities relate to men's perceptions and perpetrations of violence against women? What do these gendered norms, identities and practices mean for violence prevention? From 2010 to 2013, over 10,000 men and women across Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea were interviewed using the UN Multi-country Study on Men and Violence household survey to help answer these questions. The study derives from the Partners for Prevention (P4P) initiative, and focused on intimate partner violence and non-partner rape. The regional analysis found that between 26 and 80 percent of men reported using physical and/or sexual violence against a female partner. The research shows that sexual and gender-based violence is not caused by individual men's beliefs and practices alone, but are situated within wider societal contexts characterised by gender inequalities and power imbalances between men and women, which women also play a role in maintaining. Work to prevent violence against women must reflect this by working at the individual, relationship, community and greater society levels. Recommendations on how the data supports violence prevention initiatives are as follows: - Change social norms related to the acceptability of violence and the subordination of women; - Promote non-violence masculinities oriented towards equality and respect; - Address child abuse and promote healthy families and nurturing, violence-free environments for children; - Work with young boys to address early ages of sexual violence perpetration; - Promote healthy sexuality for men and address male sexual entitlement; - End impunity for men who rape; - Develop interventions that respond to specific patterns of violence in each context. Details: Bangkok: UNDP, UNFPA, UN Women and UNV, 2013. 121p. Source: Accessed August 13, 2015 at: http://www.partners4prevention.org/node/515 Year: 2013 Country: Asia URL: Shelf Number: 131395 Keywords: Abusive MenChild Abuse and NeglectFamily ViolenceGender-Based ViolenceSexual ViolenceViolence Against WomenViolence Prevention |
Author: Arango, Diana J. Title: Interventions to Prevent or Reduce Violence Against Women and Girls : A Systematic Review of Reviews Summary: Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) is a pervasive global problem. It is a violation of basic human rights and a drag on development. Much of the research to-date on the topic-including a major recent World Health Organization study to produce global prevalence rates has focused on better understanding the scale and nature of the problem. The present study builds on this body or research while shifting focus to synthesizing global evidence on potential solutions. This paper, a systematic review of reviews, breaks new ground by synthesizing evidence on the effects of VAWG prevention interventions. It examines the diversity of geographical context, the types of violence addressed, and the numerous approaches that have been used to combat VAWG. Additionally the review summarizes the quality of evidence on efficacy and effectiveness in order to highlight strengths and gaps of interventions on a global scale and could serve as a point of reference for those intending to undertake future design, implementation, and evaluation of interventions. This paper finds that knowledge of intervention impacts on VAWG prevention is growing, but is still highly limited. Nonetheless, a small but growing body of rigorously tested interventions demonstrates that preventing VAWG is possible and can achieve large effect sizes. The interventions with the most positive findings used multiple, well-integrated approaches and engaged with multiple stakeholders over time. They also addressed underlying risk factors for violence, including social norms regarding gender dynamics and the acceptability of violence. These examples point to the imperative of greatly increasing investment both in innovative programming in primary prevention, as well as in high-quality experimental and quasi-experimental evaluations to guide international efforts to end VAWG. Details: Washington, DC: The World Bank, 2014. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Womens Voice and Agency Research Series 2014 No.10; Accessed August 14, 2015 at: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/21035/927130NWP0Wome00Box385382B00PUBLIC0.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2014 Country: International URL: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bitstream/handle/10986/21035/927130NWP0Wome00Box385382B00PUBLIC0.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 136401 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDomestic Violence Family Violence Violence Against Women, Girls Violence Prevention |
Author: Wilson, Denise Title: The People's Blueprint: Transforming the way we deal with child abuse and domestic violence in New Zealand Summary: People have a basic right to live free from violence. To continue to allow violence to occur in families/ whanau, the fabric of our society, is unjust and unfair. Janice's story illustrates the ways violence and abuse in families is hidden under a veil of secrets, silence, stigma and shame - because of this it continues to fester in our families and communities. The People's Report, based on 500 people's stories, brought to our attention that seeking help for abuse and violence for many women and children puts them at risk of further harm. New Zealand can no longer continue to respond to family violence by treading carefully around its edges. Those affected by family violence must carefully navigate their daily lives to keep themselves and their children safe. Many are not successful and are seriously harmed or killed. Many people told us that they were likely to encounter disrespectful and unhelpful people working in the system supposed to help and protect them. They said they were re-traumatised in numerous ways while seeking help. At the same time, many people living or working with those affected by family violence do not get involved. Instead they choose to avoid the conflict and tension associated with responding. Family violence seems to "sew people's lips, eyes, and ears shut and turns them to stone." People often know that abuse is occurring in their homes, their neighbourhood, or when they are out and about in their communities. Their hearts and minds tell them it is not right, but often they do not know what to do. Instead, as The People's Report confirms, most are likely to do either little or nothing. Actively responding to the plight and desperation of children, women and men affected by family violence is essential if we are to keep them safe, and importantly, prevent serious harm or death. People affected by family violence, and those helping, need to have trust that the system, its processes and services designed to address this problem, will help them. They need to have trust that seeking help will not make their violence and abuse worse, and re-traumatise them. The People's Report provides evidence that many people in New Zealand have poor understanding about child abuse, domestic violence, and the violence that happens in many families/whanau. This includes government officials, policy-makers, legislators and those working in family violence services for children, women and men. This lack of knowledge and understanding permits child abuse and domestic violence to thrive. Details: Auckland, NZ: The Glenn Inquiry, 2014. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 31, 2015 at: https://glenninquiry.org.nz/uploads/files/The_Peoples_Blueprint_Electronic_Final.pdf Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: https://glenninquiry.org.nz/uploads/files/The_Peoples_Blueprint_Electronic_Final.pdf Shelf Number: 136623 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDomestic ViolenceFamily Violence |
Author: Buchanan, Emily Title: 'Child Neglect is Everyone's Business': Achieving a Greater Sense of Shared Responsibility for Tackling Neglect: Findings from LARC6 Summary: In essence, neglect is a failure to meet children's basic needs, to provide them with the support and care they need to thrive. Child neglect has profound negative consequences for children and young people, and even low-level neglect is harmful to children's health and development. There are thresholds against which organisations can assess the level of neglect occurring and, for cases of higher need that meet these thresholds, formal support will be put in place for a family. However, the ways in which low-level or early indicators of neglect are identified and addressed are less formalised. Local authorities have no statutory duty to address low-level neglect themselves, although the majority offer or are developing 'early help' services and signposting support. This research examined the role of families and the wider community by addressing the question: 'How can we (local authorities) work differently to identify child neglect at an early stage and encourage effective, low-cost solutions drawing particularly on the strengths of the family network and the wider community?' The research involved interviews with 271 participants, including parents1, young people, community representatives and practitioners from a range of services (such as education, health and social care services). It was carried out by nine local authorities with support from the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) and Research in Practice (RiP). The research found that parents and community representatives have some idea of how to identify a neglected child and most think they have a role to play in identifying and helping to address neglect, although there were mixed views about whether everyone in the wider community sees it as their role. Most of the parents who had had concerns about a child in the past had acted by speaking to the families themselves, or seeking advice from a professional. But some community members and young people said they would not know how to identify neglect or where to turn for advice if they suspected a child was suffering from neglect. Details: Slough, UK: National Foundation for Educational Research, 2015. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 5, 2015 at: https://www.nfer.ac.uk/publications/LRCN01/LRCN01.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nfer.ac.uk/publications/LRCN01/LRCN01.pdf Shelf Number: 136700 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild Protection |
Author: Lerpiniere, Jennifer Title: Overseen but often overlooked: Children and Young People 'Looked After at Home' in Scotland. Report 2: Identifying needs and outcomes Summary: More than 5,000 children and young people are looked after at home in Scotland; this represents around a third of all looked after children. Children and young people looked after at home are subject to a compulsory supervision order, but without a requirement to be placed in a particular setting (such as kinship care, foster care, residential care, etc). This type of legal supervision order is unique to the Scottish system of child legislation, children who are supervised in this way are "looked after" by a local authority whilst still living at home with a parent or relevant person. Home supervision has been used since the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, a period of more than forty years. Despite this long history and extensive use, little is known about home supervision or the experiences of the children who are subject to this intervention. This study seeks to begin to remedy this situation. The study covers considerable ground, and so, a decision was taken to report the findings in three separate reports: - Report 1 in this series reports the findings of a literature review undertaken to identify what research has been conducted into the unique needs, outcomes and experiences of children and young people looked after at home. - This document is Report 2; it focuses on what we learned about the needs and outcomes of children and young people on home supervision and compares this to what was found in the literature review. This report also provides the background to the study and describes the methods used in the primary research. Details: Glasgow: Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland (CELCIS), 2015. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 19, 2015 at: http://www.celcis.org/media/resources/publications/Overseen_but_often_overlooked-Report-2-needs_outcomes.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.celcis.org/media/resources/publications/Overseen_but_often_overlooked-Report-2-needs_outcomes.pdf Shelf Number: 137001 Keywords: At-Risk YouthChild Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChild WelfareFamiliesHome Supervision |
Author: Welch, Vicki Title: Overseen but often overlooked: Children and Young People 'Looked After at Home' in Scotland. Report 1: Reviewing the literature Summary: This document is the first report from a study commissioned by Barnardo's Scotland. The study explores experiences, needs and outcomes for children and young people in Scotland who are (or have been) looked after at home (ie subject to a home supervision requirement or order). The research aims to do several things: determine in what ways outcomes for this group differ from their peers, address factors which are unique to this group and which may contribute to any differences in outcomes, and investigate emerging models of practice to support young people who are, or have been, looked after at home. The study seeks to capture and summarise what is currently known, identify what the needs of this group are likely to be and recommend future actions related to services, policies and research. This first report details the findings of a comprehensive review of literature sources to identify, analyse and synthesise existing knowledge. The review was systematic inasmuch as the methods are made explicit. However, literature directly focused on home supervision is rare so we have used a two-tiered approach to identify wider material which is likely to throw light on the situation of this group of children and young people. The review process was influenced by a five-stage approach originally developed for scoping studies (Arksey & O'Malley, 2005). Identification of sources was based on a number of searches and personal requests for recommendations by those with knowledge of the field. The review was not restricted to peer-reviewed sources and other good quality sources were considered where they were sufficiently pertinent. Documents were screened according to a number of inclusion and exclusion criteria and if selected they were included in the appropriate section of the review: Section A, concerning research which specifically identifies needs, outcomes or characteristics of children and young people looked after at home, or Section B, concerning other research likely to be relevant to the needs, outcomes or characteristics of children and young people on home supervision. Details: Glasgow: Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland (CELCIS),2014. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 20, 2015 at: http://www.celcis.org/media/resources/publications/Overseen_but_often_overlooked-Report-1-literature.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.celcis.org/media/resources/publications/Overseen_but_often_overlooked-Report-1-literature.pdf Shelf Number: 137022 Keywords: At-Risk Youth Child Abuse and Neglect Child Maltreatment Child Protection Child Welfare FamiliesHome Supervision |
Author: Young, Emma Title: Overseen but often overlooked: Children and Young People 'Looked After at Home' in Scotland. Report 3: Exploring service provision Summary: This report is part of a series of documents outlining the findings of a study funded by Barnardo's Scotland and conducted by researchers from the Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland. This document is Report 3; it explores what we learned in this study in relation to provision of services for children and young people currently or previously on home supervision. In this document we include findings from different strands of the study including the survey, interviews and service case studies where relevant. We cover the types of services responding to the survey along with the numbers and groups of children served (including age ranges). Results include the proportion of children on home supervision or previously looked after at home who use the services, the types of outcomes that services address in their work with children and young people, and current plans to make service changes. This report is accompanied by a separate document (Annex 3a) which contains more detailed descriptions of five services which provide examples of a range of supports for children and young people on or formerly on home supervision. These small case studies are important; they provide valuable real-life context, illustrate some of the challenges faced by children and provide examples of how providers are responding to these. Details: Glasgow: Centre for Excellence for Looked After Children in Scotland (CELCIS), 2015. 39p., app. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 20, 2015 at: http://www.celcis.org/media/resources/publications/Overseen_but_often_overlooked_Report-3-Service-provision.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.celcis.org/media/resources/publications/Overseen_but_often_overlooked_Report-3-Service-provision.pdf Shelf Number: 137023 Keywords: At-Risk Youth Child Abuse and Neglect Child Maltreatment Child Protection Child Welfare FamiliesHome Supervision |
Author: United Nations Children's Fund - UNICEF Title: Violence Against Children in Kenya: Findings from a 2010 National Survey Summary: The 2010 Kenya Violence against Children Study (VACs) is the first national survey of violence against both female and male children in Kenya. The survey is the most up to date National assessment of households covering 1,306 females and 1,622 males aged between 13 to 24 years. The Kenya VACs was designed to yield lifetime and current experiences of emotional , physical and sexual violations for female and male children from the following age groups: - 18 to 24 year olds who experienced acts of violence prior to age 18 (lifetime events). - 13 to 17 year olds who experienced acts of violence during the 12 months prior to the survey (current events). The 2010 Kenya VACs was guided by a Technical Working Group (TWG). The group was assembled in view of their expertise in issues of children in Kenya and the mandates of their organizations. The findings from the survey indicate that violence against children is a serious problem in Kenya. Levels of violence prior to age 18 as reported by 18 to 24 year olds (lifetime experiences) indicate that during childhood, 32% of females and 18% of males experience sexual violence . 66% of females and 73% of males experienced physical violence and 26% of females and 32% of males experience any violence as a child. 13% of females and 9% of males experienced all three types of violence during childhood. The most common perpetrators of sexual violence for females and males were found to be boyfriends/girlfriends/romantic partners comprising 47% and 43% respectively followed by neighbors, 27% and 21% respectively. Mothers and fathers were the most common perpetrator of physical violence by family members. For males, teachers followed by Police were the most common perpetrators of physical violence by an authority figure. Emotional violence for both females and males was most often inflicted by parents. Regardless of the type of violence, less than one out of every females or males who experienced sexual, physical, or emotional violence as a child knew of a place to go to seed professional help. Most importantly, less than 10% of females and males who experienced sexual, physical or emotional violence as a child actually received some form of professional help. Females aged 18 to 24 who reported experiencing sexual violence in childhood were significantly more likely to report feelings of anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts and fair/poor health than those females who did not experience sexual violence. Three out of every ten females 30% aged 18 to 24 who reported experiencing unwanted completed intercourse before the age of 18 (i.e., sex that was physically forced or pressured ) became pregnant as a result. About 90% of females and males who experienced sexual violence as a child reported of a place to go for HIV testing. Among females aged 18 to 24 who experienced sexual violence as a child, about 7% had received money for sex compared to 2% of those who did not experience violence prior to age 18. Females and males age 18 to 24 who experienced sexual violence prior to age 18 (7% versus 2% for females; 53% versus 35% for males). Over half females and males age 18 to 24, regardless of whether they experienced violence prior to 18, believe that it is acceptable for a husband to beat his wife. Furthermore, 40% of females and 50% of males believed that a woman should tolerate spousal violence in order to keep her family together. Details: Nairobi: UNICEF - Kenya Office, 2012. 178p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 20, 2015 at: https://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org/sites/default/files/documents/docs/VAC_in_Kenya.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Kenya URL: https://srsg.violenceagainstchildren.org/sites/default/files/documents/docs/VAC_in_Kenya.pdf Shelf Number: 137028 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentEmotional AbuseFamily ViolenceRapeSex OffensesSexual ViolenceViolence Against Children |
Author: African Child Policy Forum Title: The African Report on Violence against Children Summary: This report, The African Report on Violence against Children, the first comprehensive analysis of violence against children in Africa, comes at an opportune moment in the history of child rights in Africa and the world. It comes at a time when the child rights community is taking stock of the progress made in advancing child rights 25 years since the adoption of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the un Convention on the Rights of the Child. The report makes an in-depth exposition of the magnitude as well as the causes and consequences of violence against children and analyses the various vulnerability factors that underlie or aggravate violence such as, gender, social practices, homelessness and disability. The report looks into the multifarious community and family cosmos within which the African child grows. It analyses how a complex web of community values and socio-cultural factors bear upon the child's upbringing and protection, and how some of these factors may occasionally expose the child to violence. The report seeks to find answers for why the problem of violence still persists despite the proliferation of child protection programmes and services by critically examining both the achievements and the gaps cutting across the legislative and programmatic realms. Building upon existing efforts and persisting gaps the report lays down the priorities for action at various levels and the interface that is required amongst the various actors for better protection of children. The report calls for a shift towards a systems approach to child protection that emphasises prevention and collaborative responses at multiple levels, including at the family and community levels. The report echoes what others have reiterated in the past that violence, in whatever form, is unacceptable and cannot be justified on cultural or religious grounds whatsoever. Details: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: African Child Policy Forum, 2014. 134p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 20, 2015 at: https://app.box.com/s/iclv9c70sigmceyl30ym Year: 2014 Country: Africa URL: https://app.box.com/s/iclv9c70sigmceyl30ym Shelf Number: 137032 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild WelfareViolence Against Children |
Author: Gulliver, Pauline Title: Risk assessment: What is it and how can it be applied in family violence? Summary: Key messages Risk assessment must be considered as a piece in the wider puzzle of risk management. Adequate services need to be provided for those considered at less risk, so they receive an appropriate response. This also reduces the imperative for service providers to escalate a case, in order to get help for a person. Effective risk assessment and management needs to be grounded in an integrated response system. This needs to have: - Underlying principles which shape how practitioners respond. - Training for practitioners in the effective conduct of risk assessment and the effective communication of results. - Appropriate risk assessment tools should be selected, with monitoring to ensure they are used as intended and that they support risk management decision making. - Clarity of roles and responsibilities for all components of the system. Co-location of professionals for risk management appears very beneficial to facilitate adequate communication. Co-location: - Enhances the development of a unique culture which supports increased trust and information sharing between professionals from different agencies. - Facilitates the process of risk management planning by reducing turnaround times and enhancing access to services. - Where effective colocation is not achievable, clear roles, responsibilities, communication strategies and a common culture around family violence must be developed to ensure a consistent response is provided. Effective communication of risk, using common language, is vital to ensure all professionals understand how an estimation of risk was derived. - Training is required across government agencies to ensure there is a consistent understanding of family violence - including understanding definitions and patterns of violence. - To develop a common language, training should be shared across government agencies, rather than being delivered within agencies. Effective risk management requires a lead agency to take responsibility for the implementation of planned activities. This lead agency also needs to be tasked with the responsibility of regularly reviewing risk in light of developments. - Agencies need to be aware of each others roles and responsibilities within the risk management system. - Where limitations exist within the family violence risk management system, external resourcing may be required to ensure all risks are effectively addressed. Details: Auckland, NZ: New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse, 2015. 27p. Source: Internet Resource: Issues Paper 9: Accessed November 5, 2015 at: https://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/issues-paper-9-risk-assessment.pdf Year: 2015 Country: New Zealand URL: https://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/issues-paper-9-risk-assessment.pdf Shelf Number: 137198 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDomestic ViolenceFamily Violence (New Zealand)Intimate Partner ViolenceRisk ManagementViolence Against Women |
Author: Volmert, Andrew Title: "It's Hard to Wrap Your Head Around": Mapping the Gaps Between Expert and Public Understandings of Child Maltreatment and Child Sexual Abuse in Alberta Summary: This research, conducted by the FrameWorks Institute in partnership with the Alberta Family Wellness Initiative and sponsored by the Norlien Foundation, analyzes and compares expert and public views of child maltreatment, with a particular focus on child sexual abuse. In "mapping the gaps" between expert and public perspectives, the report lays out the key communication challenges for strategic reframing efforts. Future communications research will address these challenges by developing and testing framing strategies to enhance public understanding and boost support for effective ways of addressing child maltreatment generally, and child sexual abuse specifically Details: Washington, DC: Frame Works Institute, 2015. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 5, 2015 at: http://www.frameworksinstitute.org/assets/files/canada/albertamtgchildmaltreatmentabusereport.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Canada URL: http://www.frameworksinstitute.org/assets/files/canada/albertamtgchildmaltreatmentabusereport.pdf Shelf Number: 137199 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChild Sexual Abuse |
Author: Fulu, E. Title: What works to prevent violence against women and girls evidence reviews. Paper 2: Interventions to prevent violence against women and girls Summary: Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is one of the most widespread violations of human rights worldwide, affecting one-third of all women in their lifetime. It is the leading cause of death and disability of women of all ages and has many other health consequences. VAWG is a fundamental barrier to eradicating poverty and building peace. To prevent VAWG, we need to address the underlying causes of the problem. Evidence shows that no single factor causes violence, nor is there a single pathway to perpetration. Violence emerges from the interplay of multiple interacting factors at different levels of the social 'ecology', as discussed below. These include genetic endowment, experiences of violence and abuse in childhood, relationship dynamics, household and community structures and social norms, the macro-level and global-level forces that shape prevailing norms, access to resources, gender roles and the relative power of men versus women. Interventions that have the potential to reduce rates of VAWG are, similarly, many and varied: they may target one or more risk factors and operate across single or multiple settings. 1.1 What Works global programme and evidence review This paper is the second in a series of four evidence reviews that were produced by What Works to Prevent Violence against Women and Girls (What Works). What Works is a UK Department for International Development (DFID)-funded global programme that is investing an unprecedented $25 million over five years to assist with the prevention of VAWG. It supports primary prevention efforts across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, which seek to understand and address the underlying causes of violence in order to stop it before it starts. The papers were produced to assess the current state of research and the evidence base in order to inform the research agenda of the ensuing global program. The focus of What Works is to advance the field of primary prevention in particular, however this is understood to be closely aligned with response efforts. The papers therefore focus on prevention, although response mechanisms are also considered, particularly in Paper 3. The outline of the four papers is as follows: Paper 1: State of the field of research on violence against women and girls Paper 2: Interventions to prevent violence against women and girls. Paper 3: Response mechanisms to prevent violence against women and girls. Paper 4: Approaches to scale-up and assessing cost effectiveness of programmes to prevent violence against women and girls. Details: Pretoria, South Africa: What Works to Prevent Violence, 2015. 67p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 28, 2015 at: http://www.whatworks.co.za/documents/publications/15-global-evidence-reviews-paper-2-interventions-to-prevent-violence-against-women-and-girls/file Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.whatworks.co.za/documents/publications/15-global-evidence-reviews-paper-2-interventions-to-prevent-violence-against-women-and-girls/file Shelf Number: 137348 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectGender-Related ViolenceViolence Against Women, GirlsViolence Prevention |
Author: Our Watch Title: Change the story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence Summary: No country in the world has a national, evidence-based road map to prevent violence against women and their children in a coordinated way. Our Watch partnered with VicHealth and ANROWS to create Change the story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia. Ending violence against women and their children is a national priority. Work is already being undertaken across a range of sectors - by governments, nongovernment organisations, researchers and practitioners - to change the attitudes, behaviours and environments that perpetuate this violence. But much of this work happens on a small-scale or in isolation from other projects. Violence cannot be prevented project by project - coordination and collaboration is fundamental to our success. The National Framework to Prevent Violence against Women and their Children brings together the international research, and nationwide experience, on what works to prevent violence. It establishes a shared understanding of the evidence and principles of effective prevention, and presents a way forward for a coordinated national approach. Details: Melbourne: Our Watch, VicHealth, ANROWS, 2015. 75p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 28, 2015 at: http://www.ourwatch.org.au/getmedia/1462998c-c32b-4772-ad02-cbf359e0d8e6/Change-the-story-framework-prevent-violence-women-children.pdf.aspx Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.ourwatch.org.au/getmedia/1462998c-c32b-4772-ad02-cbf359e0d8e6/Change-the-story-framework-prevent-violence-women-children.pdf.aspx Shelf Number: 137351 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectFamily ViolenceGender-Related ViolenceViolence Against Women, GirlsViolence Prevention |
Author: Macvean, Michelle Title: The PATRICIA project: PAThways in research In collaborative inter-agency working Summary: This paper details a review conducted by the Parenting Research Centre (PRC) and the University of Melbourne at the request of Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS). It forms part of a broader project - PAThways and Research In Collaborative Inter-Agency working, or the PATRICIA project - led by the University of Melbourne with partners from five universities, three government departments and eight community sector organisations which specialise in domestic and family violence (DFV). The PATRICIA project focuses on the relationship between statutory child protection, family law, and community-based services which seek to support women and children exposed to domestic violence. This review aims to address the following research question: What processes or practices do child protection services and specialist domestic violence services or family law engage in so that they can work better together to improve service responses for women and children living with and separating from family violence? Details: Melbourne: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS), 2015. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 28, 2015 at: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/14_4.5_landscapes_patricia_f.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/14_4.5_landscapes_patricia_f.pdf Shelf Number: 137353 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionCollaborationCommunity-Based ServicesDomestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceGender-Related ViolencePartnerships |
Author: Foote, Jeff Title: Selecting interventions to reduce family violence and child abuse in New Zealand Summary: This report provides an intervention framework to support the review, selection and implementation of initiatives to reduce child abuse and/or family violence in New Zealand. The intervention framework builds on previous work to specify what a transformed system to address child abuse and family violence may look like as well as separately reported literature reviews in relation to high performing systems and effectiveness of family violence and child abuse interventions. The research team was mindful of the stories submitted by both victim/survivors and perpetrators of family violence to The People's Inquiry. These accounts made painful and oftentimes disturbing reading. Research deals with processed data but there is no doubt that the voices of victim/survivors helped to keep the research team grounded in the reality of the long term impacts of family violence. Many of the recorded experiences resonated with the research that was reviewed. At all times our priority has been to uphold the protection of human rights in which safety is paramount and must be the overriding goal of theories and approaches to violence. There is on-going debate about the terms that have been used to describe family violence throughout both Parts One and Two of this report. It was not possible to resolve such debates; instead we chose the generic terms 'family violence' (FV) and 'child abuse and neglect'(CAN) in an attempt to reflect the many types of relationships and types of conflict represented within both sectors. The decision to consistently focus on the interface between FV and CAN illustrates the overall holistic approach taken by the research team. Family violence (FV), in this report, includes intimate partner violence, child abuse and neglect, elder abuse, inter-sibling abuse and parental abuse. We recognise that, for some purposes, dealing with particular forms of family violence requires particular strategies and treatments. Details: Wellington, NZ: Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, 2014. 69p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 5, 2016 at: https://www.esr.cri.nz/assets/SOCIAL-CONTENT/TGI.-Intervention-framework-report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: https://www.esr.cri.nz/assets/SOCIAL-CONTENT/TGI.-Intervention-framework-report.pdf Shelf Number: 137773 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDomestic ViolenceFamily InterventionsFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceViolence Prevention |
Author: Foote, Jeff Title: Toward a transformed system to address child abuse and family violence in New Zealand Summary: The Glenn Inquiry (TGI) has contracted ESR to bring together the relevant experience and expertise to collaboratively model a transformed system to address child abuse and neglect (CAN) and family violence (FV) in New Zealand. Our approach We have treated the task of reducing FV and CAN as a 'wicked problem'; that is, reducing FV and CAN is a problem that cannot be solved once and for all, and is not a matter of simply applying expert knowledge. The methods used in this project have been chosen because they are appropriate for working with wicked problems: stakeholder engagement, systems thinking and inter-disciplinary analysis. In this report, we refer to both CAN and FV. We recognise that, for some purposes, dealing with CAN requires particular strategies and treatment; however, the purpose of this report is to develop a transformed system that will reduce both CAN and other forms of FV. While the underlying causes of CAN and other FV may be considered independently, and some responses to each form of abuse will need to be particular, this report proposes a wider system of responses that will enable targeted interventions for each form of abuse. We use the term 'family violence' in this report in the sense it has come to be understood in Aotearoa, and is used in Te Rito: New Zealand Family Violence Prevention Strategy. In this use, FV includes intimate partner violence, child abuse and neglect, elder abuse, inter-sibling abuse and parental abuse. The project consisted of four work-streams: 1. A review of the international and national literature on what would constitute a high performing system to address CAN and FV, including a review of New Zealand's current approach with a focus on government legalisation, policies and initiatives; 2. Qualitative modelling of the system dynamics associated with the existing way in which New Zealand has responded to CAN and FV; 3. A secondary (sociological) analysis of suggestions for system improvement from the People's Report; and, 4. Developing a systemic model of a transformed system through collaborative workshops with sector experts. Literature Four appraisals of the literature have been carried out to inform what would constitute a high performing system to reduce CAN and FV: 1. New Zealand's current approach to addressing CAN/FV, with a focus on government legalisation, policies and initiatives; 2. Research on prevalence, incidence, different types, impacts and challenges in responding to intimate partner violence; 3. Research on the prevalence, incidence, risk and protective factors and key interventions associated with child maltreatment/sexual abuse, including the interface between intimate partner violence and child abuse; and 4. Review of international frameworks for addressing violence against women, including the need to adopt a holistic framework to guide interventions. Details: Wellington, NZ: Institute of Environmental Science and Research Limited, 2014. 150p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 5, 2016 at: https://www.esr.cri.nz/assets/SOCIAL-CONTENT/TGI.-Towards-a-transformed-system.-Final-report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: https://www.esr.cri.nz/assets/SOCIAL-CONTENT/TGI.-Towards-a-transformed-system.-Final-report.pdf Shelf Number: 137774 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Domestic Violence Family Interventions Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Violence Prevention |
Author: Women's Aid Title: Nineteen Child Homicides Summary: This report should not need to be written, that much is disturbingly obvious. First, while it is impossible to prevent every killing of a child, when the risks are known no other consideration should be more important - yet there is evidence here that other considerations were rated more highly. Second, starkly similar findings more than 10 years ago led to the publication of guidance which, if followed, would have made these killings less likely. Yet here we are. Nothing in this report should be used to blame individual professionals for the deaths of these children. Only those who killed them deserve blame. But we have a duty to the children and their families to identify what more should have been done to protect them - particularly when guidance on how to do so has been available since 2008, following the publication of Women's Aid's previous report on child homicides and child contact arrangements, a decade ago. This report shows, that whatever the stated requirements on the family courts, there is a deeply embedded culture that pushes for contact with fathers at all costs. This is supported by the testimony to Women's Aid of mothers who have survived domestic abuse and the specialist services that support them. The knowledge that severe abuse has taken place does not stop this relentless push to maintain as close a bond between father and child as possible. A father who has abused his child(ren)'s mother is routinely seen as a "good enough" dad. The impact of abuse on the whole family, particularly persistent, coercive and controlling behaviour which continues after the relationship has officially ended, is routinely misunderstood. The evidence here is a stark reminder of the dangers of power without accountability: perpetrators of abuse who have accumulated all power over their partners' and children's lives, and courts which persist in dangerous misunderstandings and assumptions, effectively colluding in the terrorising - and in some cases serious harm - of women and children. We call on Government and the senior judiciary to ensure that no more children die as a result of a simple failure to follow the guidance that exists. We call on judges to take responsibility for their own understanding of coercive control, how it works, and how it affects both women and children. And then, finally, to act on that understanding. In another ten years, we must not yet again be repeating the same investigation, with the same findings. In fact, of course, ten years is far too long. Details: Bristol: Women's Aid, 2016. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 5, 2016 at http://www.benhoarebell.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Womens-Aid-Nineteen-Child-Homicides-Jan-2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.benhoarebell.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Womens-Aid-Nineteen-Child-Homicides-Jan-2016.pdf Shelf Number: 137781 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild HomicidesChild ProtectionFamilicideFamily ViolenceHomicides |
Author: TNS Opinion & Social Title: Reducing Violence against Women and Their Children: Research Informing the Development of a National Campaign Summary: The research, conducted by Taylor Nelson Sofres (TNS), shows that although most Australians agree domestic violence is wrong, too often we blame the victim, excuse men and minimise disrespectful behaviours and instances of gender inequality. According to the research, many of us learn from an early age to condone or excuse disrespectful or aggressive behaviour towards girls and women. The main research findings include: - from an early age, young people begin to believe there are reasons and situations that can make disrespectful behaviour acceptable - girls blame themselves, questioning whether the trigger for the behaviour is potentially their fault, rather than questioning the behaviour of the male - boys blame others, particularly the female, and deflect personal responsibility telling each other it was a bit of a joke - it didn't mean anything - adults accept the behaviour when they say 'it takes two to tango' or 'boys will be boys' - we think the cost of doing something is too high - as parents, we worry about embarrassing our child, or even ourselves. As teachers or coaches, we're not sure how far to go - so without realising it, we make gender inequality and disrespectful behaviour acceptable. The research was conducted with young males and females aged 10-17 and their influencers - these included parents, siblings, teachers, sporting coaches, managers and community leaders across Australia. The Government will use the research to inform the development of a $30 million national campaign, due to begin early next year, to reduce violence against women and their children. Details: Sydney: Australian Government Department of Social Services, 2015. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 9, 2016 at: https://www.dss.gov.au/women/publications-articles/reducing-violence-against-women-and-their-children Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: https://www.dss.gov.au/women/publications-articles/reducing-violence-against-women-and-their-children Shelf Number: 137820 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDomestic ViolenceGender-Related ViolenceViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Bywaters, Paul Title: The relationship between poverty, child abuse and neglect: an evidence review Summary: This report identifies and discusses evidence about two key aspects of the relationship between poverty and child abuse and neglect: the impact of poverty on a child's chance of being abused or neglected and the impact on adult poverty of abuse or neglect in childhood. It explores the economic costs of child abuse and neglect and outlines broad policy implications, with a particular focus on the UK. Although the evidence is limited in a number of important respects, it is clear that there is a strong association between family poverty and a child's chance of suffering child abuse or neglect. Adverse events in childhood, including abuse and neglect, are associated with a negative effect on adult economic circumstances. However, these associations have been an insufficient focus of official data-gathering, research or policy-making. This report outlines: - strengths and weaknesses in the evidence base; - UK and international evidence about the association between family poverty and child abuse and neglect; - UK and international evidence about the impact of childhood abuse or neglect on poverty in adulthood; - evidence about the costs of child abuse and neglect; - implications for policy-making. Details: York, UK: Joseph Rowntree Foundations, 2016. 74p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 4, 2016 at: https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/relationship-between-poverty-child-abuse-and-neglect-evidence-review#jl_downloads_0 Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/relationship-between-poverty-child-abuse-and-neglect-evidence-review#jl_downloads_0 Shelf Number: 138043 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentPoverty |
Author: New Zealand. Ministry of Social Development Title: Adult gang members and their children's contact with Ministry of Social Development service lines Summary: The harm inflicted by gangs is a serious issue in New Zealand. We have a complex gang problem that spans social, economic and justice issues. Almost half of the serious offences committed by gang members are family violence-related. A high proportion of gang members' children experience multiple incidents of abuse or neglect. Adult gang members and their children's contact with Ministry of Social Development service lines seeks to quantify the scope and scale of the societal impact of adult gangs in New Zealand as it relates to contact with the Ministry. The report establishes baseline figures on how many known adult gang members, and how many of their children, come into contact with the Ministry of Social Development's service arms, and the types and estimated total costs of contacts that occur. This report, as a first step, gives a much more comprehensive picture of the social costs associated with gang members. There is further opportunity for government agencies to work more collaboratively to address the social harms noted throughout this report. Most notably, there would be an added benefit in incorporating further social sector data to enhance the profile we have of gang families. Key findings Profile of known adult gang members as at July 2014 - Most (86 per cent) of the 3,960 known adult gang members were patched, with the other 14 per cent being prospects. Patched members and prospects were all male. - The two largest adult gangs, the Mongrel Mob and Black Power, accounted for two-thirds of all known adult gang members in New Zealand as at July 2014. - Over three-quarters of adult gang members were Maori, 14 per cent were European and eight per cent were Pacific peoples. - Adult gang members' ages were spread with 20 per cent being in their twenties, 29 per cent in their thirties, 31 per cent in their forties and 17 per cent in their fifties. The average age of gang members was nearly 40 years. Welfare assistance received by gang members - Nine out of every ten gang members have received main benefits. - Ninety-two per cent (3,627) of the total 3,960 known gang members received main benefits from MSD at some stage between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2014. - The 3,627 gang members spent on average 8.9 years on a main benefit (not necessarily continuously). Over half the time was receiving job seeker-related benefits and nearly a quarter of the time was receiving health or disability-related benefits. - Eighteen per cent of all gang members had received a main benefit for a total of over 15 years, whereas 13 per cent received main benefits for two years or less, and eight per cent had not received main benefits at all. - As at the end of 2014, the gang members had been paid an estimated total of $525 million in welfare assistance - The total cost of all main benefits paid to the gang members between 1 January 1993 and 31 December 2014 was estimated to be $382m. - Over the same period, an estimated $143m was paid to the gang members in supplementary benefits (e.g. Accommodation Supplement) and ad-hoc payments (e.g. hardship assistance). - In total, an estimated $525m in welfare assistance was paid to the gang members, an average of around $132,000 per person. - Over 7,000 dependent children were included at some point in time in benefit spells with the gang member cohort - Over half (59 per cent) of all gang members had benefit spells that included a total of 7,075 dependent children. These children spent an average of 2.8 years included in benefit - most commonly in either sole parent-related or job seeker-related benefits. - A total of 1,393 children spent more than five years included in benefit with a gang member, including 319 who spent more than 10 years included in benefit. - Nearly 40 per cent of the children of gang members were first included in benefit before their first birthday. - One per cent (32) of the 3,055 gang members who have received a main benefit in the last five years have been prosecuted for welfare fraud. Gang members as the perpetrators of abuse or neglect of children - Over a quarter of adult gang members were recorded by Child, Youth and Family as the alleged perpetrators of abuse or neglect of children - Of the total 3,960 known gang members, 27 per cent (1,056) were recorded by Child, Youth and Family as being the alleged perpetrators of substantiated abuse or neglect of children (noting limitations around the completeness of historical data). - Most commonly this was emotional abuse of children, recorded for 21 per cent of all gang members. Six per cent of gang members were recorded as being the alleged perpetrators of physical abuse of children, and two per cent for the sexual abuse of children. Seven per cent of gang members were recorded as having allegedly neglected children. - The 1,056 gang members were recorded as the alleged perpetrators in a total of 4,944 substantiated findings involving 2,953 distinct children. The relationship of the gang member to the victim in these 4,944 findings was recorded as the parent in 77 per cent of cases, and as the step-parent or mother's partner in 15 per cent of cases. In three per cent of findings, the gang member was recorded as some other relative to the victim, and in two per cent of cases had a non-familial type of relationship to the victim. Gang members' children known to Child, Youth and Family - Analysis was carried out on whether gang members' children had ever had contact with the Care and Protection or Youth Justice service arms of Child, Youth and Family. - Sixty per cent of the 5,890 children of gang members known to Child, Youth and Family have been abused or neglected. - A total of 3,516 children of gang members were recorded as being the victims of abuse or neglect that had been substantiated on investigation by Child, Youth and Family. This is 60 per cent of the total 5,890 known children of gang members. - Of the total 5,890 known children of gang members, 44 per cent were emotionally abused, 28 per cent were neglected, 13 per cent were physically abused and four per cent were sexually abused in terms of substantiated findings. - The alleged perpetrator of abuse or neglect of gang member's children was more often recorded as the child's mother than the gang member father. However, caution should be taken with this finding as the relationship was not recorded for 20 per cent of cases. - Nearly a quarter of the children of gang members aged 10 years or older had youth justice involvement with Child, Youth and Family. - Of the total 5,890 known children of gang members, 3,372 were aged 10 years or older at the time of this analysis. Of these 3,372 children, 23 per cent (762) had at least one referral to Child, Youth and Family for a Youth Justice Family Group Conference (FGC). Estimated costs to Child, Youth and Family associated with gang members - The estimated lifetime-to-date total cost to Child, Youth and Family from the adult gang members and their children was at least $189 million. - We estimate the direct and indirect costs of the 3,960 known gang members lifetime-to-date contact with the Child, Youth and Family service arms was in the vicinity of $58m. This is likely to be an under-estimate due to data limitations. Estimated costs cover both the care and protection and youth justice areas. - We estimate that the direct and indirect costs to Child, Youth and Family of the 5,890 known children of gang members was in the vicinity of $131m, making an overall estimated total of $189m. Details: Wellington, NZ: Ministry of Social Development, 2016. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 10, 2016 at: http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/research/research-on-gangs-and-their-cost/ Year: 2016 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/research/research-on-gangs-and-their-cost/ Shelf Number: 138168 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChildren Exposed to ViolenceFamily ViolenceGang ViolenceGangs |
Author: Williams, Mike Title: Evidence Based Decisions in child neglect: evaluation of an exploratory approach to assessment using the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale Summary: The Evidence Based Decisions (EBD) service aims to support social workers to make the right decision at the right time when working with families where there are concerns about child neglect. NSPCC practitioners worked in partnership with local authority social workers using the North Carolina Family Assessment Scale (NCFAS-G) to focus on improving evidence, understanding and decision-making. This report describes the different ways the EBD review was used and looks at how and why it differs from everyday practice, Key Findings: Social workers felt the review helped them make the right decisions for families: with 94% of the surveys returned, the professional felt that the review had influenced decisions. Professionals found the following features of the EBD helpful: requirement to be evidence-based - the EBD review required a score in each area of family-functioning and an explanation for how the data fit the scoring criteria professional challenge - the social worker and NSPCC practitioner were able to question and challenge each other about data underpinning their scores for family functioning more time given to the family - time dedicated to the review gave social workers more time to observe parent-child interactions in the home focus on parenting strengths as well as weaknesses. Some social workers said NCFAS-G provided more concrete evidence than assessments they commonly used, such as the Common Assessment Framework (CAF) triangle, and led to a more accurate assessment. Joint working helped improve the quality of evidence and understanding. Whilst one practitioner talked to the parents, the other practitioner was able to focus on listening. Sometimes issues such as workload or a lack of focus on identifying the key concerns relevant to neglect influenced social workers' ability to get the most out of the review. Some social workers felt that having the support of the NSPCC on a way forward gave them confidence to argue for a decision. The usefulness of the EBD review was sometimes limited if social workers already had evidence and a good understanding of what was happening with a family. Details: London: NSPCC, 2015. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 12, 2016 at: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/evidence-based-decisions-evaluation-report.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/evidence-based-decisions-evaluation-report.pdf Shelf Number: 138189 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChild Welfare Agencies |
Author: Churchill, Gill Title: SafeCare: Evidence from a Home Based Parenting Programme for Neglect Summary: SafeCare is a preventative programme working with parents of children under 6 years old who are at risk of experiencing significant harm through neglect. The programme is delivered in the home by trained practitioners, over 18 to 20 sessions and focuses on 3 key areas: parent-infant/child interaction; home safety and child health. SafeCare originated at the National SafeCare Training and Research Centre at Georgia State University and has been evaluated by the NSPCC in six sites across England. The evaluation has incorporated quantitative and qualitative methods, and considered evidence from a number of perspectives (referral agency, practitioner, parent). This report presents the analysis of outcome data to consider the extent to which SafeCare's intended outcomes for parents have been achieved. In addition, the results of a survey of referrers is presented and analysis of programme attrition. The key findings from the analysis presented in the report are: - Outcome data taken from inbuilt programme assessments, practitioner assessments and parent self-ratings suggest the programme has been effective in improving parenting skills and reducing neglectful behaviours. Before receiving SafeCare, 32 families were assessed by practitioners to be presenting difficulties significant enough to warrant a statutory intervention for neglect. By the end of the programme, 21 (66%) of those families had improved to a point where statutory intervention was no longer considered necessary. - All referrers responding to the survey had seen positive changes in the families they had referred, particularly in the areas of home safety, parent child interaction and health. 91% of referrers said they would refer similar families to SafeCare in the future. Some referrers would have liked more feedback about progress so they could more effectively co-ordinate the provision of services for the family. - Families referred to SafeCare (in common with many other social care programmes) exhibited high rates of programme attrition, with only 27% of parents completing it in full. Although attrition is commonly associated with negative connotations, practitioners recorded a range of positive outcomes that were achieved by families who exited the programme prior to completion. - The average case length for families who completed the programme was 42 weeks, which is significantly longer than the 18-20 weeks delivery period anticipated when the programme was implemented. It is important that future studies of SafeCare consider the reasons for extended periods of delivery as well as the implications, both for the families receiving the service and for the organisations implementing the programme. In the absence of a comparison group, it is not possible to attribute the changes reported directly to the SafeCare Programme. However, SafeCare has been the subject of various studies examining its efficacy and effectiveness in the US, including impact studies using randomised controlled trials (e.g. Chaffin et al., 2012). The NSPCC evaluation supports the existing body of evidence that SafeCare can be an effective way of promoting positive parenting knowledge and behaviours and reducing child neglect. Based on the analysis presented here, there do not appear to be any significant barriers to SafeCare having an impact within a UK context for parents who engage with the programme. Details: London: NSPCC, 2015. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 12, 2016 at: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/safecare-evidence-evaluation-report.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/safecare-evidence-evaluation-report.pdf Shelf Number: 138193 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Child Maltreatment Child Protection Parenting Programs |
Author: Vaithianathan, Rhema Title: Impact of the Family Start Home Visiting Programme on Outcomes for Mothers and Children: A Quasi-Experimental Study Summary: Family Start workers make regular home visits and, using a structured program, seek to improve parenting capability and practice. Workers also actively work to promote breastfeeding, reduce home hazards, connect infants to immunisation and primary health services, promote children's participation in early childhood education, and connect families to services that could help address family violence, substance abuse, mental health and other challenges they face. The programme is delivered by contracted providers with the aim of ensuring services are provided in a manner that is responsive to each community. Providers include iwi, Pacific, faith-based and other Non-Government Organisations. Families are referred to Family Start by a range of individuals and agencies including midwives, Well Child/Tamariki Ora nurses, Child Youth and Family (CYF) and Police. Families can also self-refer. Children are generally enrolled either before birth or in their first year, and can remain in the programme until the family "graduates" or the child reaches school age. Family Start workers deliver services at varying levels of intensity depending on the family's needs, and visits are weekly or fortnightly. A central programme component is delivery of a child development and parent education curriculum. A number of studies and reviews of Family Start have been conducted over the years. These have tended to find that families selected to be interviewed value the programme. But they have also highlighted variation in practice and performance across providers. None of these previous studies has been able to establish the effectiveness of Family Start in improving outcomes. This new study was commissioned to fill that gap. The results indicate that the enhanced Family Start programme that was phased in to new areas between 2005 and 2007 was associated with statistically significant positive impacts in a number of domains. Positive impacts are found for Family Start children overall, and for Maori and Pacific children who participated in the programme. Details: Auckland: Ministry of Social Development, 2016. 99p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 12, 2016 at: https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/evaluation/family-start-outcomes-study/index.html Year: 2016 Country: New Zealand URL: https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/evaluation/family-start-outcomes-study/index.html Shelf Number: 138640 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionParenting Programs |
Author: Dobson, Rebecca Title: From a Whisper to a Shout: A Call to End Violence Against Children in Alternative Care Summary: The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) recognises children as the subjects of rights, as well as their vulnerability and need for "special safeguards and care". Marking its 25th anniversary this year, the UNCRC is notably one of the most ratified UN conventions in history and has done much to progress the rights of children globally. And yet, in our global society with international conventions endorsing the "rights" of all, some of our most vulnerable children continue to suffer from extreme forms of violence and abuse. This report demonstrates that even when children are presumed to be in the care of society itself they are vulnerable to and at risk of violence. The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has identified "children not living with their biological parents, but in various forms of alternative care" as one of the groups of children who are "likely to be exposed to violence". Without the fundamental protection of a caring family, these children are vulnerable to abuse and neglect. Without "suitable" quality care, they risk violence at the hands of their caregivers, families, peers and the wider community. In 2009, the UN endorsed the Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children (the Guidelines). These set out "desirable orientations for policy and practice" to "enhance" the implementation of the UNCRC for children in alternative care. The Guidelines reiterate the right of "Every child and young person [to] live in a supportive, protective and caring environment that promotes his/her full potential". This report draws on evidence from an extensive global literature review, and assessments of the implementation of the Guidelines in 21 countries around the world. It makes bold claims about high levels of vulnerability and risk of violence facing children in alternative care, but concludes that violence is not inevitable, and with an emphasis on providing quality care it is possible to mitigate the risks of harm for all children. Details: Innsbruck,Austria: SOS Children's Villages International; Luton, UK: University of Bedfordshire, 2014. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 13, 2016 at: http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/getmedia/345ec018-7dd1-4ad1-a387-48fdabfb7297/From-a-whisper-to-a-shout-A4-EN-WEB-final.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.sos-childrensvillages.org/getmedia/345ec018-7dd1-4ad1-a387-48fdabfb7297/From-a-whisper-to-a-shout-A4-EN-WEB-final.pdf Shelf Number: 138643 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionViolence Against Children |
Author: Foussard, Cedric Title: Addressing Juvenile Justice Priorities in the Asia-Pacific Region Summary: The International Juvenile Justice Observatory (IJJO) is proud to present the 'Addressing Juvenile Justice Priorities in the Asia-Pacific Region(link is external)' report. The aim of this report is to identify and analyse the priority issues for juvenile justice systems in the Asia-Pacific region. Accordingly, the report deals with the issues of violence against children in the juvenile justice system, restorative justice, cross-border issues and diversionary and alternative measures. It was produced by the IJJO's Asia-Pacific Council for Juvenile Justice, with the support of the Department for Juvenile Observation and Protection of the Ministry of Justice of Thailand. This report is unique in the sense that it is comprised of a theoretical framework, snapshots from countries in the Asia-Pacific region and policy-oriented workshops. Promising practices are presented to give an overview of what can be done, in practice, to improve the development of juvenile justice systems in line with human rights standards. The report outlines the need to improve the juvenile justice system in accordance with human rights standards, including safeguards and policies in this area. The report is based on the Second Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Council for Juvenile Justice held in Phuket in May 2015. Representatives from governments in the Asia-Pacific region, academia, judiciary and NGO's discussed "Policy Recommendations on Violence against Children; Alternatives to Detention; Restorative Justice in the Asia-Pacific Region". The meeting focused on three areas in particular: violence against children, alternatives to detention and restorative justice. Each of these subjects was tackled using a multilayered approach. The first theme that is discussed in the report is violence against children. As children find themselves in particular vulnerable circumstances when they are in contact with the law, children can be easy targets of different types of violence: psychological pressure, abuse of power, degrading treatment and physical violence are only a few examples. This violence often remains invisible, causing it to be unrecorded and unprosecuted. Tackling this issue is a priority for governments and requires specific safeguards and complaint and monitoring mechanisms. The second theme that is addressed in the report concerns diversionary measures and alternatives to detention. Detention is an overused measure to bring children to justice. Custody for children and young people should only be used as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time. Children are extremely vulnerable when they are in detention, so the necessary safeguards must be put in place. Furthermore, effective diversion and alternative measures based in the community facilitate reintegration into society. Governments should make it a priority to implement effective diversion and alternative measures in order to promote the development of the child and to limit the amount of children deprived of their liberty. The last theme that is analysed in the report is restorative justice. Restorative justice can be used as a diversionary or alternative measure. Restorative justice is particularly interesting because it can be used to address the child's specific needs. Furthermore, restorative justice aims to promote reconciliation between the parties, adding a rehabilitative purpose. The last section of the report specifies the priorities of the Asia-Pacific Council for Juvenile Justice in the region. The APCJJ Subcommittee for ASEAN has established that cross-border safeguards for children in contact with the law should be brought to the attention of the member states. As member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations are working towards opening their borders, this issue becomes extremely relevant. The report concludes with some key recommendations on every topic that was addressed. The most important recommendations represented in this report are, in summary: 1.Reducing the number of children in contact with the justice system, for instance, by avoiding criminalization of statutory offences and setting an appropriate age of criminal responsibility, which is an effective way to avoid the risk of secondary victimization within the justice system; 2.Ensuring that deprivation of liberty is only used as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time, by promoting available and effective options of diversion, as well as alternatives to detention; 3.Fostering diversion measures, as it allows to reduce the cost of court proceedings and generally proves to be more responsive to the needs of first time and non-serious offenders; 4.Ensuring that legislation guarantees the recourse to diversion at every stage of the criminal justice proceedings; 5.During restorative processes, both the offender and the victim shall enjoy fair trial guarantees to avoid secondary victimization and ensure fairness of the proceeding. Restorative principles, such as voluntary participation, confidentiality and neutrality of the mediator, should be guaranteed by law; 6.Facilitators shall be offered high quality training, both as a precondition to get in contact with children, as well as throughout their experience in restorative practices; 7.National legislation shall ensure that every child has the right to equal and fair treatment, regardless of their nationality; 8.Legislation shall enshrine the right to privacy of children: any information collected in the course of the proceeding is not to become public, even after the child has reach 18 years of age. Details: Brussels: International Juvenile Justice Observatory (IJJO), 2016. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed April 23, 2016 at: http://www.apcjj.org/sites/default/files/oijj_asia-pacific_council_2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Asia URL: http://www.apcjj.org/sites/default/files/oijj_asia-pacific_council_2016.pdf Shelf Number: 138793 Keywords: Alternatives to IncarcerationChild Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionJuvenile Justice SystemsRestorative JusticeViolence Against Children |
Author: Fortson, Beverly L. Title: Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect: A Technical Package for Policy, Norm, and Programmatic Activities Summary: This technical package represents a select group of strategies based on the best available evidence to help prevent child abuse and neglect. These strategies include strengthening economic supports to families; changing social norms to support parents and positive parenting; providing quality care and education early in life; enhancing parenting skills to promote healthy child development; and intervening to lessen harms and prevent future risk. The strategies represented in this package include those with a focus on preventing child abuse and neglect from happening in the first place as well as approaches to lessen the immediate and long-term harms of child abuse and neglect. These strategies range from a focus on individuals, families, and relationships to broader community and societal change. This range of strategies is needed to better address the interplay between individual-family behavior and broader neighborhood, community, and cultural contexts. This package supports CDC's Essentials for Childhood framework for preventing child abuse and neglect. In particular, it articulates a select set of strategies and specific approaches that can create the context for healthy children and families and prevent child abuse and neglect (Goals 3 and 4 of the framework) Commitment, cooperation, and leadership from numerous sectors, including public health, education, justice, health care, social services, business/labor, and government can bring about successful implementation of this package. Details: Atlanta, GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 5, 2016 at: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/can-prevention-technical-package.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/can-prevention-technical-package.pdf Shelf Number: 138994 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild Protection |
Author: Baker, Linda Title: The Link between Boys' Victimization and Adult Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence: Opportunities for prevention across the life course Summary: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as violence committed by married, separated, divorced, common-law, dating, or other intimate partners (Statistics Canada, 2015). IPV can involve a range of abusive behaviours, including but not limited to physical, sexual, and psychological harm. It is distinguished from other forms of violence in the nature of the relationship between victims and abusers, which is generally ongoing, with potential emotional attachment and economic dependence (Statistics Canada, 2012). In addition, there tend to be multiple incidents of violence over time rather than single or isolated events. The impact of violence in the context of IPV can extend beyond the direct victim to children who are exposed to the violence (Statistics Canada, 2012). Exposure to IPV, for the purposes of this paper, is included in the term child maltreatment along with neglect, emotional/psychological abuse, physical abuse, and sexual abuse. These various forms of maltreatment are defined in Table 1 and are in accordance with the Canadian Incidence Study (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2010). Typically, children are considered those individuals under 18 years of age (Murray & Graves, 2013). While the majority of individuals who experience maltreatment in childhood do not engage in IPV, a large portion of men who perpetrate violence against their female partners were abused or exposed to family violence as a child (Baker & Stith, 2008; Holt, Buckley & Whelan, 2008; Vezina & Hebert, 2007). Furthermore, just as child maltreatment is a risk factor for future IPV perpetration, the presence of IPV is a risk factor for child maltreatment (Alhusen et al., 2014; Public Health Agency of Canada, 2010). In fact, the cooccurrence of child maltreatment and IPV within families is well-documented in the literature, with prevalence estimates ranging from 30 to 60% (Edleson, 1999; Jouriles et al., 2008; Hamby et al., 2010). Not surprisingly, there are many common risk factors between IPV perpetration and child maltreatment perpetration, which exist at the individual, relationship, community, and societal level (bolded in Table 2; see also: Appendix A). The identified factors tend to be shared by abusers; however, it is also important to acknowledge diversity among men (see "Abusive Men" in Part II for more information). Understanding men's pathways to IPV perpetration, then, involves further exploration of the maltreatment they may have experienced as boys, and preventing child maltreatment also involves working with perpetrators of IPV. Details: London, ON: Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children, 2016. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 13, 2016 at: http://www.vawlearningnetwork.ca/sites/vawlearningnetwork.ca/files/PHAC_Boys_report_S_0.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Canada URL: http://www.vawlearningnetwork.ca/sites/vawlearningnetwork.ca/files/PHAC_Boys_report_S_0.pdf Shelf Number: 139012 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentCycle of ViolenceIntimate Partner AbuseMale Victims |
Author: Katz, Ilan Title: Modernising Child Protection in New Zealand: Learning from system reforms in other jurisdictions Summary: Child maltreatment and the provision of effective child care and protection services are a topical issue worldwide. Child care and protection services are focused on responding to increasing demand and pressure on the system, and improving the outcomes of children in care. To address these issues, child care and protection services have undergone recent reforms that have changed their focus, function and delivery. This report was prepared by the University of New South Wales Social Policy Research Centre and has been written specifically for the Modernising Child, Youth and Family Expert Panel. The Panel is reviewing the focus and operations of Child, Youth and Family (CYF) to achieve better outcomes for vulnerable children, young people and families. The report captures a snapshot of child care and protection services in other jurisdictions and highlights their challenges and actions taken. Other jurisdictions included in the report are Australia (New South Wales), England, the United States, Canada (Ontario) and Norway. These jurisdictions were selected as being similar to New Zealand in their basic approach to child protection. The report also includes one jurisdiction (Norway) which offers a contrasting approach. This report is based on a search of peer-reviewed and 'grey' literature. Details: Wellington: Social Policy Evaluation and Research Unit, 2016. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 31, 2016 at: http://www.superu.govt.nz/sites/default/files/Modernising%20Child%20Protection%20report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: http://www.superu.govt.nz/sites/default/files/Modernising%20Child%20Protection%20report.pdf Shelf Number: 139243 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild Protection |
Author: KM Research and Consultancy Ltd. Title: Evaluation of the Caring Dads Cymru Programme Summary: 1 Executive Summary What is Caring Dads? Caring Dads Cymru (CDC) is a group work voluntary programme for men who are at risk of committing domestic viol ence and therefore, at risk of causing harm to their children. The Caring D ads programme originated in Canada but the programme content and theory wa s adapted and applied in Wales. CDC was delivered by the NSPCC and included group 'facilitators', who delivered the group work, central coordina tion and management and partner Support Workers who worked with clients' part ners or ex partners to ensure their safety and wellbeing. A central theory behind CDC is that men will be more motivated to engage in an intervention to address their abusive behaviour if the focus is ostensibly on their relationship with their children. The CDC programme was first initia ted in 2006 and funded by the Welsh Government. The programme was run by NSPCC Cymru. The Evaluation of Caring Dads Cymru The aim of the evaluation, which spanned two years of the Programme, was to establish the effectiveness of th e programme in changing men's abusive attitudes and behaviours thus preventing them from doing harm to children and children's mothers. Methods The evaluation included the following methods: - Interviews with Caring Dads facilitators and clients - Interviews with partners or ex part ners of Caring Dads clients, not necessarily connected to the client research participants - Standardised psychological measures given by CDC clients at the beginning and end of the programme - Interviews with staff who had referred men to CDC - A research and practitioner symposium to explore the purpose of Caring Dads and make recommendati ons for accreditation of the scheme. Details: Merthyr Tydfil, Wales: Welsh Government Social Research, 2012. 101p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2016 at: http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/15837/1/120706caringdadsen.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://dera.ioe.ac.uk/15837/1/120706caringdadsen.pdf Shelf Number: 139498 Keywords: Abusive MenChild Abuse and NeglectDomestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceParenting |
Author: McConnell, Nicola Title: Caring Dads: Safer Children. Evaluation Report Summary: Caring Dads: Safer Children 8 keY finDings: Young people's version Caring Dads: Safer Children (CDSC) is a training course that helps fathers who bully or are unkind to their family. The NSPCC has done some research to find out if the fathers were better dads after the course. - Some children felt happier and safer after their fathers had been on the course. Other children said their fathers could still be unkind or angry. - Most fathers said that they found it easier to be a good dad after the course. - Some of the children's mothers were very unhappy before the course. After the course, some mothers were happier. - Some mothers said that the father stopped bullying or being nasty after the course. Details: London: NSPCC, 2016. 168p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2016 at: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/evaluation-of-services/caring-dads-safer-children-evaluation-report-large-text.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/evaluation-of-services/caring-dads-safer-children-evaluation-report-large-text.pdf Shelf Number: 139599 Keywords: Abusive MenChild Abuse and NeglectDomestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceParenting |
Author: Asia Foundation Title: Understanding Violence against Women and Children in Timor-Leste: Findings from the Nabilan Baseline Study. Main Report Summary: This research contributes ground-breaking knowledge on violence against women in Timor-Leste, and directly addresses the gap in reliable, representative quantitative data on women's experiences and men's perpetration of violence. The significant work that national civil society organizations, key government stakeholders, academics, international non-governmental organizations and United Nations agencies have conducted in Timor-Leste illustrates that women in this country routinely suffer multiple dimensions of violence. The Nabilan Health and Life Experiences Baseline Study adds new insights into this issue and into the immense implications of violence on women's health and wellbeing, as well as that of their children, their families and their communities. This research also reveals, for the first time, information on men's use of violence against women - information which is crucial for programs working with men and boys to prevent violence. In addition, through an analysis of statistically significant risk and protective factors for violence against women, the Study provides tangible and evidence-based recommendations for the approaches that will be most effective in preventing violence against women in Timor-Leste. One such risk factor that must urgently be addressed, for example, is child abuse - the rates of which, as this research shows, are extremely high. While the rates of violence in this study are considerably higher than the 2009-2010 Demographic Health Survey, this should not be interpreted as indicative of a major rise in the rates for Timor-Leste, rather that the rates are actually higher than previous estimates. The Study findings unequivocally illustrate that violence against women is a critical development issue for Timor-Leste. Without breaking the cycle of violence, which includes the normalization of physical, sexual and intellectual abuse of women, Timor-Leste will not be able to advance as a modern, liberal, thriving democracy with a healthy population. Through its struggles for independence and journey to nationhood, Timor-Leste has shown itself to be a nation of great resolve and strategic thinking. This matter of violence against women and children must be seen in the same light, and it will have far reaching implications not just for women and children, but for the nation as a whole, both domestically and internationally. Details: Dili, Timor-Leste: The Asian Foundation, 2016. 352p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 23, 2016 at: http://asiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/nabilan-main-report-screen-2016-06-01.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Asia URL: http://asiafoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/nabilan-main-report-screen-2016-06-01.pdf Shelf Number: 139799 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDomestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceViolence Against Women, Children |
Author: Queensland Family and Child Commission Title: When a Child is Missing: Remembering Tiahleigh: A report into Queensland's Children Missing from Out-of-Care Summary: In November 2015, the Premier requested for the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) to undertake a broad whole-of-government systems review into children missing from out-of-home care following the disappearance of Tiahleigh Palmer. The Premier asked two things when calling for this review. Could more have been done when concerns were first raised about Tiahleigh's disappearance and how can systems be improved to provide timely and appropriate information that is actioned responsively when critical incidents occur. The review examined current legislative frameworks, policies and guidelines for key government agencies in sharing information and responding when a child in out-of-home care is missing or absent from their placement. The QFCC worked closely with government agencies including, the Queensland Police Service, the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, the Department of Education and Training, Queensland Health, the Office of the Public Guardian and the Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation. The QFCC also worked with non-government agencies throughout the review, specifically Bravehearts, CREATE Foundation, Foster Care Queensland, the Family Inclusion Network and the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak. The review contains 29 recommendations to achieve whole-of-government system improvements in responding to children missing from out-of-home care. The recommendations are designed to provide quality systems and improved responses through revised policies and procedures, a marked cultural shift across agencies, enhanced media campaigns and improved information sharing between agencies. Details: Brisbane: The Commission, 2016. 219p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 1, 2016 at: http://www.qfcc.qld.gov.au/when-a-child-is-missing Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.qfcc.qld.gov.au/when-a-child-is-missing Shelf Number: 139907 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionMissing ChildrenMissing Persons |
Author: Human Rights Watch Title: "The Harvest is in My Blood": Hazardous Child Labor in Tobacco Farming in Indonesia Summary: Indonesia is the world's fifth-largest tobacco producer, with more than 500,000 tobacco farms. Thousands of children, some as young as eight years old, work in hazardous conditions on these farms, exposed to nicotine, toxic pesticides, and other dangers. This work can have lasting consequences for their health and development. Large Indonesian companies, as well as some of the largest multinational tobacco companies in the world, buy the vast majority of tobacco grown in Indonesia and use it to manufacture tobacco products sold domestically and abroad. None of these companies do enough to ensure children are not working in hazardous conditions on farms in their supply chains. Based on interviews with more than 130 child workers, This report documents how child tobacco workers suffer symptoms consistent with acute nicotine poisoning, handle toxic chemicals, cut themselves with sharp tools, faint while working in extreme heat, and face other dangers. Few of the children interviewed, or their parents, understood the health risks of the work or were trained on safety measures. Children are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of tobacco farming because their brains and bodies are still developing. Nicotine exposure during childhood has been associated with mood disorders, and problems with memory, attention, impulse control, and cognition later in life. Human Rights Watch urges the Indonesian government and tobacco companies to ban children from work that involves direct contact with tobacco. Details: Hew York: HRW, 2016. 127p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 1, 2016 at: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/indonesia0516web_0.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Indonesia URL: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/indonesia0516web_0.pdf Shelf Number: 139921 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild LaborChild ProtectionHuman Rights AbusesTobacco |
Author: Morales, Alvaro Title: "Face the Bullet, Spare the Rod?": Evidence from the Aftermath of the Shining Path Insurgency Summary: We investigate whether violence occurring outside the confines of a home can alter intra- household violence inter-generationally. This paper is the first to explore whether exposure to violence from an armed conflict affects the later use of physical punishment as a child discipline method. Our identification strategy relies on the spatial and temporal variation of the Peruvian civil conflict that occurred between 1980 and 2000. We find that a mother exposed to an additional one hundred violent conflict-related events in her district is 3.4-3.8 percentage points less likely to physically punish her children. This effect is equivalent in magnitude to an additional 10 years of education. We find suggestive evidence that the conflict could have increased parenting knowledge and support. Communities that experienced higher levels of conflict violence saw greater increases in social spending and had more health resources in the post-conflict period. Additionally, we find women's conflict exposure is associated with a higher likelihood of accessing these resources. Details: Bonn: Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), 2016. 67p. Source: Internet Resource: Discussion Paper No. 10093: Accessed August 3, 2016 at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp10093.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Peru URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp10093.pdf Shelf Number: 139963 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentConflict ViolenceDomestic Violence |
Author: Sethi, Dinesh Title: European report on preventing child maltreatment Summary: Child maltreatment is a leading cause of health inequality, with the socioeconomically disadvantaged more at risk. It worsens inequity and perpetuates social injustice because of its far-reaching health and development consequences. In spite of child maltreatment being a priority in most countries in the WHO European Region, few have devoted adequate resources and attention to its prevention. this report outlines the high burden of child maltreatment, its causes and consequences and the cost−effectiveness of prevention programmes. It makes compelling arguments for increased investment in prevention and for mainstreaming prevention objectives into other areas of health and social policy, reflecting the whole-of-society approach promoted by Health 2020 and the need for increased intersectoral working and coordination. the report offers policy-makers a preventive approach based on strong evidence and shared experience to support them in responding to increased demands from the public to tackle child maltreatment. Prevention programmes that stop maltreatment from occurring in the first place and reduce children's exposure to adversity have wide-ranging public health and societal benefits. Details: Copenhagen: World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe, 2013. 130p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 4, 2016 at: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/217018/European-Report-on-Preventing-Child-Maltreatment.pdf Year: 2013 Country: International URL: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/217018/European-Report-on-Preventing-Child-Maltreatment.pdf Shelf Number: 130005 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild protection |
Author: World Health Organization Title: INSPIRE: Seven Strategies for Ending Violence Against Children Summary: Globally, hundreds of millions of children - up to one billion - have experienced physical, sexual or psychological violence in the past year. INSPIRE: seven strategies for ending violence against children identifies a select group of strategies that have shown success in reducing violence against children. They are: implementation and enforcement of laws; norms and values; safe environments; parent and caregiver support; income and economic strengthening; response and support services; and education and life skills. INSPIRE is WHO's main contribution to the newly established Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children. Details: Geneva, SWIT: WHO, 2016. 108p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 6, 2016 at: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/207717/1/9789241565356-eng.pdf?ua=1 Year: 2016 Country: International URL: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/207717/1/9789241565356-eng.pdf?ua=1 Shelf Number: 140021 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentViolence Against ChildrenViolence Prevention |
Author: Hillis, Susan D. Title: THRIVES: A Global Technical Package to Prevention Violence Against Children Summary: THRIVES, developed by the Centers for Disease Control, is a collection of select strategies that have been graded to various critieria, showing that they are both effective/promising and include prudent practice. These strategies have been found to reflect the best available evidence to help countries sharpen their focus on priorities with the greatest potential to reduce violence against children. THRIVES includes the following strategies: T - Training in parenting H - Household economic strengthening R - Reduced violence through legal protection I - Improved services V - Values and norms that protect children E - Education and life skills S - Surveillance and evaluation Details: Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control, 2015. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 27, 2016 at: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/31482 Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/31482 Shelf Number: 140058 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionViolence Against ChildrenViolence Prevention |
Author: Sidebotham, Peter Title: Pathways to harm, pathways to protection: a triennial analysis of serious case reviews 2011 to 2014 Final report Summary: A serious case review (SCR) is a local enquiry carried out where a child has died or been seriously harmed and abuse or neglect are known or suspected, and there is cause for concern about professional working together - This study is the fifth consecutive analysis of serious case reviews in England undertaken by the same research team dating back to reviews from 2003- 2005. The study considers a total of 293 SCRs relating to incidents which occurred in the period 1 April 2011- 31 March 2014. These most recent reviews are also analysed in the context of learning from SCRs over the ten years since 2003-2005. The aim of the study is to provide evidence of key issues and challenges for agencies working singly and together in these cases. It is also to provide the government with evidence of what is changing as a result of their reforms, and to identify areas where further change may be required to support organisations to learn from serious case reviews and to keep children safe. Key Findings : What do SCRs tell us about the child protection system? The pattern of serious case reviews over time shows that once a child is known to be in need of protection, for example with a child protection plan in place, the system is working well. There has been an increase in the number of serious case reviews carried out since 2012, but this has been against a backdrop of a steady year -on- year increase in child protection activity. There has been no change in the number of child deaths linked directly to maltreatment and, if anything, a reduction in the fatality rates for all but the older adolescent age group. Furthermore, only a small minority of children at the centre of a serious case review (12%) had a current child protection plan at the time of their death or serious harm - This is at a time when nationally numbers of children with a child protection plan have been rising dramatically - There are still, however, pressure points at the boundaries into and out of the child protection system, where cases are 'stepped up' from universal and targeted services and 'stepped down' from child protection and children in need. While fewer than half of SCRs revealed current involvement with children's social care, almost two thirds of the children had at some point been involved with children's social care at least to the level of child in need. With hindsight, it is apparent that m any of these children's cases had either been closed too soon or lacked the ongoing support services and monitoring that the children and families needed. This highlights the need for long- term planning and support where children have known risks or vulnerabilities and especially where they have already suffered maltreatment. Details: London: U.K. Department of Education, 2016. 277p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 6, 2016 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/533826/Triennial_Analysis_of_SCRs_2011-2014_-__Pathways_to_harm_and_protection.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/533826/Triennial_Analysis_of_SCRs_2011-2014_-__Pathways_to_harm_and_protection.pdf Shelf Number: 147877 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionSerious Case Review |
Author: Cashmore, Judy Title: The Impact of Delayed Reporting on the Prosecution and Outcomes of Child Sexual Abuse Cases Summary: This report examines how the criminal justice systems in New South Wales and South Australia deal with complaints of child sexual abuse reported to the police in childhood compared with those in which the report is delayed until adulthood, which is often referred to as historical child sexual abuse. The research investigates the trends in delayed disclosure and reporting of child sexual abuse, and maps the prosecution process and outcomes associated with varying degrees of delay in reporting to the police, together with other case characteristics such as the age of the complainant victim, and the relationship between the complainant and the alleged offender. RESEARCH QUESTIONS The research focuses on the following questions: 1. What are the trends in recorded reports to police of historical child sexual abuse over a recent 20-year period compared with reports made during childhood in two Australian states - New South Wales and South Australia? 2. What are the trends in the number of prosecutions of cases of historical child sexual abuse over a recent 20-year period compared with child sexual abuse reported during childhood in two Australian states? 3. What factors - including characteristics of the complainant, the type of offence, the relationship between the complainant and the alleged offender, and the delay in reporting to police - are associated with the matter proceeding from a report to the police to prosecution? 4. What is the likelihood of cases reported in childhood and in adulthood resulting in conviction? 5. What factors (as above) are associated with the matter resulting in a conviction or not, and a custodial or other type of sentence? 6. Is there any difference in the rate of appeals, the grounds of appeals, and the outcome of appeals in cases in New South Wales: o where there are delayed complaints compared with cases reported in childhood? o that involved 'institutional' child sexual abuse compared with intra-familial cases of abuse and other extra-familial cases? Details: Sydney: University of Sydney Law School; Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, 2016. 311p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 7, 2016 at: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/e3312f1c-d58f-490d-a467-221684c050c9/The-impact-of-delayed-reporting-on-the-prosecution Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/e3312f1c-d58f-490d-a467-221684c050c9/The-impact-of-delayed-reporting-on-the-prosecution Shelf Number: 147893 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseProsecutionSex Offenders |
Author: Bentley, Holly Title: How Safe are Our Children? The Most Comprehensive Overview of Child Protection in the UK: 2016 Summary: Ask people what childhood should be like, and they'll say it's about playing with friends and exploring new worlds. We want our children to have a childhood full of fun and learning and love. Contrast this with the fact that, in the last year, there were more than 23,000 ChildLine counselling sessions with children about their experiences of abuse and neglect, and a rise in the number of counselling sessions with young people about suicidal feelings. This is not what we want childhood to be like. It's time to fight for the childhoods we want our children to have. That fight starts with adults knowing how to spot the signs of abuse and being prepared to take action to keep children safe. The good news is that more and more adults appear to be ready to take on this responsibility. Over the past five years we've seen increasing numbers of reports of abuse and neglect to social services, the police and the NSPCC. For example, there was a 29 per cent rise in the number of contacts to the NSPCC helpline about abuse and neglect between 2011/12 and 2015/16. Details: London: NSPCC, 2016. 88p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 14, 2016 at: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/how-safe-children-2016-report.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/how-safe-children-2016-report.pdf Shelf Number: 140277 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild HomicidesChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionSuicide |
Author: Moore, Tim Title: Our Safety Counts: Children and Young People's Perceptions of Safety and Institutional Responses to their Safety Concerns Summary: This report has been published by the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. It attempts to better understand children and young people's perceptions of safety within institutions, and their views on how adults and institutions are responding to their safety needs. It is not a prevalence study and does not attempt to quantify the extent to which children and young people have encountered abuse. Instead, it asks them to consider how they, adults and institutions currently demonstrate that they are safe; and the ways they believe adults and institutions act and would act to keep them safe if they were in a situation where their safety was compromised. Details: Melbourne: Institute of Child Protection Studies, Australian Catholic University, 2016. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 15, 2016 at: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/614b6cc6-ab14-495b-8ce0-ce2e1d3a8c19/Our-safety-counts Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/614b6cc6-ab14-495b-8ce0-ce2e1d3a8c19/Our-safety-counts Shelf Number: 140299 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChild Sexual Abuse |
Author: Great Britain. Crown Prosecution Service Title: Violence against Women and Girls: Crime Report, 2013-2014 Summary: This report is an analysis of the key prosecution issues in each Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) strand - domestic violence (DV), rape, sexual offences, stalking, harassment, forced marriage, honour based violence, female genital mutilation, child abuse, human trafficking, prostitution and pornography. We recognise that most of these offences are targeted at male victims as well as female victims. A number of case studies are used to illustrate some good practice from Areas. Details: London: Crown Prosecution Services, 2014. 91p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 15, 2016 at: https://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/docs/cps_vawg_report_2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/docs/cps_vawg_report_2014.pdf Shelf Number: 147889 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectCrime StatisticsDomestic ViolenceForced MarriageHonour-Based ViolenceHuman TraffickingPornographyProstitutionSex OffensesViolence Against Women, Girls |
Author: Lynch, Margaret A. Title: National Study on Violence against Children in Georgia: 2007-2008 Summary: The Global Report on the United Nations Secretary-General's Study on Violence against Children brought to the attention of the whole world the high scale of all forms of violence against children. It encouraged and recommended countries to undertake further research and analysis on the magnitude of violence against children. The Study on Violence against Children in Georgia commissioned by UNICEF in collaboration with local governmental and non-governmental sectors and the International Society for the Prevention of Abuse and Neglect (ISPCAN) is therefore the result of these recommendations. The National Study on Violence against Children describes the scale of child abuse and neglect in families, schools, residential settings for children deprived of parental care, and collective centres for internally displaced persons throughout Georgia. It illustrates the experience of Georgian children living through violence and it provides directions for preventing violence and protecting children from its consequences. The Study reveals that the incidence of violence against children in Georgia is as high as all studied settings in Europe and in other countries where the same tool has been used. Overall, in the year 2007 approximately 80% of boys and girls in Georgia suffered from some form of physical and psychological violence (79.8% and 82.3% for physical and psychological violence). While the most common forms of reported physical punishments may not be considered severe (smacking on the bottom with a hand, pulling hair and twisting ears), there are instances of more severe forms. The most common psychological punishments are yelling, calling derisory names and cursing the child. There are also instances noted of positive discipline approaches, which need to be built upon and strengthened. Both Global and National studies published in Georgian and English, provide a strong basis for the development of policies aimed to protect children from violence and to prevent all forms of violence against children, raise public awareness, and train professionals working with children to take appropriate action. Both studies will guide the State and other entities to implement the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Details: Tbilisi: Public Health Foundation of Georgia (PHF), 2008. 156p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 15, 2016 at: http://phmdf.ge/22eng/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Violence_Study_ENG.pdf Year: 2008 Country: Georgia URL: http://phmdf.ge/22eng/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Violence_Study_ENG.pdf Shelf Number: 140310 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionViolence Against Children |
Author: Cannon, Yael Title: Adverse Childhood Experiences in the New Mexico Juvenile Justice Population Summary: Study Highlights A retrospective study of adults conducted by the CDC & Kaiser Permanente examined the relationship between several forms of childhood trauma (adverse childhood experiences or ACEs) & related health outcomes. Individuals with 4+ ACEs (12% of sample) were more likely to report health conditions & shorter lifespans. The current study includes all 220 juvenile offenders committed for incarceration in New Mexico during 2011 & uses the results of comprehensive multi-disciplinary psychosocial assessments to examine juveniles' ACEs, psychological & family conditions, & exposure to other traumatic events. 86% of incarcerated New Mexico juveniles experienced 4+ ACEs, 7 times higher than the CDC-Kaiser study. New Mexico juveniles experienced ACEs at a higher rate than juvenile offender populations in other studies. Among incarcerated New Mexico juveniles, majorities experienced emotional (76%) or physical (94%) neglect, parental divorce/separation (86%), and substance abuse in the home (80%). Axis I diagnoses (99.5%), substance abuse disorders (96%), & depression (48%) were widespread among incarcerated New Mexico juveniles. Females had a higher incidence of ACEs. 23% of females experienced 9+ ACEs compared to 3% of males. Females had a statistically significant higher incidence of sexual abuse (63% vs. 21%) & physical abuse (70% vs. 49%) when compared to males. Efforts are needed to identify & prevent early childhood trauma in New Mexico. Intervention goals include preventing additional ACEs in young children who have experienced them & trauma screening when children enter the juvenile justice system. Additionally, evidence-based, trauma-informed, family-engaged mental health & substance-abuse treatments should be available throughout the juvenile justice system and to youth subsequent to discharge from detention and incarceration. Details: Albuquerque: New Mexico Sentencing Commission, 2016. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 29, 2016 at: http://nmsc.unm.edu/reports/2016/adverse-childhood-experiences-in-the-new-mexico-juvenile-justice-population.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://nmsc.unm.edu/reports/2016/adverse-childhood-experiences-in-the-new-mexico-juvenile-justice-population.pdf Shelf Number: 146131 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChildhood TraumaJuvenile Justice SystemsJuvenile OffendersMental Health |
Author: Smallbone, Stephen Title: Preventing Youth Sexual Violence and Abuse in West Cairns and Aurukun: Establishing the scope, dimensions and dynamics of the problem Summary: he Queensland Government recognises every child's right to feel safe and free from harm. In 2012 the Department of Premier and Cabinet commissioned Griffith University to examine Youth Sexual Violence and Abuse in West Cairns and Aurukun. The results of this examination highlighted evidence of youth sexual violence and abuse and the risks for the future. As a result, the Queensland Government has committed to taking positive action focused on the prevention of youth sexual violence and abuse in Queensland. Details: Brisbane: Griffith University, 2013. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 7, 2016 at: https://www.datsip.qld.gov.au/resources/datsima/programs/ysv-report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Australia URL: https://www.datsip.qld.gov.au/resources/datsima/programs/ysv-report.pdf Shelf Number: 147816 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual ExploitationSexual AbuseSexual Assault |
Author: Dwyer, R. Gregg Title: Protecting Children Online: Using Research-Based Algorithms to Prioritize Law Enforcement Internet Investigation Summary: here is increasing public and professional concern about Internet sexual offending, as reflected in increasing law enforcement cases and clinical referrals. While all instances of Internet offending against minors require intervention, the number of cases and the overarching goal of protecting children require law enforcement to prioritize cases. This project used data from 20 Internet Crimes Against Children task forces across the United States -- offender characteristics, crime characteristics, and online behavior -- to develop empirically-based recommendations to assist law enforcement in prioritizing: (1) cases involving production of child pornography over possession/distribution; (2) cases involving online luring for the purpose of meeting the minor to commit sexual offenses, over luring restricted to online behavior such as sexual chat or exchanging pornographic images; and (3) cases involving offenders who have committed contact sexual offenses against children over cases involving offenders with no known history. The research builds on a previous OJJDP-funded project by increasing the number of task forces and thereby sample size in order to develop practical recommendations, and adding a new component - a geographical analysis of cases - that will assist decision makers in the allocation of training and resources across the United States in order to combat online sexual exploitation and abuse of children. Details: Charleston, SC: Medical University of South Carolina, 2016. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 8, 2016 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/grants/250154.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/grants/250154.pdf Shelf Number: 145106 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild PornographyChild ProtectionChild Sexual ExploitationOnline Victimization |
Author: Human Rights Watch Title: Summary: Thirty-seven percent of girls in Nepal marry before age 18 and 10 percent are married by age 15, in spite of the fact that the minimum age of marriage under Nepali law is 20 years of age. Boys also often marry young in Nepal, though in lower numbers than girls. UNICEF data indicates that Nepal has the third highest rate of child marriage in Asia, after Bangladesh and India. In interviewing dozens of children and young people, Human Rights Watch learned that these marriages result from a web of factors including poverty, lack of access to education, child labor, social pressures, and harmful practices. Cutting across all of these is entrenched gender inequality, and damaging social norms that make girls less valued than boys in Nepali society. Details: New York: HRW, 2016. 131p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2016 at: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/nepal0816_web.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Nepal URL: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/nepal0816_web.pdf Shelf Number: 145535 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MarriageChild ProtectionHuman Rights AbusesRights of the Child |
Author: Kaufman, Keith Title: Risk profiles for institutional child sexual abuse: a literature review Summary: The Royal Commission commissioned this literature review to synthesise international evidence regarding risk and protective factors related to child sexual abuse in institutional contexts. Risk and protective factors are considered in relation to three primary review areas of institutional child sexual abuse: victims, perpetrators and institutional settings. Literature review methodology The methodology for this review was built on the Royal Commission's broad definition of institutional child sexual abuse as provided in its terms of reference which includes but is not limited to schools, sporting clubs, children's services, foster care, residential care facilities, religious organisations, and government organisations. The first step in the review process was to identify a wide range of relevant search terms. The authors developed a preliminary list of search terms and circulated it among experts in the United States (US), the United Kingdom (UK) and Australia to solicit additional terms. A similar process was conducted to identify databases that would yield the most relevant articles for this review. After feedback, the authors developed final lists of search terms and databases for use in this literature review. Simultaneous, independent literature reviews of each of five identified areas were conducted using the final search terms. These reviews were conducted by the authors' project team, the Australian Institute of Family Studies (Australia), the National Child Advocacy Center (US), the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (US) and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (UK). The reviews focused on scientific research literature as well as 'grey literature' such as reports, inquiries, evaluations and dissertations. Pertinent documents identified in the reviews were also closely examined for references to literature that could be included in this project. The project team created brief summaries of each pertinent article, which were used by the authors to craft the various sections of the literature review. Article summaries were also used to develop critiques for each section and recommendations for future directions related to each sub-topic, as well as to create an overall review. Royal Commission staff members reviewed the draft review document and made suggestions for revisions, which were made by the primary authors. The nature of the reviewed literature This review yielded more than 400 relevant documents, primarily comprising research studies from professional journals. The literature was not only distributed across the three key review areas of victim, perpetrator and institution, but also further divided across six specific types of institutional setting including faith-based settings; early childhood education, care and schools; healthcare; out-of-home care; sport; and public inquiries and case reviews. The identified documents are best described as a series of related literature with limited integration. In particular, the documents specific to victim, perpetrator and institution are quite distinct, with little overlap and minimal cross-referencing. Additionally, articles describing child sexual abuse in various types of institutional setting are also highly 'siloed'. The separate nature of these research sub-areas is an important dimension for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the available literature on child sexual abuse in institutions. Findings The following section highlights the big-picture findings regarding risk and protective factors pertinent to victims, perpetrators and institutions, as well as the role of prevention of institutional child sexual abuse. Details: Sydney: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, 2016. 133p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 14, 2016 at: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/399a6b99-aa14-449e-bf6d-2d5d5beb773f/Risk-profiles-for-institutional-child-sexual-abuse Year: 2016 Country: International URL: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/399a6b99-aa14-449e-bf6d-2d5d5beb773f/Risk-profiles-for-institutional-child-sexual-abuse Shelf Number: 144808 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChild Sexual Abuse |
Author: Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention Title: The Optimus Study on Child Abuse, Violence and Neglect in South Africa Summary: The Optimus Study provides the first-ever representative data in South Africa on child maltreatment and exposure to other forms of violence. This research bulletin addresses the lifetime prevalence of violence against children, as reported by 15-17 year old South Africans. These issues were explored both in a household survey and a school survey: in each setting, young people were interviewed about their experiences by trained enumerators, and were also given the opportunity to respond to a small set of questions on a more confidential questionnaire which they completed themselves. The highest reporting rates were obtained from these self-administered questionnaires, particularly in schools. Since violence and abuse are stigmatising and are typically under-reported, it seems that this was the situation in which young people felt most comfortable disclosing their experiences and these rates, therefore, may be the most trustworthy. The study explored several forms of maltreatment (abuse and neglect), and exposure to violence, and most of the figures below are based on the findings from the self-administered questionnaires completed in schools. Details: Rondebosch, South Africa: The Centre, 2015. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Bulletin: Accessed October 19, 2016 at: http://www.cjcp.org.za/uploads/2/7/8/4/27845461/cjcp_ubs_web.pdf Year: 2015 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.cjcp.org.za/uploads/2/7/8/4/27845461/cjcp_ubs_web.pdf Shelf Number: 140791 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChildren and ViolenceFamily Violence |
Author: National Rapporteur on Trafficking in Human Beings and Sexual Violence against Children Title: Child Sexual Abuse on Trial. Part 1: The Cases Summary: Sexual abuse of children is present in multiple differing forms, so it is impossible to sketch a profile of the typical child molester. Clearly, however, the popular image of a child molester is not supported by the facts. Contrary to the stereotype of the offender as a stranger, the perpetrators of hands-on sexual abuse of children are usually known to the victim: a family member, friend or acquaintance. Furthermore, it is not only adults that commit the abuse: one in six offenders is a minor. The assumption impression that perpetrators often abuse many victims also needs to be rectified: most offenders are convicted of abusing a single child. National Rapporteur Corinne Dettmeijer: 'It is one of the greatest fears of parents that their child will one day be the victim of sexual abuse. Many parents warn their children about child molesters and are on their guard with respect to contact between their child and the man at the day-care centre or the swimming pool, for example. To focus so much on strangers and men who work with children is to overlook a great many victims and offenders.' The study shows that only a small proportion of victims (7%) are abused by a total stranger. In the vast majority of cases, the perpetrator is a member of the victim's own family or circle of friends and acquaintances. Abuse by a person who works with children, such as a teacher, a sports coach or a babysitter certainly occurs, but only in a minority of cases (10%). The abuse is most often committed by a person who is very close to the victim. In no fewer than 36% of cases, for example, the perpetrator is a member of the child's family. The nature of the abuse This first part of the study focuses on the nature of the abuse and the characteristics of the perpetrators and victims in the cases that were analysed. Almost nine out of ten of the convictions involved serious sexual abuse, including touching of the genitals and penetration. In most cases, the abuse did not occur just once: in more than three-quarters of the cases the abuse had continued for more than one day, over periods ranging from a few days to twelve years. More than one in ten victims suffered the abuse for a period of four years or longer. Most perpetrators abuse a single victim The National Rapporteur refutes the stereotypical impression that perpetrators have more than one victim: 78% of the perpetrators were convicted of sexual abuse of a single victim. The offenders varied greatly in age, from minors to the very elderly. One in six offenders was a minor at the time he or she committed the offence. There were practically no female perpetrators in the study. In 97% of the cases studied, the convicted offenders were men. Victims are usually girls The study also provides insight into the victims of child sexual abuse. In most cases (85%), the victim was a girl. The average age of the victims when the abuse began was 10.4 years. Scarcely any of the victims in the judgments that were studied were below the age of four. Research and follow-up The study was based on a sample taken from almost 600 judgments in 2012 and 2013 in which an offender was convicted of hands-on abuse of a child. The sample comprised 182 perpetrators. The charges in the cases were brought under the following articles of the Dutch Criminal Code: Article 244 DCC (sexual penetration of a child under the age of twelve); Article 245 DCC (sexual penetration of a child between the ages of twelve and sixteen); Article 247 (indecent acts with a child under the age of 16) Article 249(1) (indecent acts with a minor entrusted to the offender's care). Details: The Hague: National Rapporteur, 2016. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 3, 2016 at: https://www.dutchrapporteur.nl/binaries/bnrm-child-sexual-abuse-on-trial-def_tcm64-623336_tcm24-56551.PDF Year: 2016 Country: Netherlands URL: https://www.dutchrapporteur.nl/binaries/bnrm-child-sexual-abuse-on-trial-def_tcm64-623336_tcm24-56551.PDF Shelf Number: 145002 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual AbuseRapeSex Offenders |
Author: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Title: Violence Against Children in Haiti: Findings from a National Survey 2012 Summary: The 2012 Violence against Children Survey (VACS) in Haiti is the first national survey of violence against children in the Republic of Haiti. Implemented in June of 2012 the VACS is a nationally representative household survey of females and males 13 to 24 years of age that is based on a three–stage cluster design that yields separate estimates of experiences of sexual, physical, and emotional violence prior to age 18 years for both females and males in Haiti. The survey incorporated standard enumeration areas, known as Section d'Enumération (SDE), as well as the internally displaced persons (IDP) living in camps/tent settlements resulting from the 2010 earthquake. There were a total of 2916 completed interviews: 1457 females with an overall response rate 85.6% and 1459 males with overall response rate 82.0%. The primary purpose of the survey was to estimate the (1) lifetime prevalence of childhood violence, defined as violence occurring before 18 years of age and (2) prevalence of childhood violence in the 12 months prior to the survey among 13 to 17 year olds. The survey included a short questionnaire for an adult in the household to build rapport with the family and to determine current socio-economics of the household. The respondent questionnaire for 13 to 24 year olds includes the following topics: demographics; socioeconomic status; parental relations; education; general connectedness to family, friends, and community; marital status; domestic servitude; displacement following the January 2010 earthquake; sexual behavior and practices; sex in exchange for money or goods; pregnancy; HIV/ AIDS testing; experiences of physical, emotional, and sexual violence; health outcomes associated with exposure to violence; and utilization and barriers to services. The findings from the survey indicate that violence against children is a serious problem in Haiti: 1 out of 4 females and 1 out of 5 males in Haiti have experienced at least one incident of sexual abuse prior to the age of 18 years. In addition, almost two-thirds of both females and males experienced physical violence prior to 18 years by an adult household members or authority figures in the community and approximately one-third experienced emotional violence during childhood (i.e., prior to turning 18) by an adult household member. The results of this survey have significant implications for the design and implementation of Haitian specific prevention and response programs and policies to address abuse and violence against children. The 2012 VACS Haiti would not have been possible without the partnership and collaboration between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Interuniversity Institute for Research and Development (INURED), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Multi-Sectoral Task Force known as the Comité de Coordination (CC), and Together for Girls Partnership. The guidance and creation of the CC, which includes representation from the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, Ministry of Public Health and Population, Ministry of Justice and Public Security, Ministry of Women's Affairs and Women's Rights, Institute of Social Welfare and Research, Brigade for the Protection of Minors, and other key governmental and non–governmental partners, was critical to the survey’s success. KEY FINDINGS Prevalence of Violence against Children Sexual violence (sexual abuse and exploitation) experienced in childhood: One out of 4 females aged 13 to 24 years in Haiti experienced at least one incident of sexual abuse before turning 18 years of age. Among males in the same age group, 1 out of 5 experienced at least one incident of sexual abuse prior to the age of 18. Among those who experienced at least one incident of sexual abuse prior to age 18 years, 69.5% of females and 85.4% of males had multiple incidents (i.e., two or more incidents) of sexual abuse. The most common form of sexual abuse experienced by both females and males before the age of 18 was unwanted sexual touching, followed by unwanted attempted sex. Of those who had their first sexual intercourse prior to age 18, 1 out of 5 females and 1 out of 10 males experienced their first sexual intercourse as unwilling, meaning that they were forced or coerced to engage in sexual intercourse. In the 12 months preceding the survey, nearly 1 out of 5 females and 1 out of 10 males aged 13 to 17 years experienced at least one incident of sexual abuse. About 4% of females and 7% of males received money, food, gifts, or other favors in exchange for sex prior to age 18 years. Physical violence experienced in childhood: Almost two-thirds of both females and males aged 18 to 24 years in Haiti experienced physical violence by adult household members or authority figures in the community, such as teachers, prior to the age of 18 years. Approximately one-third of females and males aged 13 to 17 years experienced physical violence in the 12 months prior to the survey. Ninety percent of females and 85.7% of males aged 13–17 years perceived that their most recent experience of physical violence by an adult household member or authority figure in the past 12 months was intended as disciplinary action or punishment. Emotional violence experienced in childhood: Approximately one-third of both females and males in Haiti experienced emotional violence by an adult household member prior to turning 18 years of age. Nearly thirty percent (27.8%) of females and 16.2% of males aged 13 to 17 years experienced emotional violence by an adult household member in the 12 months preceding the survey. Overlap of Sexual, Physical, and Emotional Violence in Childhood Sexual, physical, and emotional violence commonly overlapped in childhood in Haiti. One-third of females and one out of 4 males aged 13 to 24 years experienced multiple types of violence prior to age 18. Females were significantly more likely to experience multiple forms of violence during childhood than males. Perpetrators of Violence against Children Perpetrators of childhood sexual abuse: Boyfriends or romantic partners followed by friends or classmates, neighbors, and strangers were the most frequent perpetrators of first incidents of child sexual abuse. Among males of similar age, friends or classmates followed by girlfriends or romantic partners were the most frequently reported perpetrators of first incidents of childhood sexual abuse. More than three quarters of females and approximately one-third of males who experienced sexual abuse prior to age 18 reported that the perpetrator of their first incident of abuse was at least 5 years older than they were at the time of the incident. Perpetrators of childhood physical violence: Among 18–24 year olds who experienced physical violence before turning 18 by an adult household member or an authority figure in the community, approximately 6 out of 10 females and males experienced at least one incident of child physical violence by a mother and/or father. In the same group more than 8 out of 10 females and males that had experienced physical violence had at least one incident of physical violence that was perpetrated by a teacher, more commonly a male teacher. Similar patterns of perpetration were observed among 13–17 year olds who experienced physical violence in the 12 months prior to the survey. Perpetrators of childhood emotional violence: Among 18–24 year olds who had any incidents of emotional abuse prior to age 18, approximately 4 out of 10 females and males experienced at least one incident of child emotional violence by a mother. Furthermore, approximately one-third of both females and males in this same group experienced at least once incident of child emotional violence by a father. Among females 13–17 year olds who had any incidents of emotional abuse in 12 months prior to the survey, more than half experienced emotional violence by a mother. Context of Childhood Sexual Violence Against Children Where the sexual abuse occurred: Almost 6 out of 10 of both females and males who had experienced sexual violence prior to age 18 indicated that at least one of their experiences of sexual abuse took place in their own home or tent, or the home or tent of the perpetrator. The most common location, however, for both females and males was their own home or tent. About 1 in 5, 18–24 year old females reported an incident occurred on a road. Among 13–17 year old females and males the most common location for the most recent incident of sexual abuse occurring during the last year was on a road. Childhood Domestic Servitude and Violence Childhood domestic servitude was significantly associated with experiencing sexual and emotional violence prior to age 18 among both females and males aged 18 to 24 years. Among 13–17 year olds, female domestic servants were significantly more likely than peers who were not servants to have experienced sexual and physical violence in the preceding 12 months, while emotional violence was more likely in both male and female domestic servants. Sexual Abuse Among Displaced Populations Approximately a quarter of 13 to 24 year olds were displaced or moved due to the earthquake. Not all of those who were displaced moved to camps. About 1 in 5 respondents lived in a camp or resettled area following the earthquake in 2010 for any period of time. Overall, displacement following the earthquake was not associated with experiencing sexual abuse subsequent to the earthquake among females aged 13–24. However, females aged 13–24 years displaced into or living in camps or tent settlements specifically, were significantly more likely to have experienced sexual abuse after the earthquake as compared to all females aged 13–24 years, displaced or not, who were not living in camps or tent settlements. Surprisingly, for males aged 13–24 displacement following the earthquake was protective of sexual abuse subsequent to the earthquake and living in camps or tent settlements was not associated with an increased risk of sexual abuse. Service Uptake for Violence Approximately 6 out of 10 females and 4 out of 10 males aged 18 to 24 years who experienced child sexual abuse prior to age 18 years told someone about an incident of sexual abuse. Only 1 out of 10 females and 1 out of 15 males who experienced sexual abuse prior to age 18 received any professional services of any kind, including medical, mental health, legal, or protection services, for the sexual abuse. Approximately 1 out of 10 females and males who experienced physical violence prior to age 18 received any professional services of any kind for an incident of physical violence. Health Outcomes of Sexual, Physical, and Emotional Violence Females aged 18–24 years who experienced any sexual abuse or any physical or emotional violence prior to age 18 were more likely to have been diagnosed or have had symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection (STI) as compared to those who did not experience any of these incidents. Furthermore, females who experienced child emotional violence were also more likely to have ever experienced suicidal ideation. Sixteen percent of females who experienced unwanted completed sex prior to age 18 became pregnant as a result of at least one of the incidents. Males who experienced any emotional violence prior to age 18 were more likely to ever experience suicidal ideation as well as to have been diagnosed with or have had symptoms of an STI as compared to those who did not experience emotional violence. Females aged 13–17 who experienced sexual abuse in the past year reported significantly higher rates of drinking alcohol, suicidal ideation, and diagnoses or symptoms of sexually transmitted infections as compared to those who did not experience sexual violence. In addition, females aged 13–17 who experienced physical or emotional violence in the past year were significantly more likely to report serious mental distress than those who did not experience either type of violence. The experience of emotional violence among females aged 13–17 was also significantly associated with suicidal ideation and having a diagnoses or symptoms of sexually transmitted infections when compared to those who did not experience emotional violence. Sexual Abuse and HIV/AIDS Testing Knowledge and Testing Behaviors Approximately two-thirds of females aged 18–24 years who experienced any sexual abuse prior to age 18 knew where to go for an HIV test, however, less than half were ever tested. Among males of similar age, half of those who experienced any sexual abuse prior to age 18 knew where to go for an HIV test and only 1 out of 10 were ever tested. Violence and Sexual Risk Taking Behavior The study examined the prevalence of sexual risk taking behaviors in the 12 months prior to the survey among 19 to 24 year olds and their association with childhood violence in order to ensure exposure to childhood violence preceded involvement in sexual risk taking behavior. Over a third (36.4%) of sexually active females aged 19–24 years who experienced child sexual abuse had multiple sex partners in the past 12 months compared to 29.4% of 19–24 year old females who had not experienced child sexual abuse. Females aged 19–24 years who experienced child physical violence were more likely to have received gifts, food, or favors in exchange for sex during the past 12 months compared to those who had not experienced child physical violence. Females aged 19–24 years who experienced childhood emotional violence were more likely to use condoms infrequently in the last 12 months compared to those who had not experienced childhood emotional violence. Attitudes towards Spousal Violence and the Role of Gender in Sexual Practices and Intimate Partner Violence Nearly half of all females and 2 out of 5 of males aged 13–17 years believed that a man is justified in hitting or beating his wife if she goes out without telling him, if she neglects the children, if she argues with him, if she refuses to have sex with him, or if she burns the food. More than half of females and males aged 13–17 years believed that it is men who should decide when to have sex, that men need more sex than women, that men need other women, that women who carry condoms are "loose", or that women should tolerate violence in order to keep their family together. Details: Port-au-Prince, Haiti: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014. 192p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 3, 2016 at: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/violence-haiti.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Haiti URL: https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/violence-haiti.pdf Shelf Number: 144993 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual AbuseSexual ViolenceViolence against Children |
Author: Mathews, Ben Title: Scoping study for research into the prevalence of child abuse in Australia Summary: The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (the Royal Commission) is inquiring into how institutions have engaged with and responded to allegations and instances of institutional child sexual abuse. Key to this inquiry is the need to generate an understanding of the extent of child sexual abuse in Australia. Determining the prevalence of child sexual abuse, and institutional child sexual abuse in particular, provides valuable contextual information to inform the work of the Royal Commission. While thousands of people have come forward to testify in private and public sessions, it is not known whether these victims/survivors are representative of the population of victims of child abuse, how the prevalence and type of abuse has changed over the decades, or what effect past policies have had in addressing these issues. In response to this gap in the knowledge base, the Royal Commission appointed a team of researchers to scope the research design, methodology, cost and governance structure of two studies investigating the prevalence of child maltreatment in Australia, including the prevalence of institutional child sexual abuse. The first study would estimate the prevalence of child maltreatment in a representative sample of Australian adults, while the second study would estimate the prevalence among Australian young people. The Royal Commission specified research questions to guide the study's scope (definitions of abuse, institution, age group), design of the study instrument (use of existing surveys, considering the context of maltreatment and prior victimisation), study methodology (sampling, sub-populations, recruitment, ethics), analysis (sample size, sample size of sub-populations, ethics), governance and costs. In commissioning this research, the Royal Commission provided four research options for each of the two studies (see Appendix A). These can be considered on a continuum of specificity: Option 1 – to estimate the prevalence of child sexual abuse in institutional and all contexts, and to explore the nature and context of child sexual abuse. Option 2 – identical to Option 1, with the addition of estimating the prevalence of physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and exposure to family violence (but without exploring the nature and context of any of these, or health outcomes) Option 3 – identical to Option 2, with the addition of exploring the nature and context of these other forms of maltreatment, although this is limited to situations in which the additional maltreatment is accompanied by institutional sexual abuse. Option 4 – to estimate the prevalence of all five forms of child maltreatment (child sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and exposure to family violence), including their prevalence within institutional contexts, the nature and context of each form of maltreatment, and the impacts of child sexual abuse such as their effect on mental and physical health. Details: Sydney: Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales Australia, 2016. 262p. Source: Internet Resource: Prepared for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse : Accessed November 3, 2016 at: https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/b9494a15-80b0-4af4-b496-2eb7ef9929af/Scoping-study-for-research-into-prevalence-of-chil Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/b9494a15-80b0-4af4-b496-2eb7ef9929af/Scoping-study-for-research-into-prevalence-of-chil Shelf Number: 145316 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild Sexual Abuse |
Author: Llewellyn Gwynnyth Title: Disability and Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Context Summary: Children and young people with disability are often absent in discussions about child sexual abuse as people with disability are left out of discussions about violence, abuse and neglect. This is due in part to individuals with disability being excluded from society, hidden away in institutions or in family homes. Community attitudes contribute to and are informed by the fact that people with disability, including children, are often seen in segregated, special and demeaning settings. This situation is changing slowly. People with disability are taking their rightful place as citizens actively contributing to and increasingly benefiting from all that our society has to offer. Segregation and exclusion in closed institutional contexts away from public scrutiny leaves children (and adults) with disability at heightened risk of violence and harm including sexual abuse. Further, when children with disability are stereotyped as dependent and passive and unable to 'speak up', they are at heightened vulnerability to being segregated, abused, overlooked and not heard. The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse recognised early on the likely particular vulnerabilities of children with disability and the institutional contexts which they encounter. This commissioned discussion paper set out to provide a reasoned analysis of the historical, social and policy context surrounding children with disability and to examine the evidence about prevalence and prevention of sexual abuse of children with disability in institutional contexts. To achieve this aim we proceeded iteratively and conceptually, drawing on our expertise and cumulative experience of over 60 years in disability, child and family studies, and care and protection. We used reports, submissions, position papers and scientific literature in Australia to analyse past approaches to children with disability and the present context of the changing nature of disability services in Australia. While the paper draws from materials that are relevant to Australia as a whole, some documents from New South Wales are used to illustrate specific points. Just as children and young people with disability are rarely present in discussions about sexual abuse, they are also remarkably absent from Australian literature on this subject. This is a major failing: we do not know the extent of sexual abuse of Australian children with disability. We therefore turned to international literature to identify prevalence figures and to examine the interactions between impairment and environment and their potential influence on the risk of sexual abuse. We found that internationally there is no clearly developed evidence base for the prevalence and risk of sexual abuse of children with disability. We provide an analysis and critique of international prevalence and risk figures and the application of these in the Australian context. Quality of care and safeguarding processes form the basis of the disability reform agenda in Australia and also of the incoming market approach to specialist support and service delivery, which relies on mainstreaming, and building inclusive and accessible communities. This has led to debate on possible fail-safe governance mechanisms and prevention strategies, although with remarkably less focus on children and young people with disability. There is an absence of empirical data in Australia on strategies to prevent sexual abuse of children with disability in institutional contexts. Again, we turned to the international literature to source information on relevant key factors. We approached this from a public health perspective that recognises the need to implement both population-based and targeted interventions. In this discussion paper we argue the need to put aside the community perception that disability is embedded within the child. This is not the official understanding of disability in Australia. Instead, disability is understood as arising from interactions between individuals with impairment and the various barriers that may hinder (their) full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. This understanding comes from the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). We adhere to the key frameworks of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child (CROC) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). These international covenants require that children with disability are considered as children first, with disability considered as only one feature and not the defining feature of their everyday lives. We also present an analysis and critique of the available literature on prevention of sexual abuse, noting the pitfalls in assuming a ‘special group’ approach to children with disability or a broad-brush approach to diversity. The human rights perspective is embedded within Australian legislation and policy directives in disability. It provides an excellent foundation to ensure that children with disability and their rights are more visible and to give them the same priority as other children. This is essential to ensure children with disability are safe in institutional contexts in the future. Details: Sydney: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, 2016. 98p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 28, 2016 at: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/0f4f0eb9-2a04-4f5b-967d-6e658a5db53c/Disability-and-child-sexual-abuse-in-institutional Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/0f4f0eb9-2a04-4f5b-967d-6e658a5db53c/Disability-and-child-sexual-abuse-in-institutional Shelf Number: 147909 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseDisabilities |
Author: Hanson, Elly Title: Exploring the relationship between neglect and child sexual exploitation: Evidence Scope 1 Summary: Although any young person could become a victim of sexual exploitation, some young people may be more vulnerable to the risk of CSE in part as a result of their current or earlier adverse life experiences (Berelowitz et al, 2012; Pittenger, Huit and Hansen, 2016). This scope focuses on the ways in which experience of neglect may heighten vulnerability to CSE. Why explore the role of neglect in particular? Firstly, it is found to be the most prevalent form of child maltreatment (Radford et al, 2011), so there is a particular urgency in understanding its repercussions and potential impact on later victimisation – understanding and tackling any vulnerability neglect may create has the potential to exert a large impact across society. Secondly, attention has traditionally been focused on the link between child sexual abuse and later sexual exploitation (see for example, Pittenger, Huit and Hansen, 2016), meaning that the relationships between other forms of child maltreatment and CSE have been less widely understood. Despite it being the most prevalent form of child maltreatment, the study of neglect has itself been neglected (eg, Stoltenborgh, Bakermans-Kranenburg and van IJzendoorn, 2013). There are a variety of plausible ways in which neglect might interact with and contribute to vulnerability to CSE and, so far, these have not received adequate attention, despite their potentially significant implications for preventing the occurrence and impact of child maltreatment. This scope is therefore intended to stimulate research and reflective practice, and so help shift this state of play. This scope has sought to avoid presenting a picture that contributes to mother or family-blaming for CSE, which is a danger when focusing on neglect in childhood and its potential relationship with subsequent CSE. Other risks of focusing on this area include deflecting attention away from much-needed action around perpetrator behaviour, and the inappropriate generalisation of interventions (for example, where treatments aim to tackle vulnerabilities which are only relevant to some young people). Focusing on neglect and how it might affect vulnerability to CSE is not to downplay the other significant factors at play, such as the behaviour of perpetrators (with whom the responsibility clearly lies), and wide systemic factors such as cultural values and poverty. Rather, this scope focuses on this potential relationship as it is here that practitioners and services in the children’s sector can exert most influence. Of course, efforts at preventing and tackling sexual exploitation must clearly involve a focus on perpetrators; it is perpetrators who take advantage of the vulnerabilities in order to abuse. However, a better understanding of what might exacerbate vulnerability in young people is crucial for informing prevention and early intervention efforts. Such an understanding might highlight particular groups of children in need of support who might not otherwise qualify for help. There may also be factors that not only increase the risk, and vulnerability to CSE, but also the risk of a young person becoming entrenched within it or experiencing worse impact – such an understanding will inform both efforts at prevention and interventions that seek to address the impact of CSE. The scope’s areas of focus and structure This scope is one of three linked evidence scopes commissioned by Action for Children and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) with Research in Practice. Scope 2 considers the potential relationship between neglect and intra-familial child sexual abuse (IFCSA) (Allnock, 2016); Scope 3 considers the potential relationship between neglect and children and young people developing harmful sexual behaviours (HSB) (Hackett, 2016). This scope explores the following questions: > Does neglect (in infancy, adolescence, or throughout childhood) contribute to a vulnerability to subsequent CSE? > Does neglect in adolescence create or contribute to a vulnerability to concurrent CSE? And does experience of CSE itself contribute to vulnerability to neglect? > If neglect does contribute to a vulnerability to CSE, which factors (psychological, social, behavioural, material, systemic) might explain this relationship? In other words, what might be the underlying reasons for any relationship between neglect and CSE (including, potentially, the actions of statutory systems). > Are there factors that increase or reduce the strength of any relationship between neglect and CSE? (this brings into discussion issues of resilience). > What are the implications for practice, policy and further research? This scope does not explore how childhood neglect could contribute to becoming a perpetrator of CSE, although some of the findings discussed may be of relevance to considering such a relationship. Scope 3 also offers some relevant messages in this respect. In answering these questions, the scope explores both areas of relative consensus and ideas that are more speculative – there are some questions that can be relatively conclusively answered on the basis of current research, and many others which cannot be, but for which the research provides clues and invites hypotheses to guide future research and practice. Details: Totnes, Devon, UK: Research in Practice, 2016. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 7, 2016 at: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/neglect-child-sexual-exploitation-evidence-scope-1.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/neglect-child-sexual-exploitation-evidence-scope-1.pdf Shelf Number: 147938 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChild Sexual Exploitation |
Author: Allnock, Debra Title: Exploring the relationship between neglect and adult-perpetrated intrafamilial child sexual abuse: Evidence Scope 2 Summary: This scope aims to explore the relationship between neglect and intra-familial child sexual abuse (IFCSA). Current approaches to the study of child abuse and neglect increasingly highlight the weaknesses in solely focusing on single forms of harm in understanding prevention, identification, impact and overcoming maltreatment and victimisation. While not all children experience multiple forms of harm, the recent literature clustered under areas of study such as ‘poly-victimisation’ (Finkelhor, Ormrod and Turner, 2007), multiple adversities (Davidson, Bunting and Webb, 2012), adverse childhood experiences , multitype maltreatment (Higgins and McCabe, 2001) and revictimisation (Classen, Palesh and Aggarwal, 2005) draw attention to the cumulative nature of harm for a significant group of other children and young people. Researchers in these areas assert the importance of understanding the full victimisation profiles of children and young people in order to address the cumulative impacts of harm comprehensively. This literature has importantly highlighted the complexity of children's victimisation but is in the early phases of describing the factors that may explain these complex experiences. Neglect is one of the most common forms of child maltreatment. In England 43% of child protection plans are initiated in response to identified neglect (Department for Education, 2015a) and in other UK nations neglect is the most common reason for children being on the child protection register (Jütte et al, 2015)2 . Cases recorded in child protection systems are likely to be merely the tip of the iceberg, however; many more cases fall below the threshold for criminal intervention (Dickens, 2007) and Radford et al's general population study (2011) found neglect was the most common form of maltreatment reported within the family. The most recent triennial review of serious case reviews (SCRs)3 found that, of the 175 SCRs reviewed in detail, neglect was a factor in 62% of all cases of non-fatal harm and in 52% of cases where a child had died (Sidebotham et al, 2016). Despite its significance, neglect is one of the least researched areas of maltreatment (see Allnock, forthcoming; Stoltenborgh, BakermansKranenburg and van IJzendoorn, 2013; Stoltenborgh et al, 2015). Oral evidence submitted to the Children's Commissioner’s Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse in the Family Environment suggests there may be considerable numbers of children who are identified as experiencing neglect where there are additional concerns around sexual abuse in the family environment (Children’s Commissioner, 2015). It is imperative, then, to think critically about the overlap between neglect and IFCSA and to ask questions of our practice and policy in this regard. Although the evidence is complex, and in some cases lacking altogether, it is important to understand co-occurrence and to think about ways of supporting families to ensure that perpetrators find fewer opportunities to target and abuse children. The scope’s areas of focus and structure This scope is the second of three linked evidence scopes commissioned by Action for Children and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) with Research in Practice. Scope 1 considers the potential relationship between neglect and child sexual exploitation (CSE) (Hanson, 2016); Scope 3 considers the potential relationship between neglect and harmful sexual behaviours (Hackett, 2016). This scope explores three key questions: 1) Do neglect and intra-familial child sexual abuse cooccur? And if so, to what extent? 2) How might features, types and impacts of neglect increase the vulnerability of children and young people to perpetrator methods of targeting, grooming, abusing and silencing children in the family environment? 3) How might IFCSA contribute to neglect? The focus on neglect and IFCSA in this scope does not seek to locate blame for IFCSA within individual parents (and in particular mothers, which is too often the case in the discourse about neglect) and within parenting styles/behaviours (particularly mothers' parenting styles/ behaviours). Such an approach would deflect responsibility away from the perpetrator, without whom there would be no abuse in the first place. Moreover, focusing on individual parents (mothers) would be at the expense of recognising the wider social determinants of neglect, including the ‘wide range of adverse experiences’ associated with what Hooper et al (2006) call 'societal neglect'. These points will be returned to in more detail later in the scope. Additional points to note in relation to this scope include: > The focus of this scope is on concurrent experiences of neglect and IFCSA. (Scope 1 focuses on the relationship with neglect and additional separate forms of victimisation through CSE.) > The focus of this scope is on adult-perpetrated IFCSA. (Scope 3 focuses on the relationship between neglect and harmful sexual behaviours in children and young people, touching briefly on sibling-abuse.) > There is particular emphasis on the specific emotional harm associated with betrayal by a parent, guardian or other family member. This is why the focus of this scope is on the relationship with the perpetrator, rather than the setting in which abuse takes place. > The scope focuses on concurrent experiences of neglect and IFCSA across childhood to adolescence, recognising that neither IFCSA nor neglect is confined to early childhood. > This scope is not intended to be an exhaustive review of the literature; rather it is intended to begin to interrogate these associations and raise questions where relevant about the nature of these forms of harm. Constraints of the current evidence base Very few (almost no) studies were identified that specifically considered neglect and IFCSA. There are also other important limitations to the research evidence considered for this scope (these are described more fully in Appendix A). First, there are very few prospective longitudinal studies on child maltreatment, either in the UK or abroad, and it is these that would provide the best evidence for a link between neglect and IFCSA. Second, despite neglect being the most commonly reported form of maltreatment, research on CSA is far more prevalent than on neglect. Third, research studies have historically focused on one form of abuse only; while studies acknowledging overlapping forms of abuse and adversity are now emerging, this remains an early field of study. Finally, studies on neglect and CSA use varying definitions and measurements of neglect, which makes it difficult to draw comparisons, and studies commonly do not distinguish between IFCSA and other forms of CSA. Despite these limitations, however, there is enough information in the separate literature bases (on neglect and CSA) to begin some commentary on possible ways in which neglect may increase a child’s vulnerability to IFCSA, and how IFCSA might contribute to increased risk of neglect. Details: Totnes, Devon, UK: Research in Practice, 2016. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 7, 2016 at: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/neglect-intrafamilial-child-sexual-abuse-evidence-scope-2.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/research-reports/neglect-intrafamilial-child-sexual-abuse-evidence-scope-2.pdf Shelf Number: 147939 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual ExploitationFamily Violence |
Author: Great Britain. Crown Prosecution Service Title: Violence against Women and Girls: Crime Report, 2015-16 Summary: The Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG) report is the ninth edition published by the CPS. It provides an assessment of prosecution performance on crimes that have been grouped together under the heading ‘VAWG’, as they have been identified as being committed primarily, but not exclusively, by men against women. The CPS addresses these issues within the overarching crossgovernment strategic framework of VAWG, recognising that victims of this group of crimes are disproportionally female. The approach acknowledges VAWG as a fundamental issue of human rights and women’s rights. The UK government has signed and ratified the United Nations call to all states to prevent and respond to violence against women. VAWG is recognised worldwide, and by the UK Government, as a form of offending where gender plays a part. As the United Nations2 describes it: ‘Violence against women is a manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women, which have led to domination over and discrimination against women by men and to the prevention of the full advancement of women, and … violence against women is one of the crucial social mechanisms by which women are forced into a subordinate position compared with men’. The CPS is committed to securing justice for all victims of crimes grouped together as ‘VAWG’. To that end, we are inclusive in our approach. All our VAWG policies are applied fairly and equitably to all perpetrators and victims of crime – irrespective of their gender. Recognising that these offences can be targeted at male and transgender victims as well as female victims, the report includes total data on all perpetrators and victims, irrespective of gender. Where possible, data is broken down, in the body of the report, by gender as well as overall volumes and proportions. The report is an analysis of the key prosecution issues in each VAWG strand – domestic abuse (DA), stalking, harassment, rape, sexual offences, forced marriage, honour based violence, female genital mutilation, child abuse, human trafficking for sexual exploitation, prostitution and pornography. The data that forms the basis of the report is derived from the CPS’ Case Management System (CMS) and its associated Management Information System (MIS) which shows the number of defendants, offences and victims or witnesses. Domestic abuse, rape, forced marriage, honour-based violence, child abuse and human trafficking cases are identified by flags applied to defendants. Stalking, harassment, sexual offences, prostitution, pornography and obscenity data can only be provided using the offences data base. Details: London: CPS, 2016. 114p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 15, 2016 at: http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/docs/cps_vawg_report_2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/docs/cps_vawg_report_2016.pdf Shelf Number: 146121 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Crime StatisticsDomestic Violence Forced Marriage Honour-Based Violence Human Trafficking Pornography Prostitution Sex Offenses Violence Against Women, Girls |
Author: International NGO Council on Violence Against Children Title: 10 Years On: Global Progress & Delay in Ending Violence Against Children - The Rhetoric & the Reality Summary: The International NGO Council on Violence Against Children formed in 2007, to support strong and effective follow-up to the UN Study on Violence against Children. Now, as the Sustainable Development Goals adopt the call to end all violence against children and the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children take up the mantle of pursuing this goal, the NGO Council publishes its fourth and final report: a warts and all account of the progress made and the work that lies ahead to end violence against children. In the ten years since the Study was published, we have made great strides in learning about the violence that affects children around the world and we have seen great advances in combating some of those forms of violence. Yet for many children, violence is an ever present fact of life. Where progress has been made, it remains tainted by its limitations: the rates at which children are subjected to female genital mutilation are falling rapidly, but because of population increases, the number of women and girls who have experienced this form of violence are actually increasing. The number of countries that have legally prohibited all forms of corporal punishment of children has tripled since the Study was published, yet an estimated one billion children still experience physical violence in the home on a regular basis. Children in detention are among the most vulnerable to violence, and while detention rates in many of the world's juvenile justice systems have fallen sharply over the last decade, we are seeing the detention of children in immigration systems increasing and taking on new forms. Perhaps worse still, many of the most severe forms of violence children experience remain legal, whether in the 14 States that still allow the death penalty for children, the 22 countries that still legally permit certain forms of female genital mutilation, or the 93 that allow girls to marry before the age of 18. The Violence Study set 2009 as a deadline to legally prohibit all of these practices, but we are still far from this goal. The persistence of violence against children is a challenge to us all: why have we not been able to achieve change quickly enough? The contributions from key global experts on violence against children point to some hard truths about our failings, but also to the way ahead. We have failed to effectively challenge the social acceptance of so many forms of violence and struggled to achieve the legal prohibition of all forms of violence that is a necessary basis for eliminating these practices. If we are to realise goal 16.2 of the SDGs to end all forms of violence against children by 2030, we must learn these lessons of our efforts so far. Details: s.l.: The Council, 2016. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 22, 2016 at: http://www.wvi.org/sites/default/files/Int_NGO_Council_VAC_Report2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: http://www.wvi.org/sites/default/files/Int_NGO_Council_VAC_Report2016.pdf Shelf Number: 147788 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Child MaltreatmentChild Protection Female Genital MutilationViolence Against ChildrenViolence Prevention |
Author: Harwin, Judith Title: After FDAC: Outcomes 5 Years Later Summary: This report presents the findings from a continuation study of outcomes of cases heard in the first Family Drug and Alcohol Court (FDAC) in England. It builds on earlier findings reported in 20142 . It provides information on child and maternal outcomes at the end of the care proceedings using a larger number of FDAC cases than before. It also has a longer followup period, reporting on outcomes up to five years after the end of proceedings. This is the first report in which the longer term outcomes of non-reunified FDAC mothers and their children five years on are also presented. The FDAC evaluation team has been following up the same cohort of cases that entered the London FDAC between 2008 and 2012 and similar cases entering ordinary care proceedings in the same court over the same period (140 FDAC and 100 comparison). It provides a unique opportunity to track cases with the aim of finding out whether the FDAC approach achieved better substance misuse and family reunification outcomes than ordinary court and service delivery. Details: Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK: Lancaster University, 2016. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 25, 2017 at: http://wp.lancs.ac.uk/cfj-fdac/files/2016/12/FDAC_FINAL_REPORT_2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://wp.lancs.ac.uk/cfj-fdac/files/2016/12/FDAC_FINAL_REPORT_2016.pdf Shelf Number: 145423 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Child Maltreatment Child Protection Drug Abuse and Addiction Family Courts Problem-Solving Courts Substance Abuse |
Author: UBS Optimus Foundation Title: Optimus Study South Africa: Technical Report. Sexual victimisation of children in South Africa Final report of the Optimus Foundation Study: South Africa Summary: This report presents the findings of the Optimus Study conducted in South Africa. This study was designed specifically to estimate the annual incidence and lifetime prevalence of child sexual abuse and maltreatment in South Africa. Prior to this, no nationally representative data on the extent or impact of child sexual abuse existed. In order to obtain a comprehensive picture of the nature, extent and impact of child sexual abuse in the country, the study drew on two data sources: firstly, a population survey that was conducted with a sample of 15- to 17-year-old adolescents recruited nationally from schools (4 086 participants) as well as households (5 631 participants), and secondly an agency component that consisted of a series of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with frontline staff and agency directors servicing the communities or geographical spaces identified through the sampling process. Through a thorough exploration of these areas, the study identifies where resources can best be targeted, provides a local evidence base for the development of effective interventions, and identifies whether intervening in one form of abuse or neglect might also have the potential to address other forms of violence. Results The study results revealed that of the young people interviewed in schools, 35.4% – one in every three young people – had experienced some form of sexual abuse at some point in their lives. Figures from the household portion of the study are slightly lower, but confirm that the rates are high: in households, 26.3% – more than a quarter of young people interviewed – reported having experienced some form of sexual abuse. Since rates of reporting in the schools portion of the study are generally higher, indicating that disclosure of these very difficult experiences may have been easier in that context, we base our estimates on that sample. This means that a total of at least 784 967 young people in South Africa have been the victims of sexual abuse by the age of 17 years. A total of 351 214 cases of sexual abuse had occurred among 15- to 17-year-olds in the past year alone. The differences between males’ and females’ reported rates of abuse were not as stark in this South African study as they have been in other studies. In the school survey, boys (36.8%) were found to be slightly more likely than girls (33.9%) to report some form of sexual abuse. Previous research has almost unfailingly underscored the particular vulnerability of young girls to sexual abuse. The findings from this national prevalence study indicate that boys and girls are equally vulnerable to some form of sexual abuse over the course of their lifetimes, although those forms tend to be different for boys and for girls. The mean age at which girls first experienced sexual abuse was 14, while boys typically reported their first experience to be at the age of 15 years. One in 10 (11.3%) young people had experienced unwanted sexual touching by a known or unknown adult in their lifetime, based on reporting rates from the school survey. Based on reporting rates from the school survey, 9.4% of young people had been made to do sexual things against their will by another child or teen; 11.7% had experienced someone trying to force them to have sex; 12.9% had experienced exposure abuse; and 15.7% had had a sexual experience with someone 18 or older (some of which may have been consensual). These findings illustrate that while sexual abuse is slightly more likely to occur once in a young person's lifetime, in 40% of these cases, it occurs two or more times. In the school survey, 42.2% of respondents had experiIn the school survey, 42.2% of respondents had experienced some form of maltreatment (whether sexual, physical, emotional or neglect), while 82.0% reported experiencing some form of victimisation (whether criminal victimisation or exposure to family or community violence). By and large, girls and urban dwellers were more likely to report these experiences than boys and those living in rural areas. A number of factors were associated with an increased risk of sexual victimisation. These included living with neither or just one biological parent, parental absence either due to hospitalisation or prolonged illness, parental substance abuse, disability status of the child, as well as sleeping density (the number of teens or adults with whom the respondent shared a room). The study also highlighted the protective factors associated with a reduced risk of sexual victimisation. Parents’ knowledge of who young people spend their time with, and how they spend their time and where they go, were significantly associated with a lower likelihood of young people reporting that they had been victims of sexual abuse. In addition to this, warm and supportive parent-child relationships were also found to be significantly associated with lower risk for sexual victimisation, specifically for girls. Sexual abuse was dramatically and strongly associated with mental health symptoms: young people who reported having been sexually abused were more than twice as likely to report anxiety and depression, and three times as likely to report PTSD symptoms, as other young South Africans. One-fifth of children who have been sexually abused by adults are also likely to have problems with schoolwork or school attendance. Nearly a third of those sexually abused by a known adult reported having injuries as a result of this abuse, although in turn, only a third of those injured actually sought assistance. While fewer children who had been abused by an unknown adult were injured, they were far more likely to seek medical assistance. Respondents were unlikely to report incidents of sexual abuse to authorities. For instance, in cases where they reported sexual abuse by an adult they knew, only 31.0% of girls and no boys reported this to the police. Young males are especially disinclined to report, across all categories of abuse. Details: Zurich, SWIT: UBS Optimus Foundation, 2016. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 11, 2017 at: http://www.cjcp.org.za/uploads/2/7/8/4/27845461/08_cjcp_report_2016_d.pdf Year: 2016 Country: South Africa URL: http://www.cjcp.org.za/uploads/2/7/8/4/27845461/08_cjcp_report_2016_d.pdf Shelf Number: 145129 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual AbuseSexual Abuse |
Author: Reichert, Jessica Title: Evaluation of the 2014 Community Violence Prevention Program's Parent Program Summary: State and local child protective services receive 3.5 million reports of child maltreatment for 6.4 million children per year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014). The estimated economic burden resulting from maltreatment of children in the U.S. is $124 billion (Fang, Brown, Florencea, & Mercy, 2012). Child maltreatment is the most common harmful childhood experience causing victims significant and sustained losses to subsequent health-related quality of life including depression, substance abuse, and perpetrating violence (Corso, Edwards, Fang, & Mercy, 2008; Sacks, Murphey, & Moor, 2014). The child victims are more likely to be delinquent and arrested in adulthood than those not experiencing maltreatment (Children's Defense Fund, 2005). Child maltreatment risk factors are prior abuse of the perpetrator, lack of familial support, parental alcohol abuse, living in impoverished communities, parental stress or mental disorders, parental aggression, use of corporal punishment, and child behavioral problems (Black, Heyman, & Slep, 2001). Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (Authority) researchers conducted an evaluation of the Community Violence Prevention Program's (CVPP) Parent Program. The program, which ended August 2014, sought to increase protective factors to reduce child maltreatment by employing and training nearly 1,000 Chicago-area parents to lead service projects to help other parents in 20 communities. The Center for the Study of Social Policy stated that effective parenting programs to prevent child maltreatment attempt to improve parent understanding of child development and teach child management (2003). In addition, those that are parent-led promote parental resilience and inter-parent connections. Authority researchers analyzed multiple surveys of more than 3,500 staff and participants, as well as administrative data to obtain feedback on training and general program operations. Key findings Change in participant protective factors to reduce child maltreatment Authority researchers measured four protective factors to reduce child maltreatment created by the Center for the Study of Social Policy. Factors are: 1) family functioning and resiliency, 2) social and concrete support, 3) nurturing and attachment, and 4) child development and knowledge of parenting. Authority researchers administered pre- and post-tests to program participants to measure changes on scores on the protective factors before and after the program. Based on pre- and post-test scores of 300 program participants, all four protective factors had a small increase in average scores. However, two protective had very small changes in the mean scores (social and concrete support; child development and knowledge of parenting); therefore, improvement could be made in those areas of program instruction, particularly as it relates to addressing the protective factors. Parent Cafes All community programs were required to offer parent-led Parent Cafes, a parent engagement strategy that uses small group conversations to facilitate self-reflection, peer-to-peer learning, support, and education on protective factors to reduce child maltreatment. Surveys showed that the parent experiences of Parent Cafes were positive. Almost all participants found information provided to be helpful. The most commonly requested improvement to Parent Cafes was expanding them to more locations in the community and an increase in length and frequency. Incorporating technology and social networking education was also requested, but specifically by parents who are not experienced with the technology their children use frequently. Parent feedback Most parents who participated had learned about the program from a friend, relative, or community agency. Participants rated highly program materials, resources, training, and support from their administrative teams. Almost all respondents rated the program successful and said that they used what they learned in the program in their daily lives. Most said their service projects improved the community and 80 percent thought the service projects increased protective factors of child maltreatment. Some participants suggested expanding the program and making it a year-around program. Staff feedback Program staff, including Program Coordinators and Program Managers rated the program positively; sharing that the training was well-designed, trainers were knowledgeable, and protective factors were covered. Many indicated that the training programs offered opportunity for personal improvement and that there was an excitement to train and share their knowledge and experiences with parent participants. Training feedback Parent Program participants and staff highly rated the content of their training. Most program participants enjoyed sharing, communicating, and interacting with others. Many gained knowledge about parenting. Many staff reported personal improvement with the training and that they were inspired to share their experiences during the training of parent participants. Implications for policy and practice The Parent Program ended in August 2014. However, similar programs created in the future should work to reduce child maltreatment by increasing parents' protective factor of social and concrete support by offering more information on resources for tangible goods and services to help families cope with stress. In addition, programs should improve the protective factor of child development and knowledge of parenting by further promoting the understanding of child development and reasonable expectations for children. An increase the number of Parent Cafes was also recommended to create space for more community discussions on these and other protective factors. The program should target those most at-risk for maltreating children by targeting younger parents and primary caregivers. In addition, programs should work toward more father participation. Finally, the program should collect additional data in order to have a greater understanding of who participated in the program and their program activities. Data include age of participants and their children, as well as data on community service projects and to what extent they fit into the overall program goal of violence prevention by reducing child maltreatment and promoting healthy families. Details: Chicago: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2015. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 20, 2017 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/pdf/ResearchReports/CVPP_Parent_Program_080215.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/pdf/ResearchReports/CVPP_Parent_Program_080215.pdf Shelf Number: 146687 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionParenting Programs |
Author: Herrenkohl, Todd I. Title: Effects of Child Maltreatment, Cumulative Victimization Experiences, and Proximal Life Stress on Adult Crime and Antisocial Behavior Summary: This study sought to replicate and extend research findings on subtypes of child maltreatment, childhood exposure to domestic violence, subsequent forms of victimization, and stress in relation to antisocial behavior, crime, and adulthood IPV perpetration and victimization. The study also investigated protective factors for maltreated children and predictors of self-reported crime desistence among maltreated and multiply victimized children. Data are from the Lehigh Longitudinal Study, an ongoing prospective investigation of children and families that began in the 1970s. The original sample was comprised of 457 children. Over 80% of the children, now adults, were assessed in 2008-2010 at an average of 36 years. Data on child maltreatment and related risk and protective factors were collected much earlier, beginning when participants were preschoolers, 18 months to 6 years of age. Findings of seven publications, the products of this secondary data analysis project, provide further evidence of the relationship between child maltreatment and adult antisocial behavior and crime. They also point to instances in which this relationship is influenced by other variables, including those pertaining to the socialization of peers and partners. Findings raise the possibility that physical, emotional, and sexual abuse relate differently to self-reported crime and that predictors and pathways differ at times on the basis of gender. Further, several analyses highlight the risk-lowering effects of education variables (e.g., educational engagement, academic achievement, high school graduation), suggesting that attention should be given to incorporating perspectives on schooling and education in prevention and criminal justice policy. Details: Report to the U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2017. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 21, 2017 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250506.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250506.pdf Shelf Number: 146648 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Exposure to ViolenceChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChildren, Crimes Against |
Author: Guerrero, Gabriela Title: Understanding Children's Experiences of Violence in Peru: Evidence from Young Lives Summary: This paper describes children's experiences of violence at home in Peru, using a lifecourse approach. Violence against children at home tended to increase with age, as children took on more chores (especially in rural areas), and spent more time away from home (in some cases, in urban areas). The chances of being hit by parents increased when children failed in their responsibilities; spending more time away from home also presented potential dangers for children (e.g., being robbed in the community, joining a gang, etc.), and so violence was used as a means to protect them and to prevent them from being led astray. We discuss how living in poverty affects relationships between parents and children. Meeting the basic economic needs of a family is the priority for parents, who then have limited time, energy and resources to devote to their children. We also found that children exposed to violence in the home are also frequently exposed to corporal punishment at school. Details: Florence, Italy: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Office of Research, (Innocenti) 2016. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Innocenti Working Papers, IWP_2016_17: Accessed February 23, 2017 at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_17.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Peru URL: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_17.pdf Shelf Number: 144850 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChildren and ViolenceViolence Against Children |
Author: Pankhurst, Alula Title: Understanding Children’s Experiences of Violence in Ethiopia: Evidence from Young Lives Summary: This research report explores children's accounts of everyday violence in Ethiopia, and the ways in which factors at individual, family, community, institutional and society levels affect children’s experiences of violence. The report primarily draws on analysis of four rounds of longitudinal qualitative data gathered over seven years, complemented with analysis of cross-sectional survey data from Young Lives. Findings show that violence affecting children – mostly physical punishment and emotional abuse – is widespread, accepted, and normalized. Differing economic activities affect family dynamics and the likelihood of children experiencing violence, which is often linked to the challenges of poverty and the expectation that children will contribute to the household economy. Details: Florence, Italy: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Office of Research, (Innocenti) 2016. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Innocenti Working Papers, IWP_2016_25: Accessed February 23, 2017 at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_25.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Ethiopia URL: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_25.pdf Shelf Number: 141193 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChildren and ViolenceViolence Against Children |
Author: Huong, Vu Thi Thanh Title: Understanding Children's Experiences of Violence in Viet Nam: Evidence from Young Lives Summary: This paper explores children’s accounts of violence at home in Viet Nam, and the ways in which factors at the individual, family, community and society levels affect their experiences of violence. The paper analyses cross-sectional survey data and qualitative data gathered from Young Lives; it explores what children know about violence, how they experience it, what they think drives violence at home, what they perceive the consequences to be, and finally, the support they find effective in addressing violence. High proportions of children experience violence (mostly physical punishment and emotional abuse). The paper contributes to knowledge about the nature and experience of violence affecting children in resource-poor settings, and concludes with some suggestions for policy, programming and practice. Details: Florence, Italy: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Office of Research, (Innocenti) 2016. 51p. Source: Internet Resource: Innocenti Working Papers, IWP_2016_26: Accessed February 23, 2017 at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_26.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Vietnam URL: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_26.pdf Shelf Number: 146786 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChildren and ViolenceViolence Against Children |
Author: Morrow, Virginia Title: Understanding Children’s Experiences of Violence in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, India: Evidence from Young Lives Summary: This paper explores children's accounts of violence in Andhra Pradesh, India, and the ways in which factors at the individual, family, community, institutional and society levels affect children’s experiences of violence. The paper analyses cross-sectional survey data and case studies from longitudinal qualitative data gathered over a seven-year period, from Young Lives. The paper is divided into four sections – a brief background section, study design and methods, findings from the survey, and findings from case studies. Large proportions of children experience violence (mostly physical punishment and emotional abuse) within their families, at school and, to some extent, within their communities. The findings demonstrate how children's experiences of violence change with age and that gender differences within this dynamic process are very distinct. The paper reveals that a child's disapproval of violence does not necessarily influence behaviour in later life, confirming the need for interventions to prevent and tackle violence as children grow up. Details: Florence, Italy: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Office of Research, (Innocenti) 2016. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: Innocenti Working Papers, IWP_2016_19: Accessed February 23, 2017 at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_19.pdf Year: 2016 Country: India URL: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/IWP_2016_19.pdf Shelf Number: 141195 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChildren and ViolenceViolence Against Children |
Author: La Valle, Ivana Title: Child sexual exploitation: support in children's residential homes Summary: While child sexual exploitation (CSE) has attracted considerable attention in recent years and has highlighted how residential children’s homes can be targeted by CSE perpetrators, little is known about the tailored support provided to children affected by CSE who are placed in residential care. This study was commissioned to start filling this evidence gap. More specifically, the study aimed to: • identify approaches already used in children’s homes to support children who have been sexually exploited or are at risk of sexual exploitation. • explore the perceived benefits and impact of the tailored support that has been offered. • distil what seems to work well in supporting children affected by CSE in residential care and offer conclusions on the benefits of sharing the learning more widely. Evidence for the study was gathered through: a rapid review of the international evidence on CSE support; interviews with ten residential children's homes in England that were known for their CSE expertise and high-quality provision; and case studies in four of these homes involving eight children affected by CSE. Details: Feethams, Darlington, UK Department for Education, 2016. 67p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 2, 2017 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/582354/Child-sexual-exploitation-support-in-childrens-homes.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/582354/Child-sexual-exploitation-support-in-childrens-homes.pdf Shelf Number: 141261 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual ExploitationResidential Care |
Author: Mathews, Ben Title: Oversight and regulatory mechanisms aimed at protecting children from sexual abuse: Understanding current evidence of efficacy Summary: The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (the Royal Commission) is required to inquire into, among other things, 'what institutions and governments should do to achieve best practice in encouraging the reporting of, and responding to reports or information about, allegations, incidents or risks of child sexual abuse and related matters in institutional contexts'. Across Australia, oversight bodies enable monitoring of aspects of child welfare, particularly for children in the care and protection system. For this report, the Royal Commission examined oversight bodies including ombudsmen offices (including children's ombudsmen); reportable conduct schemes; children's commissions; community visitors schemes; child advocates and children's guardians; and crime and misconduct commissions. In some instances, these agencies facilitate oversight and responses to child sexual abuse; in other instances, this facility is an implicit or consequential aspect of their authority. These bodies differ across jurisdictions in their form, scope and power. In addition, various regulatory mechanisms exist in Australia. For this report, the Royal Commission has examined regulatory bodies including non-government schools' accreditation boards; early childhood and care regulators; and medical sector regulators. In some instances, agencies' express purpose is to prevent or minimise the likelihood of child sexual abuse; in other instances, this function is an implicit or consequential aspect of their authority. These bodies also have different features across jurisdictions. To assist the Royal Commission in addressing its terms of reference, the report initially focuses on understanding the nature of these oversight and regulatory bodies. This is presented in Part 2. The report then assesses the efficacy of these bodies in protecting children from sexual abuse, focusing on institutional contexts. To fulfil the aims of the study as stated by the Royal Commission, this report covers narrow efficacy and broad efficacy. The report has been informed by regulatory theory, and has used legal analysis, policy analysis and public health research methods, to review and analyse literature for its evaluative purpose. Appendix 2 explains in more detail the concepts of narrow efficacy and broad efficacy, and how they are measured. In sum, the evaluation of narrow efficacy explores the presence and nature of key requirements enabling the protection of children from child sexual abuse in institutional contexts; it does so through synthesis and doctrinal analysis. Broad efficacy is conceptualised as the effect in practice of the oversight or regulatory mechanism in protecting children from sexual abuse in institutional contexts. The evaluation of broad efficacy asks whether the oversight or regulatory body achieves the policy goal of improving protection of children from sexual abuse in institutional contexts. Accordingly, the report first analyses narrow efficacy using selected significant features and parameters of the relevant legislative and regulatory frameworks. This analysis is presented in Part 2, alongside the synthesis of the nature of these bodies. The report then analyses broad efficacy using a systematic review of literature, according to the normal conventions of social science and public health scholarship. This is presented in Part 3. A third, less central, aspect of the report is a summary of evidence about the efficacy of other innovative regulatory models for protecting children from sexual abuse in institutional contexts. This is presented in Part 4. A fourth, again less central, aspect of the report is a summary of models of regulation from other fields or industries that may be applicable or adaptable for protecting children from sexual abuse in institutional contexts. This is also presented in Part 4. Two additional substantial components of the project were added after parts 1-4 were completed. To assist the Royal Commission in addressing its terms of reference, Part 5 explores how components, structures and mechanisms from occupational health and safety regulatory models in Australia could be used to inform a regulatory approach to protecting children from sexual abuse in institutional contexts. Accordingly, Part 5 presents a synthesis of these occupational health and safety regulatory models. It also analyses whether and how their central concepts and mechanisms may inform a regulatory approach to protecting children from sexual abuse in institutional contexts. Finally, to assist the Royal Commission in addressing its terms of reference, and with special reference to different kinds of organisations that serve children and youths, Part 6 explores the regulatory models and approaches that could be used to ensure that smaller organisations with limited resources (namely, sporting, cultural and arts, and recreational groups) are not overburdened with regulation, while still keeping children safe from sexual abuse. As with Part 5, the completion of Part 6 involved research, synthesis and analysis, and the development of reform proposals informed by the relevant principles, theory and evidence. Details: Sydney: Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, 2017. 258p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 11, 2017 at: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/f6d43e2a-48b2-4999-9867-3938dcbcdf7e/Oversight-and-regulatory-mechanisms-aimed-at-prote Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/f6d43e2a-48b2-4999-9867-3938dcbcdf7e/Oversight-and-regulatory-mechanisms-aimed-at-prote Shelf Number: 144782 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Child Institutional AbuseChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChild Sexual Abuse Child Welfare |
Author: Barter, Ken Title: The Hidden Hurt Project: Final report. Summary: This document is intended to provide a substantive reporting of the activities, successes, and challenges experienced by the Research team of the Hidden Hurt Project over the course of phases I, II, and III from August 2002 through December 2004. The Canadian Red Cross RespectED Program and the three partnering schools of social work at Canadian universities (Dalhousie University, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and University of Calgary), with the support and funding of the National Crime Prevention Strategy, aim to prevent the abuse of children and youth by increasing awareness and understanding of the nature and extent of child abuse in Canadian society. This awareness and understanding has been and will continue to be incorporated into and applied to the abuse prevention programming of the RespectED program. The RespectED Program of the Canadian Red Cross has been delivering two primary prevention programs, "Its Not Your Fault"(child/youth maltreatment prevention) and "What's Love Got to Do with It?" (relationship violence prevention) for over twenty (20) years. These two presentations have reached thousands of Canadian children age 12 and over. An integral dimension to the delivery of these two presentations is the voluntary completion of anonymous evaluation forms by the youth who participate in these programs. These forms contain no identifying information pertaining to the youth, however most of the completed forms contain information on gender, age, province, and the date of completion. Responses by program participants documented on these forms contain disclosures of abuse and neglect experiences of youth age 12 and over. Many youth related the information disseminated during the presentations to their own life experiences or the experiences of others known to them. The content of the presentations raised questions based on their own life experiences as well as provided them with information on how and where to seek help for themselves and others. Until this project, this data had not been analysed in any form. Yet the data contains 'hidden pain' for many youth who have found writing down their story after being exposed to information as a way to validate their feelings. These personal stories were going untold. So too was the collective national story of the extent of abuse, neglect, and relationship violence which is occurring outside the awareness of the service system which is mandated to respond to the needs of these youth. The purpose of this project is to tell these stories. The stories will provide insight into the extent of abuse and neglect that many youth are experiencing in their families, schools, and communities. These stories are not disclosed for purposes of intervention (although intervention may accompany disclosure where and when mandated or appropriate.) This is critical information for further insight into the extent and nature of abuse and neglect among youth age 12 and over. This data provides real life examples to heighten awareness and inform education programs. The Hidden Hurt project was designed around three phases of research: Phase I: Identification and Analysis of the Hidden Hurt; Phase II: Development and Implementation of New Prevention Education Programming; and, Phase III: Evaluation of the New Programming and Dissemination of Findings. Details: Memorial University, School of Social Work, St. John's, NL. 2005. 150p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 12, 2017 at: http://www.croixrouge.ca/cmslib/general/hidden_hurt_finalreport.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Canada URL: http://www.croixrouge.ca/cmslib/general/hidden_hurt_finalreport.pdf Shelf Number: 144894 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild Protection |
Author: Marcus, Rachel Title: Poverty and violations of children's right to protection in low- and middle-income countries: A review of the evidence Summary: Why do up to 1.5 billion children suffer physical violence every year? Why do up to 2251 million children suffer sexual violence every year? Why are 14.2 million girls every year married off to start adult lives in adolescence or before?2 Why are considerable numbers of young children left alone for long hours without competent adult supervision? Historically, in studies of violence against children in Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries, explanations emphasised the role of individual psychological factors. The pendulum swung in the 1960s to highlight structural forces contributing to the abuse and neglect of children, in particular poverty and unemployment. In more recent years, understanding of the factors underlying violations of children's right to protection has drawn on an ecological model that emphasises factors at several levels: individual, family, household, community and broader society (Frederick and Goddard, 2007). The international child protection community generally sees three broad sets of factors as underlying many child protection violations: sociocultural norms, weak protective structures and poverty or deprivation. However, within this community there are divergences of opinion concerning the extent to which poverty is a significant underlying or risk factor. Interviews with child protection and poverty specialists and an electronic survey conducted for this research programme revealed a notable split. The majority considered poverty an important and often-neglected factor underpinning many child protection violations, but a significant number of respondents highlighted the fact that abuse, exploitation and neglect of children occurs across all socioeconomic groups, and thus felt economic deprivation played a more minor role. Perspectives varied considerably across different types of violation, with most respondents feeling that economic deprivation was a critical factor in early marriage, inadequate care and sexual exploitation, but relatively fewer convinced it was an important factor underpinning corporal punishment or sexual abuse. The electronic survey, like the majority of the literature examined for this review, focuses on children's vulnerability to protection violations, not whether poverty increases the risk of perpetrating abuse. Broadly, these perspectives concur with insights from the literature examined for this study. Despite increased recognition of the importance of effective joined-up child protection systems (e.g. World Vision, 2011; Wulcyzn et al., 2010), state agencies charged with child protection in most low- and middle-income countries are severely underfunded (Everychild, 2010b; Holmes and Jones, 2009). At the same time, there is a global move towards strengthening social protection - much of which has a partial focus on children in poverty, and thus is directing resources towards realising children's survival and development rights. In this context, there is growing interest in exploring the potential and limitations of social protection, human development and other anti-poverty programmes to reduce violations of children's protection rights - and of action to protect children's rights to promote better anti-poverty and human development outcomes. As a contribution to emerging practice and debate in this area, the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and the Oak Foundation are undertaking a two-year programme of work to explore the potential for greater linkages between child protection and anti-poverty work in low- and middle-income countries. This report - the first output of the programme - has two main objectives: 1. To examine how far and in what ways poverty contributes to violations of children's rights to protection in four key areas - child marriage, sexual and physical violence against children and inadequate care of children - and thus to clarify the significance of poverty as an underlying or risk factor for these different violations of children's protection rights; and 2. To assess the strength of evidence concerning the relationship between poverty and child marriage, sexual and physical violence against children and inadequate care of children, and thus to identify knowledge gaps. It reviews evidence from low- and middle-income countries on the linkages between poverty and child marriage, sexual and physical violence against children and inadequate care of children. It also draws selectively on evidence from OECD countries in areas where the low- and middle-income country literature is sparse, or to highlight differences related to income and institutional capacity. It is intended as a detailed resource on the issues explored. Key findings are summarised in a short background note (Marcus, 2013). Other components of this programme include an adapted systematic review of the extent to which child protection policies and programmes involve attention to anti-poverty issues, and the contribution of antipoverty components to effective action on specific child protection issues (Marcus and Page, 2013); an electronic survey of practitioners and key informant interviews; and fieldwork exploring the relationship between poverty and violation of children's protection rights in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Vietnam. The programme is also exploring the potential for and different ways of promoting greater synergies between analysts and practitioners with anti-poverty and child protection foci. Details: London: Overseas Development Institute, 2014. 97p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 1, 2017 at: https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/9309.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/9309.pdf Shelf Number: 145223 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild MarriageChild ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseChild WelfarePoverty and CrimeSocioeconomic Conditions and CrimeViolence Against Children |
Author: Cuartas, Jorge Title: Parenting, Scarcity and Violence: Theory and Evidence for Colombia Summary: During early childhood, children develop cognitive and socioemotional skills that predict success in multiple socioeconomic dimensions. A large part of the development of these skills depends on the child's context during the first years of life and, in particular, on the quality of parental care. Grounded on recent literature in psychology and behavioral economics, we discuss a theoretical framework for understanding why some children receive adequate care, while others do not. Within this framework, we identify a determinant of the quality of parenting that has not yet been explored in-depth: the availability of parents' mental resources, which are depleted by the subjective feeling of scarcity and the stress generated by adversities. Using cross-sectional data from a household survey in Colombia and administrative data on crime and violence, we find that a greater subjective feeling of scarcity (β=0.45, IC95%:[0.082, 0.979]) and greater exposure to violence (β =0.09, IC90%:[0.004, 0.182]) are associated with a lower likelihood that parents engage in stimulating activities with their children. At the same time, the results show that receiving information on childrearing is correlated with better parental practices (β =-0.48, IC95%:[-0.822, -0.136]). Details: Bogota; Universidad de los Andes Facultad de Economa, 2016. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: Documento CEDE No.38 2016: Accessed May 10, 2017 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2912482). Year: 2016 Country: Colombia URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2912482 Shelf Number: 145401 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentParentingSocioeconomic Conditions and CrimeViolence |
Author: Easton, Claire Title: 'We Should Have Been Helped from Day One': a unique perspective from children, families and practitioners Summary: This summary presents the findings from the fifth round of LARC (Local Authorities Research Consortium), a project led by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) and Research in Practice (RiP). Our report will be of use to anyone with an interest in early intervention; children experiencing neglect; and in improving the ways local authorities and their partners work together to improve outcomes for children, young people and families. The report offers a unique insight into the views of children and parents For this round of LARC, nine local authorities who have been supported by early intervention services, and others, due to issues of (low level to moderate) child neglect. How do we effectively support families with different levels of need across the early intervention spectrum to engage with services within an overall framework of neglect? investigated: The local authorities chose this research topic and carried out their own research, supported by LARC researchers. The research focused on children experiencing the following levels of neglect Level two, related to families where the parent/s mostly met the child's needs. - Level three, where children had some unmet needs; lived in a family home that lacked routines; had parents with poor awareness of safety issues; and the child received limited interaction and affection. - Level four, these were families in which adults' needs were put before the child's, and where the child had low nutrition and scarce stimulation. We did not consider cases where children were at significant risk of harm and should be being supported by statutory services. The data was collected from over 105 practitioners (from education, health, early years settings and authority services) and 40 parents, children and young people. Details: Slough, UK: National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), 2013. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 17, 2017 at: https://www.nfer.ac.uk/publications/LRCF01/LRCF01.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nfer.ac.uk/publications/LRCF01/LRCF01.pdf Shelf Number: 131250 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionEarly InterventionFamily Intervention |
Author: UNICEF Title: A Child is a child: Protecting children on the move from violence, abuse and exploitation Summary: Millions of children are on the move across international borders - fleeing violence and conflict, disaster or poverty, in pursuit of a better life. Hundreds of thousands move on their own. When they encounter few opportunities to move legally, children resort to dangerous routes and engage smugglers to help them cross borders. Serious gaps in the laws, policies and services meant to protect children on the move further leave them bereft of protection and care. Deprived, unprotected, and often alone, children on the move can become easy prey for traffickers and others who abuse and exploit them. Alarming numbers of children are moving alone Many children move alone and face particularly grave risks. In parts of the world, the number of children moving on their own has skyrocketed. On the dangerous Central Mediterranean Sea passage from North Africa to Europe, 92 per cent of children who arrived in Italy in 2016 and the first two months of 2017 were unaccompanied, up from 75 per cent in 2015. At least 300,000 unaccompanied and separated children moving across borders were registered in 80 countries in 2015-2016 0- a near five-fold increase from 66,000 in 2010-2011. The total number of unaccompanied and separated children on the move worldwide is likely much higher. Specific reasons motivate children to undertake journeys alone. Many seek to reunite with family members already abroad. Others pursue their families' aspirations for this generation to have a better life. Perceptions of the potential benefits of children moving, especially to certain destinations, filter through social networks. Other factors include family breakdown, domestic violence, child marriage and forced conscription. Without safe and legal pathways, children's journeys are rife with risk and exploitation Whatever their motivation, children often find few opportunities to move legally. Family reunification, humanitarian visas, refugee resettlement spots, and work or study visas are out of reach for most. But barriers to legal migration do not stop people from moving, they only push them underground. Wherever families and children desperate to move encounter barriers, smuggling in human beings thrives. Smugglers range from people helping others in need for a fee to organized criminal networks that deliver children into hazardous and exploitative situations. Once children and families place their fates in the hands of smugglers, the transaction can readily take a turn towards abuse or exploitation - especially when children and families incur debts to pay smugglers' fees. Europol estimates that 20 per cent of suspected smugglers on their radar have ties to human trafficking - they help children cross borders, only to sell them into exploitation, sometimes akin to contemporary forms of slavery. Some routes are particularly rife with risks. In a recent International Organization for Migration survey, over three-quarters of 1,600 children aged 14-17 who arrived in Italy via the Central Mediterranean route reported experiences such as being held against their will or being forced to work without pay at some point during their journeys - indications that they may have been trafficked or otherwise exploited. Traffickers and other exploiters thrive especially where state institutions are weak, where organized crime abounds, and also where migrants become stuck and desperate. Details: New York: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), 2017. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 7, 2017 at: https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/UNICEF_A_child_is_a_child_May_2017_EN.pdf Year: 2017 Country: International URL: https://www.unicef.org/publications/files/UNICEF_A_child_is_a_child_May_2017_EN.pdf Shelf Number: 145948 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChild Sexual ExploitationChildren Exposed to ViolenceHuman SmugglingHuman TraffickingMigrant ChildrenOrganized CrimeUnaccompanied Children |
Author: Telethon Kids Institute Title: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Children and Child Sexual Abuse in Institutional Contexts Summary: The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse commissioned the Telethon Kids Institute to collaborate on a report examining the question of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children's past and contemporary vulnerability to child sexual abuse in institutional contexts. The research team was guided and supported by the advisory group and the Royal Commission's Aboriginal Knowledge Circle. The report addresses the following questions developed by the Royal Commission and advisory group: In the past, were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at risk of sexual abuse in institutions? What have been the impacts of past racist legislation, policies and practices on the well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and in turn the risk of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children being placed in contemporary institutions? In the present day, are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children at risk of sexual abuse in institutions? This research draws on multiple sources of evidence. The research team drew on the substantial expertise, knowledge and experience of the advisory group. The research team and advisory group worked together in an iterative process of reviewing material and filling gaps in existing evidence. While the research team could only draw on material that has been documented and evidenced, they acknowledge that there is much evidence that is oral and much work needed to be done to overcome the inherent bias in the kinds of accounts that make up the historical evidence base. Both the advisory group and the Aboriginal Knowledge Circle provided cultural governance over this project and were also critical in contributing their knowledge of oral histories so that the researchers could go back and look for documented evidence of events. The research team also reviewed national and state inquiries that addressed, in whole or part, the past and present vulnerability of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Details: Sydney:Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, 2017. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 4, 2017 at: https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/0da4f253-3442-40d5-b5db-7c31aae80fd9/Aboriginal-and-Torres-Strait-Islander-children-and Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: https://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au/getattachment/0da4f253-3442-40d5-b5db-7c31aae80fd9/Aboriginal-and-Torres-Strait-Islander-children-and Shelf Number: 146721 Keywords: Aboriginal PersonsChild Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual AbuseCorrections-Based Sexual AbuseIndigenous PeoplesInstitutional Abuse |
Author: Belton, Emma Title: Assessing the Risk, Protecting the Child: Final Evaluation Report Summary: Assessing the Risk, Protecting the Child (ARPC) is an NSPCC service that assesses men who pose a sexual risk to children and are not in the criminal justice system. The service includes an assessment of the man deemed to be a risk, as well as the capacity of the non-abusing parent/carer to protect the child, and the views and wishes of the children involved. The service was delivered at nine NSPCC sites from 2011-2016. This final evaluation report summarises the findings from the already published qualitative evaluation and integrates this with survey results and tracking data of what happens after assessments are completed. The main findings are: - The voice of the child work was the unique aspect of ARPC, but in over a third of assessments the child's voice was not included as they were either too young or did not feel comfortable taking part. The guide gives some suggestions about how the child's voice can be incorporated in these circumstances, but additional guidance on how to include the child's voice could enhance this work further. - The majority of referrers felt that the assessment reports were of a high quality and helped them form a judgement about the actions needed to protect children. The independent nature of the reports was a key factor in their usefulness. - Referrers, men and protective parents/carers felt that reports could be made more accessible and would find it helpful if the report author discussed it with them face-to-face. The time taken to produce reports could also be shortened. - Although most referrers agreed with report recommendations, one-third of recommendations had not been implemented six months post-assessment, in part because the support suggested was not available locally. Some referrers would have welcomed more guidance on implementing recommendations. The development of the NSPCC Together for Childhood centres may assist in providing the post-assessment professional consultation that some referrers would have found helpful. - Reports assess risk at one particular time-point, and the impact of child protection will be limited to family circumstances remaining the same. Risk should be managed through the lifelong safety plan and, where circumstances change, a referral may be needed to another agency for an updated risk assessment. - The NSPCC is no longer accepting referrals into the ARPC service. This decision follows a strategic review of all of our programmes and resources available to deliver them. Consideration was given to ARPC's fit with our new strategy and the results of this evaluation, and it was felt that greater outcomes for children could be achieved through investment in alternative programmes. The learning from the evaluation may be of use to other agencies delivering this type of work Details: London: National Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Children, 2017. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 5, 2017 at: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/evaluation-of-services/assessing-the-risk-protecting-the-child-final-evaluation.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/evaluation-of-services/assessing-the-risk-protecting-the-child-final-evaluation.pdf Shelf Number: 146747 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseRisk Assessment |
Author: Forda, Julian D. Title: A Study of the Impact of Screening for Poly-victimization in Juvenile Justice Summary: Research over the past decade has identified a sub-group of traumatized youths who have had extensive exposure to multiple types of victimization, interpersonal violence, and loss. These poly-victims are at risk for involvement in delinquency, and if they become involved in juvenile justice they have more severe emotional, behavioral, interpersonal, and school problems than other justice-involved youth (Ford, Grasso, Hawke, & Chapman, 2013). Screening for mental health problems by staff or clinicians has become a standard practice in most juvenile justice programs, with the standard practice being universal screening of all youth at the point of system intake. While further referrals for services should be guided by screening results, such referrals are usually at the discretion of the staff/clinician. However, there is no validated tool or procedure to screen for poly-victimization with justice-involved youth. This project therefore was designed to test the feasibility of and validate a poly-victimization screen with youth in juvenile detention facilities. The project's specific aims were as follows: Aim 1: To conduct a quasi-experimental study of the effectiveness of poly-victimization enhanced screening (PVE) in increasing the identification of traumatized juvenile justice-involved youth. Aim 2: To test the effectiveness of PVE in reducing subsequent adverse legal outcomes: (a) number and severity of juvenile offenses, (b) extent of justice involvement. Aim 3: To determine if the outcomes associated with PVE are independent of youths' age, gender, race/ethnicity, and previous legal history. Details: Farmington, CT: University of Connecticut Health Center, 2017. 21p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 21, 2017 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250994.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250994.pdf Shelf Number: 146797 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChildren Exposed to ViolenceRepeat VictimizationTrauma |
Author: Schrader-McMillan, Anita Title: Improving the effectiveness of the child protection system - A review of literature Summary: The Improvement Board of The Local Government Association (LGA) commissioned this piece of work in order (i) to better understand the evidence on what works in child protection, and (ii) to consider how the evidence can be used locally to inform decisions on how best to manage demand on Children's Social Care services within the constraints of existing resources. This project has been undertaken as a joint‐funded collaboration between the LGA, EIF and NSPCC. Aims and Objectives The objective of this rapid review of the literature was to identify both known and emerging/innovative systems and practices that have been shown to improve outcomes for children (i) who have experienced abuse and neglect or (ii) are clearly identified as being at risk of abuse. The objective of the review was also to identify effective programmes, as well as evidence regarding effective methods of assessment and engagement, and practitioner training, working and management. Where possible the analysis aimed to identify the reliability of the evidence; scale of impact; and evidence of potential to reduce costs or mitigate the need for increased spending on children's services and other parts of the child protection system. Methods This paper is based on a rapid view of the best current evidence available on the following: - Pre‐proceedings - S17 (CiN) including children who go missing - S47 (Child Protection) - Targeted support (e.g. troubled families) - Risk of CSE / targeted youth support (which may indicate existence of abuse, neglect and other harms that are not being addressed through formal child protection processes) The review does not include literature on specific forms of severe harm, including criminal offences such as trafficking or female genital mutilation (FGM), which require immediate implementation of child protection procedures. Neither does it include guidelines on general treatment of alcohol or substance misuse or severe mental health problems that can increase the risk of child abuse and neglect. Reference is provided to relevant NICE guidelines in the references. Details: London: Early Intervention Foundation (EIF), 2017. 172p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2017 at: http://www.eif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/improving-child-protection_strand1_SchraderMcMillan-Barlow_June2017.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.eif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/improving-child-protection_strand1_SchraderMcMillan-Barlow_June2017.pdf Shelf Number: 146875 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Protection |
Author: Belton, Emma Title: Assessing the Risk: Protecting the Child. Referrers' Perspectives Summary: Assessing the Risk Protecting the Child is a service that works with men who may be a risk to children. Social workers send men to the service to try to help families keep their children safe. Social workers who are worried about a child use the service to see if the man is a danger to the child and whether the parent/carer can keep the child safe from harm. The service also speaks to the child to check how they are feeling about things at home. This report looks at how well social workers thought the assessments went. It also looks at how assessments could be better and how they helped to make decisions such as what can be done to look after the children. This was done by interviewing social workers. Findings from the research show that: - Social workers found that the reports they got back helped them understand more about the family they worked with and how to keep children safe. - Some social workers thought that it took too long to get the reports back. This meant that it took a long time for families to find out what would happen next. Sometimes social workers also thought that the reports were too long and the words used meant that families couldn't always understand them. - Social workers felt that workers at the NSPCC worked well with families so that they could open up and speak more freely. NSPCC staff were seen as being separate from children's service. This meant that families felt like they weren't being judged. - The sessions with children helped them to understand what was going on at home. The sessions with parents/carers helped them by giving them information on how to keep their children safe. This could also encourage parents/carers to make better choices when protecting their children. - Social workers found the ideas the NSPCC had about keeping children safe helpful. Sometimes they would have liked some help with putting the ideas into action. Details: London: National Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Children, 2015. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2017 at: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/evaluation-of-services/assessing-the-risk-protecting-the-child-referrers-perspectives.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/globalassets/documents/evaluation-of-services/assessing-the-risk-protecting-the-child-referrers-perspectives.pdf Shelf Number: 146882 Keywords: Abusive MenChild Abuse and Neglect Child Protection Child Sexual Abuse Risk AssessmentSocial Workers |
Author: Cahill, Desmond Title: Child Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church: An Interpretive Review of the Literature and Public Inquiry Reports Summary: This research, conducted by staff of RMIT University in Melbourne, has been essentially a desk study. It was designed to review the literature concerning child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Australia and elsewhere. It included 26 key international and Australian inquiry reports. It may best be described as a multidisciplinary review of the literature within the academic parameters of the social sciences and applied humanities, which is also both theologically informed and pastorally aware. There is an uneasy interface between spirituality, theology, canon law, civil law, criminology, history and the social sciences. The Catholic Church, which claims to be 'an expert in humanity', has objectives that are both this-worldly and ultra-worldly. Both lead researchers, as resigned and married priests, have been theologically trained to a high level in pontifical universities in Rome, and both have worked in pastoral roles as ministering priests. As well, they brought to the task high level knowledge of psychology, sociology, education, canon law, and public policy, as well of research and evaluative techniques (see their bio-data at the beginning of this report). It should be noted that many prior studies have not been informed by a deep appreciation of the nuances of Catholic theological and canon law thinking, nor by an appreciation of the various Catholic cultures and their complexities in each country. It was critical that the research team understood in great depth the workings not only of the Australian Church, but also of the Apostolic See in Rome where both had studied at post-graduate level. Two principal research questions have guided this study: What individual dispositional attributes and Catholic Church organisational policies, practices, processes and attitudes have pre-disposed, influenced and facilitated individual priests and religious in their perpetration of sexual and physical abuse against children? (Chapters Eight and Nine). How have the theological frameworks, organisational structures, governance processes, and institutional cultures contributed to the sexual abuse of children by priests and religious and the inadequate responses of the Holy See , the Catholic bishops, the leaders of religious institutes, and other responsible Church personnel? (Chapters Nine and Ten). Details: Melbourne: Centre for Global Research, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies,, RMIT University, 2017. 384p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 14, 2017 at: https://www.rmit.edu.au/content/dam/rmit/documents/news/church-abuse/child-sex-abuse-and-the-catholic-church.pdf Year: 2017 Country: International URL: https://www.rmit.edu.au/content/dam/rmit/documents/news/church-abuse/child-sex-abuse-and-the-catholic-church.pdf Shelf Number: 147251 Keywords: Catholic Church Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual Abuse |
Author: Fry, Deborah Title: Bringing the global to the local: review of global trends in the prevalence and services for child maltreatment in order to inform research, policy and practice in England Summary: This paper compiles, for the first time, available global statistics according to the 16 NSPCC indicators collected annually for the UK. Child deaths are declining over time in the UK. Comparative data shows that child homicide and suicide rates have been showing a steady decline over the past several decades in high-income countries globally. Child death rates in the UK are among the lowest in Europe. There is a lack of comparative trend data related to prevalence of child maltreatment. Where we do have data, we know that self-reported prevalence of child maltreatment and harm is lower than the US. When prevalence of various forms of child maltreatment - including physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect - are self-reported in household surveys, the UK shows a lower overall prevalence of child maltreatment than the US when using similar instruments albeit different methods of data collection (e.g. household interviewer administered questionnaires in the UK and telephone surveys in the US). However, the self-reported prevalence of children experiencing physical abuse is similar between the UK and the US and is the most commonly reported form of abuse in both nations. The increasing importance of the Internet in children's lives also increases the risk of experiencing online harm. While children in the UK are generally less likely to report experiencing online harm compared to other EU countries and Australia, the prevalence of cyberbullying is increasing both in the UK and several other EU countries. The prevalence of crime victimisation among adolescents in England is low, around 5%, though children in England are more likely to report being the victim of assault or a hate crime in the past year than children in other European countries such as Denmark, Ukraine and Italy. Children in the UK are more likely to contact the NSPCC Childline about concerns related to abuse or violence compared to child helplines in other high human development index countries. Research has shown that helplines are important avenues for helpseeking for children, especially for forms of violence such as sexual abuse. Comparative data shows that, over time, the UK has seen a pronounced increase in rates of sexual offenses reported to the police, more so than most other high-income countries, but underreporting of sexual abuse to the police is still an issue. England has a higher rate of children referred to social welfare services compared to Australia and this shows an upward trend. The rate of children referred is higher in England than in Australia, even though Australia has mandatory reporting whereas England does not, with an overall increase from 2010 to 2015. Professionals account for over 70% of referrals in England and Australia, but referrals made by parents, relatives and other individuals are more common in Australia and the US compared to England. The composition of child protection plans between countries differs with England having more referrals related to neglect compared to Australia and Canada but far fewer than the US. Of all types of abuse, child sexual abuse was the least common type of abuse subject to a child protection plan across all countries except the US. Overall, children in England spend less time on child protection plans compared to Australia, and the time on plans in England is decreasing over time. The number of looked after children is increasing in England but the number of placements a child has is declining. The number of looked after children is higher in England than Canada, but the number of placements that looked after children have is declining in England, showing trends towards more stability in placements. The UK is a destination country for child trafficking and internal trafficking is an issue, especially for girls. The number of trafficked children identified in the UK is higher than in some European countries such as France but lower than Germany and other countries. In the UK, trafficking of children happens within the country - with increasing reports of girls trafficked internally for sexual exploitation - and children are also trafficked to the UK from other countries with the UK being recognised as one of the top destination countries globally Details: London: NSPCC, 2017. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 14, 2017 at: http://www.eif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/improving-child-protection_strand5_NSPCC-global_June2017.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.eif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/improving-child-protection_strand5_NSPCC-global_June2017.pdf Shelf Number: 147256 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild Protection |
Author: Raff, Annie Title: Trends in Child Protection: England Summary: Each year since 2013, the NSPCC publishes the report 'How safe are our children' which is intended to help us understand the extent of abuse and neglect in the UK. Child abuse and neglect is complex and often hidden and there is not one single source of data that allows us to track or measure all child abuse and neglect. What we do have is multiple sources of data, each with its own merits and weaknesses. This report draws on the methodology used by the NSPCC in compiling the 'How safe are our children' reports, but using data specific to England where possible. For each indicator, we have set out the strengths and limitations of the data. The indicators we have used We have compiled 22 different indicators in an effort to understand the extent of abuse and neglect in England. The indicators relate both to deaths due to child maltreatment and the incidence of abuse and neglect. In each case there are multiple ways to measure the extent of child maltreatment. Since there is a wide range of relevant information, we have had to be selective in the measures presented. Our aim has been to provide the most robust and comprehensive picture possible, so we have chosen indicators that: - provide different insights on the extent of child abuse and neglect; - use robust data, where possible based on a large sample and standardised measures. Where there are weaknesses in the data we state these; and - wherever possible, use data that can be tracked over time and is included in the NSPCC How Safe series. What we have not been able to include We have not been able to include data on all forms of child abuse in this report, largely due to the paucity of data available. Often data may be available, yet it will not be broken down by age allowing children to be identified. We have not been able to provide a complete picture of administrative data or self-report data related to all forms of abuse in this report. This is largely due to the paucity of data available or the incomplete nature of the recorded data. Some examples include: - data on assaults in England is recorded by the police and published, but is not broken down by the age of the victims. The police do record this information but it is not currently collected and/or published centrally - there is insufficient data on children's own views about how safe they feel from abuse and neglect - the only large scale dataset that looks at the prevalence of abuse and neglect is the NSPCC study conducted in 2009. There is a need for a new prevalence study to be conducted by the government that looks at all forms of abuse and neglect. For more information or comparisons with other nations in the UK, please see the NSPCC How Safe reports available at https://www.nspcc.org.uk/services-andresources/research-and-resources/2016/how-safeare-our-children-2016/. Details: London: NSPCC, 2017. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 14, 2017 at: http://www.eif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/improving-child-protection_strand4_NSPCC-England_June2017.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.eif.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/improving-child-protection_strand4_NSPCC-England_June2017.pdf Shelf Number: 147664 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild Protection |
Author: Basson, Danna Title: Validation of the Commercial Sexual Exploitation-Identification Tool (CSE-IT). Technical Report Summary: Commercial sexual exploitation of children in the U.S. is recognized as a child welfare, mental health, and public health crisis. Despite growing awareness of the problem, it is poorly understood and difficult to recognize. As a result, 75% of young people who experience commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) endure multiple years of abuse before anyone intervenes. The lack of a standard, validated screening tool for use in settings where vulnerable youth are served severely hampers the ability of public agencies to identify victims early and provide targeted services. As a result, there are no valid prevalence or incidence rates for youth who are sexually exploited in California or the United States. To address the need for early identification, credible prevalence estimates of children who experience CSE, and improved response and protection for exploited youth, WestCoast developed, pilot tested, and validated a screening tool to identify exploited youth. This report describes the development of the screening tool - called the Commercial Sexual Exploitation-Identification Tool (CSE-IT) - and the pilot test results and validity evidence for the CSE-IT. To develop the CSE-IT, WestCoast gathered input from over 100 stakeholders, including survivors of exploitation and providers across a variety of disciplines, to inform the content, structure, and administration of a new screening tool. Stakeholder input was critical to constructing a tool informed by the experience of the people who use it and the people it is intended to help. The resulting tool was piloted in 45 agencies, including 15 child welfare agencies, 6 juvenile justice agencies, and 24 community-based organizations. Two thousand childserving professionals screened 5,537 children and youth age 10 and over. The screening results showed that 635 youth, or 11.5% of the youth that were screened, have clear indicators of exploitation (or a score of Clear Concern on the CSE-IT). This rate differs by service setting, gender identity and expression, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and age. To validate the CSE-IT, we used pilot data to assess the tool's criterion validity, including concurrent and convergent validity, using data collected concurrently via the Crisis Assessment Tool/Childhood Severity of Psychiatric Illness (CAT/CSPI), a validated instrument. We also assessed the psychometric properties of the CSE-IT, including the tool's reliability and factor structure, using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). To ensure the content and structure of the CSE-IT reflected the complex reality of CSE for survivors of this abuse as well as for service providers, we also conducted extensive qualitative review of the tool through debriefings with CSE-IT users, agency leaders, survivors of CSE, advocates, and other stakeholders. The CSE-IT pilot study shows that systematically screening for CSE using a universal screening protocol helps identify youth experiencing exploitation, and that using a tool rather than relying on clinical judgment alone furthers this goal. Results also demonstrate the feasibility of establishing a systematic protocol of universal screening in large public agencies. Details: Oakland, CA: WestCloast Children's Clinic, 2015. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 16, 2017 at: http://www.westcoastcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/WCC-CSE-IT-PilotReport-FINAL.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.westcoastcc.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/WCC-CSE-IT-PilotReport-FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 147691 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProstitutionChild Sexual ExploitationChild TraffickingHuman Trafficking |
Author: Know Violence in Childhood Title: Ending Violence in Childhood. Global Report 2017 Summary: For a large proportion of the world's population, life is better than it was 30 years ago. Incomes have risen significantly. Life expectancy has increased. Fewer people are living in extreme poverty. Fewer mothers die in childbirth. The global community has also moved in many directions to make the world a more peaceful place for all. And yet, at least three out of every four of the world's children - 1.7 billion - had experienced some form of inter-personal violence, cruelty or abuse in their daily lives in a previous year, regardless of whether they lived in rich countries or poor, in the global North or the global South. It is unfortunate that a culture of silence surrounds violence. As a result, violence against children is still largely invisible in the development discourse. Violence violates the dignity and rights of children, and robs them of the joys of childhood. Childhood violence also disrupts the formation of capabilities, and imposes huge financial and human costs on individuals and societies. The tide is however turning. The 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, ratified by all but one of the UN member states, has been the inspiration for national governments and others to end violence against children. With ending violence being a clearly articulated priority of the Sustainable Development Goals, we have a unique opportunity to break the cycle of violence, especially for children and women who bear the brunt of it. This Report has marshalled global evidence to show how collaboration and learning across geographies, disciplines and sectors can unite academics, policy makers and practitioners to end childhood violence. The Report finds large gaps in global knowledge and evidence related to different dimensions of childhood violence. It therefore calls for much greater investment in data, research and evaluation to break the silence around violence and to promote public action across the world. Defining and measuring childhood violence is not easy. The Report makes a beginning by using estimated prevalence rates to develop a global picture of violence in childhood. It calls for States to invest in strengthening data systems to report on all forms of violence experienced by children across ages and settings. This Report also calls for global and local actions to promote child rights and prevent violence. It advocates a shift away from seeing violence as a series of discrete episodes towards recognizing that it is a thread running through the everyday lives of children everywhere. Details: New Delhi: Know Violence in Childhood, 2017. 158p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 20, 2017 at: http://globalreport.knowviolenceinchildhood.org/ Year: 2017 Country: International URL: http://globalreport.knowviolenceinchildhood.org/ Shelf Number: 148271 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionChildren and ViolenceFamily ViolenceInterpersonal Violence |
Author: Miller, Marna Title: Family Assessment Response in Washington's Child Protective Services: Effects on Child Safety and Out-of-Home Placement Summary: The 2012 Washington State Legislature directed DSHS to create a two-track response system for accepted reports to Child Protective Services, where high risk families receive an investigation (formerly the only response) and low- to moderate-risk families receive Family Assessment Response (FAR). FAR provides a comprehensive assessment of child safety, risk of subsequent child abuse or neglect, and family strengths and needs. The assessment determines the need for services to address child safety and the risk of subsequent maltreatment but does not include a determination as to whether child abuse or neglect occurred. WSIPP was directed to evaluate the effect of FAR on child safety measures, out-of-home placement rates, re-referral rates, and caseload sizes and demographics. In this final report, we evaluate the outcomes directed in the law, comparing outcomes for families who received FAR to those families who were eligible for FAR but who were served in offices where FAR had not yet been implemented. We also estimate the proportion of the caseload assigned to FAR after full implementation and the effect of FAR on receipt of paid in-home services. Details: Olympia: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2017. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 28, 2017 at: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1675/Wsipp_Family-Assessment-Response-in-Washington-s-Child-Protective-Services-Effects-on-Child-Safety-and-Out-of-Home-Placement_Report.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1675/Wsipp_Family-Assessment-Response-in-Washington-s-Child-Protective-Services-Effects-on-Child-Safety-and-Out-of-Home-Placement_Report.pdf Shelf Number: 148503 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Maltreatment Child Protection |
Author: Humphreys, Cathy Title: Fathers who use violence: Options for safe practice where there is ongoing contact with children Summary: Domestic and family violence (DFV) remains a chronic and destructive aspect of family life in Australia (Cox, 2015). Its pervasive reach into the lives of women and children creates fear, undermines health and wellbeing, is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children, and costs the community an estimated $21.6 billion (Our Watch, 2016; Price Waterhouse & Cooper, 2015). This paper responds to a challenge that has continued to frustrate workers attempting to intervene to support women and children living with DFV. The challenge that arises when women and children may not be in a position to separate from their abusive and violent partners, and when women and children's well-being and safety may not be enhanced by separation. In particular, this paper is focused on fathers who use violence and whether there are strategies that engage and address the issues for children, women and men who are continuing to live with DFV. Details: Melbourne, VIC Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2017. 26p. Source: Internet Resource: CFCA Paper No. 43: Accessed November 29, 2017 at: https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/sites/default/files/publication-documents/fatherswho_useviolence-final-v2_0.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/sites/default/files/publication-documents/fatherswho_useviolence-final-v2_0.pdf Shelf Number: 148581 Keywords: Abusive Men Child Abuse and NeglectChildren Exposed to Violence Domestic Violence Family Violence |
Author: University of Edinburgh Title: A Secondary Analysis of Data from Childline Zimbabwe. Summary: KEY FINDINGS - In 2014, Childline received a total of 15,446 reports; half were received by the helpline and the other half came in through one of its 31 drop-in centres located across the country. - Fifty-four per cent of all reports received in 2014 were about abuse, at a rate of 123.9 reports per 100,000 children; the remaining 46 per cent were reports of "children in need", at a rate of 106.9 per 100,000 children. - Slightly more than one in three (39 per cent) reports of abuse received in 2014 were about sexual abuse, followed by neglect (25 per cent), physical abuse (22 per cent), emotional abuse (12 per cent) and bullying (2 per cent). - Among all reports of abuse in 2014, around two in three (70 per cent) were reports about girls compared to one in three about boys (30 per cent). - Among girls reported to have experienced some form of abuse in 2014, the majority were reported as having experienced sexual abuse while the largest proportion of reports received about boys were for reasons of neglect. - Of all reports of abuse received by the helpline for both sexes in 2014, around one in three were reports about children between the ages of 13 and 15 years. - Fifty-five per cent of abuse reports about girls received by the helpline in 2014 were about those aged 13-17 years compared to 36 per cent of abuse reports made about boys for this age group. - Reports of sexual abuse received by the helpline in 2014 were more common among older age groups than younger ones, while neglect and physical abuse became less commonly reported. - Across all age groups of boys, the most commonly reported forms of abuse received by the helpline in 2014 were physical abuse and neglect; reports related to sexual abuse against girls increased with age. - At most drop-in centres in 2014, reports of abuse about girls were more likely than those about boys. - There was a 21 per cent increase in the number of reports received by Childline between 2011 and 2014. - Between 2011 and 2014, there was a 163 per cent increase in reports received by the helpline while there was a 20 per cent decrease in reports received by drop-in centres over this same time period. - Reports about sexual abuse received by Childline (through both the helpline and drop-in centres) showed a 100 per cent increase during the four-year period from 2011 to 2014. - Reports of abuse received about girls remained consistently higher than those received about boys between 2011 and 2014. - Childline has seen a 70 and 80 per cent increase in the number of reports of physical abuse against boys and girls, respectively, between 2011 and 2014; there has also been a 109 per cent increase in the number of reports of sexual abuse against girls during this time period. Details: Harare, UNICEF, 2016. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 6, 2017 at: https://www.unicef.org/zimbabwe/161020_Unicef_UZ_01_Final_Secondary_analysis.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Zimbabwe URL: https://www.unicef.org/zimbabwe/161020_Unicef_UZ_01_Final_Secondary_analysis.pdf Shelf Number: 148747 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild Sexual AbuseViolence Against Children |
Author: Our Watch Title: Counting on Change. A guide to prevention monitoring Summary: This Guide was developed to complement Change the story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women and their children in Australia. Change the story brings together international research, and nationwide experience, on what drives violence against women and what works to prevent it. It establishes a shared understanding of the evidence and principles of effective prevention, and presents a way forward for a coordinated national approach. Counting on change provides guidance on how to comprehensively measure progress towards the prevention of violence against women at the population-level. The Guide is a world-first in identifying indicators of change for the drivers and reinforcing factors of violence against women, and advising on available data sets and processes for gathering this information into a 'picture of progress'. Recent decades have seen significant work in terms of policies, initiatives, and campaigns to prevent violence against women and their children. These efforts are bearing fruit - there is growing and strong evidence around what works to prevent violence against women, drawn from local and international research. Evaluation of prevention work continues to build on this evidence base, and we've seen positive change among those reached by prevention programs. Details: Melbourne: Our Watch, 2017. 142p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 23, 2018 at: https://www.ourwatch.org.au/getmedia/0f7bc92f-a055-42df-8739-05d4d871ee17/OurWatch_GuideToMonitoring_AA.pdf.aspx Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: https://www.ourwatch.org.au/getmedia/0f7bc92f-a055-42df-8739-05d4d871ee17/OurWatch_GuideToMonitoring_AA.pdf.aspx Shelf Number: 148918 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectFamily ViolenceGender-Related ViolenceIntimate Partner ViolenceViolence Against Women, ChildrenViolence Prevention |
Author: Nebraska. Office of Inspector General of Nebraska Child Welfare Title: Sexual Abuse of State Wards, Youths in Adoptive or Guardian Homes, & Youth in Residential Placement. Reported July 2013 - October 2016 Summary: Child sexual abuse remains a widespread problem in the United States. Recent estimates show that 1 in 10 children will be subject to sexual abuse involving sexual contact before the age of 18, either by an adult or another youth. Child sexual abuse is generally understood to include everything from child rape and molestation, sexual touching, and coercing or persuading a child to engage in any type of sexual act to exposure to pornography, voyeurism, and communicating in a sexual manner by phone or Internet. In an estimated 90 percent of cases, children are sexually abused by someone they know and trust. Between 2013 and 2016, there were 1,284 substantiated victims of child sexual abuse in Nebraska. While DHHS does not track how many of those victims were involved with the child welfare system, national research indicates that youth in this system are at higher risk of experiencing sexual abuse and exploitation than their peers in the general population. Exact numbers of child sexual abuse victims are difficult to calculate because many victims do not report sexual abuse or wait for long periods of time before disclosing. Available research indicates that false reporting of child sexual abuse is extremely rare - occurring in only 4 to 8 percent of cases. The impact of child sexual abuse can be lifelong - placing survivors at heightened risk for physical and mental health diagnoses, increasing the likelihood they will encounter academic problems and engage in risky behaviors, and even negatively impacting lifetime earnings. Findings and Recommendations of the OIG Investigation Through its investigation, the OIG identified cases of child sexual abuse of state wards, of youth in residential facilities, and of youth reaching permanency through the child welfare system. The OIG used these cases as a starting point in identifying systemic issues that hinder DHHS and the child welfare system's ability to appropriately prevent and respond to cases of child sexual abuse. Throughout the report, the OIG also makes recommendations to DHHS for system improvements, in addition to identifying action items for the child welfare system as a whole. Of the 18 recommendations made, DHHS has accepted 11. Recommendations and action items are detailed in each section of the report. The OIG has also added DHHS's response to each recommendation and action item. A full list can be found in Appendix A. Cases of Child Sexual Abuse The OIG identified 50 children who were victims of sexual abuse that had been substantiated by DHHS or the courts, or where the case was court pending. Substantiated cases are those where it has been determined sexual abuse occurred. Court pending sexual abuse cases are cases that have been investigated and enough evidence exists that sexual abuse occurred that a juvenile or criminal court action was filed. The outcome of such juvenile or criminal proceeding has not yet been determined. Twenty-seven victims were in state care at the time of their sexual abuse and 23 were sexually abused in an adoptive or guardian home in which the state had placed them. The 23 youth who were sexually abused in adoptive or guardian homes were no longer involved in the child welfare system when the abuse was reported, although for some the sexual abuse they experienced began before permanency was achieved. All of the sexual abuse allegations were reported to DHHS between July 2013 and October 2016. The OIG also identified, reviewed, and analyzed some sexual abuse allegations of children in state care that were listed as unfounded or were never investigated. Under Nebraska law, all reports of child abuse or neglect not classified as court substantiated, court pending, or agency substantiated are to be considered unfounded. Although these allegations were not substantiated, at times correctly, the cases nonetheless illustrated concerns about how the child welfare system was functioning. Seven of these cases are highlighted in the report. The OIG reviewed and gathered information on each case of sexual abuse to identify trends and systemic issues. Each case is summarized in the report. Details: Lincoln, NE: Inspector General's Office, 2017. 82p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 28, 2018 at: http://oig.legislature.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/OIG-Summary-Report-Child-Sexual-Abuse-1.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://oig.legislature.ne.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/OIG-Summary-Report-Child-Sexual-Abuse-1.pdf Shelf Number: 149291 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual ExploitationChild WelfareInstitutional Abuse |
Author: San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center Title: The Economics of Child Abuse: A Study of San Francisco Summary: "The Economics of Child Abuse: A Study of San Francisco" is a first-of-its-kind report quantifying the economic cost of child abuse to the San Francisco community. The report asses community risk factors that make families of the city vulnerable to abuse. It also discusses protective factors which keep families safe and strong. Key Findings -- Estimated lifetime cost per victim of child abuse in San Francisco is $400,533 - The total estimated costs associated with one year of substantiated cases of child abuse in San Francisco is $301.6 million. - Given significant under-reporting of child abuse, the total economic cost could be as high as $5.6 billion. - San Francisco has community risk factors that make its residents more susceptible to abuse, including: impact of economic instability and homelessness, emigration and immigration, low number of families and young children. - Strengthening protective factors - parental resilience, social connections, concrete support in times of need, knowledge of parenting, and social / emotional competence of children - is critical to preventing child abuse. Details: San Francisco: The Child Abuse Prevention Center, and the Haas School of Business at University of California, Berkeley, 2017. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed March 14, 2018 at: https://safeandsound.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/economicsofabuse_report_sfcapc1.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://safeandsound.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/economicsofabuse_report_sfcapc1.pdf Shelf Number: 149468 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionCosts of CrimeCosts of Criminal JusticeEconomics of CrimeHealth Care |
Author: Human Rights Watch Title: "It's Like We're Always in a Prison": Abuses Against Boys Accused of National Security Offenses in Somalia Summary: The Islamist armed group Al-Shabab in Somalia recruits and uses hundreds of children as fighters. But their hardships and abuses continue even after these children escape or are captured by government forces. "It's Like We're Always in a Prison": Abuses Against Boys Accused of National Security Offenses in Somalia, documents the treatment of children arrested and detained since 2015 for suspected association with Al-Shabab. It is based on over 80 interviews, including with children formerly forced to train with or support Al-Shabab, their relatives, boys who had been detained in intelligence and police custody, lawyers, child protection advocates, and government officials. The report finds that authorities across Somalia are subjecting children in their custody to serious abuses, including coercive confessions and prohibiting access to their family members. Children handed over for prosecution are being tried in military courts in proceedings that fail to meet international juvenile justice standards. Existing and pending laws risk making it easier, not harder, to detain and prosecute children for Al-Shabab-related crimes without basic juvenile justice protections for children. When the authorities do hand children over to child rehabilitation centers, their legal status is often unclear. Human Rights Watch calls on the Somali government to end arbitrary detention of children and allow for systematic independent oversight of children in custody. Children taken into custody should be promptly transferred to child protection actors for rehabilitation and - when feasible - reintegration. Children accused of serious crimes should be tried by civilian courts in line with juvenile justice standards. Details: New York: HRW, 2018. 95p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 16, 2018 at: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/somalia0218_web.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Somalia URL: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/somalia0218_web.pdf Shelf Number: 149483 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChild SoldiersHuman Rights AbusesJuvenile Detention |
Author: Robinson, Sally Title: Preventing abuse and promoting personal safety in young people with disability. Final report Summary: This research aimed to develop an in-depth understanding of what 'being safe' means to young people with disability, what helps and hinders them to feel and be safe, and how their concerns about safety are perceived and responded to by other people. To do this, the project addressed four research questions: 1. What does 'being safe' mean to young people with disability (aged 16 - 30)? 2. What helps and hinders young people with disability in feeling and being safe? 3. How do people who provide support to young people with dis ability perceive and respond to young people's concerns about their own safety? 4. What are the implications of this knowledge for policy and practice, particularly in newly emerging models of support? Details: Lismore, NSW, AUS: Southern Cross University, Centre for Children and Young People, 2017. 100p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 9, 2018 at: https://rcypd.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/FINAL-Preventing-Abuse-Report.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: https://rcypd.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/FINAL-Preventing-Abuse-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 149719 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Protection Disabilities Disabled Children |
Author: Miles, Glen Title: Stop Violence Against Us! A preliminary national research study into the prevalence & perceptions of Cambodian children to violence against children in Cambodia Summary: Violence against children is perhaps the greatest of the evils that mankind can commit. Children offer the world hope. Our investment in their lives produces long-term fruit that can break cycles of violence and poverty. This study reveals the sad reality that children in Cambodia have come to accept unacceptable levels of violence in their families and schools. The children's own voices paint a terrible picture of acquiescence to adult violence. They face a daily reality where physical punishment and sexual violence is the norm and to be expected. Without serious attention being paid to this situation, today's children can become the violent offenders of tomorrow. Cultural practices that violate a child's right to safety and protection from abuse are difficult to address. This study clearly shows the validity of listening to children's views. In Khmer culture, children do not commonly speak out. They play an important but silent role in the family and community. But their silence does not condone the violence that they experience and witness. The children show not only remarkable resilience in coping with such abuse, but contribute practical suggestions as to how to deal with it. Their ideas should be given due weight and respect. Tearfund is committed to listening to children and enabling them to play a meaningful role in our development work. Children are not only the ones who know the most about their lives, but also are the building blocks for sustainable, just and equitable development in their communities and society. This research is part of our commitment to ensuring a child's right to participate, as well as recognising that families, communities and governments play a vital role in protecting and nurturing children. The research reveals that Cambodian children still have faith in adults to address the violence that is perpetrated against them. That faith can be fulfilled if their concerns are taken up by all of us who work to improve children's well being. Should we fail in this call, nations such as Cambodia will continually struggle to build a strong civil society where violence is a mere historical footnote. Details: Phnom Penh: Tearfund - Children at Risk Office, 2005. 94p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2018 at: http://tagv.mohw.gov.tw/TAGVResources/upload/Resources/2014/10/Stop%20Violence%20against%20Us!%20Summary%20Report%201.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Cambodia URL: http://tagv.mohw.gov.tw/TAGVResources/upload/Resources/2014/10/Stop%20Violence%20against%20Us!%20Summary%20Report%201.pdf Shelf Number: 117345 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Sexual AbuseChildren and ViolenceDomestic ViolenceFamily Violence |
Author: Arkow, Phil Title: A Link Across the Lifespan: Animal Abuse as a Marker for Traumatic Experiences in Child Abuse, Domestic Violence and Elder Abuse Summary: Until relatively recently, health and social services professionals, researchers, policymakers, and the general public considered animal cruelty as a stand-alone issue, important to animals' well-being but of only marginal significance to individual and community health and safety. This marginalization, based upon cultural themes that animals are merely property, that animal abuse is a normal occurrence among children and adolescents, and that human welfare priorities supersede animals' interests, is somewhat ironic. Other themes deeply embedded in Western philosophy express concern that children who abuse animals may grow up to exhibit escalating and dangerous interpersonal violence and antisocial behaviors. Meanwhile, the child protection movement originated in the animal protection field: the first child abuse cases were prosecuted by societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals and many humane societies had dual roles in child and animal protection for many decades. This paradigm is rapidly shifting today as recent programs, policy, public awareness and research resoundingly redefine animal cruelty and its various manifestations - abuse, neglect, animal hoarding, and animal fighting - as a form of family and community violence. Animal abuse is not only a crime in itself but also often serves as a bellwether, a marker and a predictor of child maltreatment, domestic violence and elder abuse. Details: Shakopee, MN: Academy on Violence and Abuse, 2015. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 18, 2018 at: http://nationallinkcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/AVA-Link-Across-the-Lifespan.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://nationallinkcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/AVA-Link-Across-the-Lifespan.pdf Shelf Number: 149845 Keywords: Animal AbuseAnimal CrueltyChild Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionDomestic ViolenceElder AbuseFamily Violence |
Author: Jay, Alexis Title: Interim Report of the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse Summary: The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse ('the Inquiry') was established as an independent statutory inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005 on 12 March 2015 by the then Home Secretary. The purpose and scope of the Inquiry are set out in its Terms of Reference,1 which state that it is: to consider the extent to which State and non-State institutions have failed in their duty of care to protect children from sexual abuse and exploitation; to consider the extent to which those failings have since been addressed; to identify further action needed to address any failings identified; to consider the steps which it is necessary for State and non-State institutions to take in order to protect children from such abuse in future; and to publish a report with recommendations. The Chair of the Inquiry is Professor Alexis Jay OBE and there are three Panel members: Professor Sir Malcolm Evans KCMG OBE, Ivor Frank and Drusilla Sharpling CBE. The Inquiry's Terms of Reference require it to publish an interim report by the end of 2018. The publication of this report fulfils that responsibility. This report sets out how the Inquiry has undertaken its work (Chapter 2) and describes the nature and effects of child sexual abuse (Chapter 3). It provides an update on the public hearings held by the Inquiry to date (Chapter 4) and on the Inquiry's work considering current responses to tackling child sexual abuse (Chapter 5). The report also considers what the Inquiry has learned so far in relation to four key strategic themes (Chapter 6) and concludes by setting out the Inquiry's work programme for the coming year (Chapter 8). Recommendations for change are made throughout this report - they are also listed in (Chapter 7) for ease of reference. Each recommendation is addressed to an institution. The Inquiry expects institutions to act upon its recommendations and - in the interest of transparency and openness - asks that each institution publishes details of the steps they will take in response to the recommendation, including the timetable involved. This should be done within six months of the publication of this report unless the recommendation says otherwise. Details: London: House of Commons, 2018. 109p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 25, 2018 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/702667/HC_954-I_-_IICSA_Interim_Report_Web_Accessible.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/702667/HC_954-I_-_IICSA_Interim_Report_Web_Accessible.pdf Shelf Number: 149894 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProstitutionChild ProtectionChild RapeChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual ExploitationChild TraffickingSex Offenders |
Author: Independent Inquiry Into Child Sexual Abuse Title: Child Migration Programmes: Investigation Report Summary: Over a period of many years before and after the Second World War, successive United Kingdom governments allowed children to be removed from their families, care homes and foster care in England and Wales to be sent to institutions or families abroad, without their parents. These child migrants were sent mainly to Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Government departments, public authorities and charities participated in these child migration programmes and were responsible, to varying degrees, for what subsequently happened to the children. Post-war, around 4,000 children were migrated, mostly to Australia. This report sets out the results of the Inquiry's investigation into the experiences of child migrants, and the extent to which institutions took sufficient care to protect these children from sexual abuse. The investigation also examined the extent to which the institutions involved knew, or should have known, about the sexual abuse of child migrants and how they have responded to any such knowledge. Finally, it considered the adequacy of support and reparations for sexual abuse, if any, which have been provided by the institutions concerned. Although the focus of the Inquiry is on sexual abuse, the accounts of other forms of abuse provide an essential context for understanding the experiences of child migrants. Many witnesses described 'care' regimes which included physical abuse, emotional abuse and neglect, as well as sexual abuse, in the various settings to which they were sent. Some described constant hunger, medical neglect and poor education, the latter of which had, in several instances, lifelong consequences. By any standards of child care, then or at the present time, all of this was wrong. A former child migrant said his experiences at one school were "better described as torture than abuse", saying he was locked in a place known as 'the dungeon' without food or water for days. Another told of "backbreaking" work on the building of a new school building. Yet another spoke of the failure to give him medical attention, which resulted in the loss of an eye. In some places, there were persistent beatings of boys and girls, and one witness described how he had tried to kill himself at the age of 12. In a particularly awful incident, we heard of the sadistic killing of a pet horse loved by the children, which a group of 15 children were forced to watch as a form of collective punishment for an alleged wrongdoing. This incident took place during what was known as a 'Special Punishment Day' at Clontarf (one of the institutions to which child migrants were sent). This epitomised the brutal and brutalising environment in which many child migrants lived. We heard that there were few, if any, means of reporting abuse and children lived in fear of reprisals if they did so. They were disbelieved and intimidated, often with violence. One witness was told to 'pray' for her abuser, with no further action being taken on the abuse. Another was told not to tell anyone when he reported that he had been raped. For some children, one of the most devastating aspects of their experience was being lied to about their family background, and even about whether their parents were alive or dead. This had a lifelong impact, including on their physical and mental well-being and their ability to form properly, or lost records, effectively robbing these children of their identity. The effects of this carelessness and poor practice cannot be overestimated. The agencies involved in 'sending' children in the migration programmes were mostly voluntary organisations, with a small number being migrated by local authorities. Some organisations, such as the Fairbridge Society and Barnardo's, operated as both sending and receiving institutions, providing schools and homes in the country of migration. Others migrated children to institutions run by other organisations. From evidence available to the Inquiry, there was a sense in which these children were treated by some of the sending institutions as 'commodities' with one institution even referring to its 'requisition' for a specific number of children to be sent to Australia. Many of the voluntary organisations involved failed in their duty to exercise proper monitoring or aftercare, having dispatched children, in some cases as young as 5, to the other side of the world. Although some (such as the Fairbridge Society) had in place a form of post-migration monitoring, these were not robust systems, and some (such as the Sisters of Nazareth, when migrating to Christian Brothers institutions) had no post-migration monitoring system at all. Details: London: The Independent Inquiry, 2018. 174p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed April 28, 2018 at: https://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/4265/view/Child%20Migration%20Programmes%20Investigation%20Report%20March%202018.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.iicsa.org.uk/key-documents/4265/view/Child%20Migration%20Programmes%20Investigation%20Report%20March%202018.pdf Shelf Number: 149948 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild LaborChild MigrantsChild MigrationChild ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual ExploitationUnaccompanied Children |
Author: Gihleb, Rania Title: The Effects of Mandatory Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs on Foster Care Admissions Summary: The opioid epidemic is a national public health emergency. As the number of fatal overdoses and drug abuse skyrockets, children of opioid-dependent parents are at increased risk of being neglected, abused or orphaned. While some studies have examined the effects of policies introduced by states to restrict prescription drug supply on drug abuse, there is no study analyzing their effects on children. This paper estimates the effect of must-access prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) on child removals. To identify the effects of the programs on foster care caseloads, we exploit the variation across states in the timing of adoption of must-access PDMPs using an event-study approach as well as standard difference-in-difference models. Consistent with previous evidence examining the effects of PDMPs on drug abuse, we find that operational PDMP did not have any significant effects on foster care caseloads. However, the introduction of mandatory provisions reduced child removals by 10%. Exploring the reasons of removals, we show that these effects are driven by the reductions in cases of child neglect. There is also evidence of significant reductions in removal cases associated with child physical abuse. Details: Bonn: Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), 2018. 29p. Source: IZA Discussion Paper No. 11470: Accessed May 10, 2018 at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp11470.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp11470.pdf Shelf Number: 150137 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectOpioid Epidemic Prescription Drug Abuse |
Author: Burczycka, Marta. Title: Family violence in Canada: A statistical profile, 2016 Summary: Family violence in Canada: A statistical profile is an annual report produced by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics under the Federal Family Violence Initiative. Since 1998, this report has provided current data on the nature and extent of family violence in Canada, as well as analysis of trends over time. The information presented here is used extensively to monitor changes that inform policy makers and the public. The 2016 edition of the report features an in-depth analysis of self-reported stalking in Canada, using data from the 2014 General Social Survey on Canadians' Safety (Victimization). This featured section examines the nature and prevalence of self-reported stalking, including how stalking behaviour has changed over time. A particular focus on intimate partner stalking is also presented, including an overview of how stalking that occurs in the context of these relationships differs from other kinds of stalking in important ways. The featured section also provides a multivariate analysis of various risk factors that impact the odds of stalking victimization, both within and outside of intimate partner relationships. As in past years, this year's report also includes sections dedicated to police-reported data on family violence in general, intimate partner violence specifically, family violence against children and youth, and family violence against seniors. Presented in a fact sheet format accompanied by detailed data tables, these sections provide readers with key findings for 2016 from the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey and the Homicide Survey. For the first time in 2016, these sections also include an analysis of persons accused of family violence. In this report, 'family' refers to relationships defined through blood, marriage, common-law partnership, foster care or adoption; family violence refers to violent criminal offences where the perpetrator is a family member of the victim, as defined above. Section 1: Stalking in Canada, 2014 Section 2: Police-reported family violence in Canada - An overview Section 3: Police-reported intimate partner violence Section 4: Police-reported family violence against children and youth Section 5: Police-reported family violence against seniors Details: Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2018. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: Juristat: Accessed July 10, 2018 at: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2018001/article/54893-eng.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Canada URL: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-002-x/2018001/article/54893-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 150797 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectCrime Statistics Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Stalking Violence Against Women |
Author: Herbert, James Title: National comparison of cross-agency practice in investigating and responding to severe child abuse Summary: The response to severe child abuse (namely abuse requiring police investigation) requires many different workers across agencies and disciplinary backgrounds to work together effectively. This paper reports on the arrangements in place in each state/territory to support a cross-agency response based on characteristics associated with effective cross-agency responses identified in the research literature. This paper was prepared to provide practitioners and policy makers with a national view on cross-agency policies to encourage cross-jurisdictional learning and sharing of approaches. The authors also hope that this paper will lead to a national discussion around effective policies and practices in cross-agency responses. Each state/territory was compared on the characteristics of their response to severe child abuse, arrangements for joint planning, interviewing and investigation, the degree of integration of therapeutic and supportive services, and governance arrangements. Details: Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2017. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: CFCA PAPER NO. 47: Accessed August 30, 2018 at: https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/sites/default/files/publication-documents/47_national_comparison_of_cross-agency_practice_in_investigating_and_responding_to_severe_child_abuse.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: https://aifs.gov.au/cfca/sites/default/files/publication-documents/47_national_comparison_of_cross-agency_practice_in_investigating_and_responding_to_severe_child_abuse.pdf Shelf Number: 151314 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild MaltreatmentChild ProtectionCriminal InvestigationPolice Investigation |
Author: Jury, Ang Title: "There was no other way out": Exploring the relationship between women's experiences of intimate partner violence and their self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and suicide events Summary: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has been implicated in a sizeable number of deaths by suicide worldwide, representing a hidden form of lethality of this type of violence. However, there are very few New Zealand-specific studies that focus on the intersections between IPV and suicide, and none that explore the subjective experiences of women who have suffered both IPV and suicidal thoughts or attempts. This research consequently focuses on women's total experiences of abuse, violence, and suicidality, and, in particular, the ways that women who have been victims believe these experiences relate to one another. Our aims were twofold: to increase our knowledge of women's experiences of being both suicidal and a victim of intimate partner violence, and to identify opportunities for development in practitioners' responses to victims of intimate partner violence who have been or are suicidal. We used an online survey and the data of 1,257 respondents, analysed using both descriptive statistical analysis and qualitative content analysis. Respondents were predominately Pakeha, but almost 20 percent identified as Maori and over six percent as other ethnicities. The majority had children, and were aged 16-65. Nearly 25 percent identified with sexual orientations other than heterosexual. Most were women, but some identified as non-binary. The prevalence of reported experiences of abuse by someone other than an intimate partner in all categories (witnessing family violence, child sexual abuse, child physical abuse, child psychological abuse, neglect, rape or sexual assault as an adult, psychological abuse as an adult, physical assault as an adult, bullying, sexual harassment, and homophobia/biphobia/ transphobia) was disproportionately high, and less than 10 percent of respondents had not experienced any of these forms of abuse prior to beginning an intimate relationship with an abuser. Most respondents had experienced multiple forms of abuse in childhood, and outlined the ways in which these experiences collided, in addition to detailing aggravating factors accompanying this abuse. All respondents had been subjected to one or more categories of IPV, such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, verbal abuse, psychological abuse, economic abuse, and spiritual/religious abuse. Their qualitative answers included descriptions of degradation, sexual violence, erosion of self-esteem, involving children as pawns, using formal systems to perpetuate violence, spiritual abuse, psychological and verbal abuse, violence during pregnancy, justifying violence using mental health challenges as an excuse, extreme physical violence, controlling and isolating tactics, the insidious beginnings of abuse, holding hostage, gaslighting, and economic abuse. Each category of abuse by someone other than an intimate partner was highly correlated to physical abuse, with between 74.60 percent and 81.12 percent of respondents who had experienced any single category of abuse by someone other than an intimate partner reporting physical abuse by an intimate partner. Conversely, other types of abuse or adversity were significantly associated with particular categories of IPV, particularly sexual assault and economic abuse. Most respondents had engaged in self-harm at some point. Methods they could choose from included 'cutting off contact with people that made them feel good' (51%), 'depriving themselves of food and water' (49.71%), 'seeking out sex they don't really want' (47.14%), 'cutting yourself with a knife or other sharp object' (43.57%), 'intentionally depriving yourself of activities that make you feel good' (40.14), 'pulling out your hair' (20.29%), and 'burning yourself' (12.43%). Respondents also listed other methods they had used. The majority of comments expanding on their reasons for engaging in self-harm linked this to their experiences of IPV. Self-harm methods also correlated to specific types of abuse respondents had experienced. All respondents had considered or attempted suicide. Many identified specific emotional experiences precipitating both their thoughts of suicide and their suicide attempts, and indicated whether these attempts occurred before, during, or after their relationships with their abusers. These emotional experiences were: 'believing you were worthless', 'not seeing any chance for a satisfying life ahead of you', 'not seeing any other way out of your situation', 'wanting to show other people how much you were hurting', 'having overwhelming feelings and using suicidal thoughts to cope with them', and 'having nightmares, flashbacks, or panic attacks that could only be managed by self-harm/suicide'. Feeling worthless was consistently reported as the most common precipitant (before, during, and after the relationship), but the second most common reasons varied temporally. Almost 50 percent had made at least one suicide attempt, and described a variety of methods through which this was attempted. Many outlined the contexts driving them to consider or attempt suicide, including feeling worthless, certain acts of (escalated) violence, the impacts of prior abuse, overwhelming emotion, unrelenting emotion, the hopelessness of their situations, relationship breakdowns, additional stressors, and unresponsive systems. While most had accessed professional help, they often perceived internal and external barriers to disclosure of either the violence or the suicidality; namely, shame, fear of judgement, belief that disclosure would make things worse, the risk of losing their children, and not wanting to be stopped. Conversely, being asked about their experiences and having support at the right time were regarded as encouraging disclosure. Respondents rated the perceived helpfulness of distinct informal and professional groups when receiving their disclosures, with child protection rated the least helpful overall and sexual violence agency workers (followed by domestic violence agency workers) rated as the most helpful on the Likert scale. Experiences of disclosure were pervaded by a sense of shame, by feelings of being unheard, and by the perception that recipients of disclosures were not genuinely interested. On the other hand, having people listen, take accounts seriously, offer belief, and provide practical and emotional support was invaluable to respondents. Seeking help for suicidality was often precluded by the dynamics of the IPV. Tactics used by abusers resulted in reduced self-esteem for the majority of respondents and discouraged help-seeking; however, many faced additional barriers such as abusers becoming angry when respondents attempted to speak about their feelings, being suspicious about who they spoke to, preventing them from seeing support people, and encouraging them to end their lives. Respondents often spoke about how the vulnerability they experienced was capitalised on by their abusive partners to perpetuate further abuse. There were some differences in Māori and Tauiwi experiences of abuse and adversity; chiefly in relation to rates of child sexual abuse, witnessing family violence in the home, and spiritual/ religious abuse. Maori were also more likely to have made a suicide attempt. Similarly, both LGB and transgender participants were disproportionately at risk of certain types of abuse, and were more likely than heterosexual and cisgender respondents to have attempted suicide. The intersections between early abuse, IPV, and suicidality can be partially understood in relation to the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) research, and through consideration of the multiplicity of altered pathways resulting from abuse. It is evident that every type of abuse and adversity is associated with adverse impacts, and that clusters of experiences exacerbate the severity of these impacts. Given the centricity of abuse experiences at all stages of respondents' journeys of survivorhood, it is imperative that the ways (and times) in which particular abuse experiences and emotional states influence suicidality are explored further by practitioners working with victims. This research showed that suicide was commonly regarded as a final escape or act of defiance. This compels consideration of the nature of 'resistance' as an important but multifaceted aspect of abuse survivors' experiences, and highlights the paramountcy of looking at the risk to self that acts of resistance may entail, in addition to the arguable benefits relating to the retention of the self during a relationship with an abuser. Finally, the interpersonal-psychological theory of suicide may offer some benefit regarding the analysis of suicide risk specific to IPV survivors. It is premised on the assumption that ideation results from the combination of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness (both embedded within the experiences of many IPV survivors), but is then enabled by an acquired capacity to act on these feelings - believed to result from the habituation to pain and the prospect of death. This habituation can be argued to be clearly evident within the dynamics of (often progressively physically violent) relationships with abusers. From this research, four discrete areas for service improvement emerged: efforts to welcome disclosures, improving capacity to respond to multiple presenting challenges and to develop interagency practice, developing safety mechanisms that last beyond the scope of the relationship and the immediate practical needs presented at the end of a relationship, and redesigning services to better meet the needs of victims facing practical constraints to service access. Details: Wellington, NZ: National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges, 2018. 93p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 3, 2018 at: https://womensrefuge.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/There-was-no-other-way-out-Doc.pdf Year: 2018 Country: New Zealand URL: https://womensrefuge.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/There-was-no-other-way-out-Doc.pdf Shelf Number: 153253 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectDomestic Violence Family Violence Intimate Partner Violence Suicide Victim Services Violence Against Women |
Author: Maternowska, M. Catherine Title: Research that Drives Change: Conceptualizing and Conducting Nationally Led Violence Prevention Research. Synthesis Report of the "Multi-Country Study on the Drivers of Violence Affecting Children" in Italy, Peru, Viet Nam and Zimbabwe Summary: Globally, studies have demonstrated that children in every society are affected by physical, sexual and emotional violence. The drive to both quantify and qualify violence through data and research has been powerful: discourse among policy makers is shifting from "this does not happen here" to "what is driving this?" and "how can we address it?" To help answer these questions, the MultiCountry Study on the Drivers of Violence Affecting Children - conducted in Italy, Viet Nam, Peru and Zimbabwe - sought to disentangle the complex and often interrelated underlying causes of violence affecting children (VAC) in these four countries. Led by the UNICEF Office of Research - Innocenti with its academic partner, the University of Edinburgh, the Study was conducted by national research teams comprised of government, practitioners and academic researchers in each of the four countries. Drawing on human-centred principles, the Study used an iterative approach which put national ownership and co-creation at its core. Government partners were actively engaged as co-researchers and all data analysis was conducted in-country by government statisticians. Facilitating and prioritizing national meaning-making through dialogue and joint analysis and synthesis of findings was also a key part of the Study design. Each national team used a common process involving three separate components, all of which build on existing data and research: a systematic literature review of academic and 'grey' literature (such as research reports) including both quality quantitative and qualitative research, secondary analyses of nationally representative data sets and an initial mapping of the interventions landscape. Analysed together, these sources of information helped build initial hypotheses around what drives violence in each country. Two key frameworks were applied to the analysis in this Study: 1) a version of the socio-ecological model, which helps to understand the dynamic relationships between factors at the micro-, meso-and macro-levels, and 2) an age and gender framework, which recognizes that a child's vulnerability and ability to protect herself from violence changes over time with her evolving capacities. Through these lenses, common themes emerged across contexts. Guided by findings from the four countries highlighting the dynamic and constantly changing and/or overlapping domains that shape violence in children's lives, this Study moved beyond understanding the risk and protective factors for violence affecting children, which are often measured at the individual, interpersonal and community level. In doing so, it demonstrated how patterns of interpersonal violence are intimately connected to larger structural and institutional factors-or the drivers of violence. The structural drivers of violence identified across the four country sites, representing high (Italy), upper middle (Peru), lower middle (Viet Nam) and low income (Zimbabwe) settings, include: rapid socio-economic transformations accompanied by economic growth but also instability; poverty; migration; and gender inequality. The institutional drivers of violence, such as legal structures, ineffective child protection systems, weak school governance and harmful social and cultural norms, often serve to reinforce children's vulnerabilities. Drivers are rarely isolated factors and tend to work in potent combination with other factors within a single level as well as between levels of the social ecology that shapes children's lives. While some drivers can lead to positive change for children, in this study, these factors or combinations of factors are most often invisible forms of harm in and of themselves While VAC is present in every country, the analyses also show how violence conspires unevenly to create and maintain inequalities between and within countries. The institutions and communities upon which children and their families depend are changing social entities with many interdependent parts. The type of violence in any one or multiple settings may vary depending on a variety of risk or protective factors and/or by age and gender. One of the most important findings is that violence is a fluid and shifting phenomenon in children's lives as they move between the places where they live, play, sleep and learn. Identifying and addressing unequal power dynamics - wherever they may occur in the home, school or community - is of central importance to effective violence prevention. The research also shows how behaviours around violence are passed through generations, suggesting that the social tolerance of these behaviours is learned in childhood. Data across countries also shows how violence is intimately connected to how relationships are structured and defined by power dynamics within and among families, peers and communities. These findings, along with learning from the study process, led to the development of a new child-centred and integrated framework, which proposes a process by which interdisciplinary coalitions of researchers, practitioners and policymakers can understand violence affecting children and what can be done to prevent it. Using data to drive change, our proposed Child-Centred and Integrated Framework for Violence Prevention serves to situate national findings according to a child's social ecology, making clear how institutional and structural drivers and risk/protective factors together shape the many risks and opportunities of childhood around the world. KEY POINTS: - Unpacking the drivers of violence at the structural and institutional levels, and analysing how these interact with risk and protective factors at the community, interpersonal and individual levels is critical to understanding how violence affects children. It is this interaction between drivers and risk/protective factors that delineates how, where, when and why violence occurs in children's lives. - Focusing solely on the types of violence and the places where it occurs - as is commonly done in large-scale surveys and some qualitative studies - will only provide part of the picture of a child's risk of violence. - The role of age and gender as childhood unfolds over time is also essential to understanding violence. - Qualitative inquiry and analysis should be further promoted within the field of violence prevention - on its own or as part of a mixed-methods approach - to ensure meaningful data interpretation of the social world, including the webs of interactions and the concepts and behaviours of people within it. - Research that engages and empowers stakeholders can contribute to a common strategy for building and sustaining political will to end violence affecting children. - The way the study was conducted - led by national teams and using existing literature and data - provided a relatively low-cost and human-centred alternative model to costly surveys that assess the scope of violence without examining the drivers that determine it. - Moving forward, violence prevention research should continuously and critically examine the ways in which we count and construct the complex social phenomenon of violence affecting children: placing recognition of process and power at the heart of our research endeavours. Details: Florence, Italy: UNICEF, Innocenti Office of Research, 2018. 91p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 28, 2018 at: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/Drivers-of-Violence_Study.pdf Year: 2018 Country: International URL: https://www.unicef-irc.org/publications/pdf/Drivers-of-Violence_Study.pdf Shelf Number: 153883 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Child Maltreatment Child Sexual Violence Children and Violence Crime PreventionViolenceViolence Against ChildrenViolence PreventionViolent Crime |
Author: Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council Title: Sentencing for criminal offences arising from the death of a child: Final report Summary: This report presents the advice of the Queensland Sentencing Advisory Council (Council) following its review of penalties imposed on sentence for criminal offences arising from the death of a child, referred to the Council by the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the Honourable Yvette D'Ath MP on 26 October 2017. In developing its final report and recommendations, the Council was asked to: - consider and analyse penalties imposed on sentence for offences arising from the death of a child and report on current sentencing practices; - determine whether the penalties currently imposed for these offences adequately reflect the particular vulnerabilities of these victims; - identify any trends or anomalies that occur in such sentencing - for example, the nature of the criminal culpability forming the basis of a manslaughter charge, which may affect any sentence imposed; - assess whether existing sentencing considerations are adequate for the purposes of sentencing these offenders and identify if specific additional legislative guidance is required; - examine the approach in other Australian jurisdictions; - identify and report on any legislative or other changes required to ensure the imposition of an appropriate sentence for these offences; - identify ways to enhance community knowledge and understanding of the penalties imposed for these offences; - consult with the community and other key stakeholders; and - advise on any other matters relevant to this reference. The focus of the review was on sentencing for the offences of murder and manslaughter (referred to throughout this report as 'child homicide offences'). These offences capture offences highlighted in submissions and consultation as being of most concern to the community with respect to current sentencing practices - that is, deaths caused as a result of child abuse and neglect. Details: Brisbane: The Sentencing Advisory Council, 2018. 299p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed Dec. 6, 2018 at: http://apo.org.au/system/files/205141/apo-nid205141-1053826.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: http://apo.org.au/system/files/205141/apo-nid205141-1053826.pdf Shelf Number: 153918 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild HomicidesChild ProtectionHomicidesManslaughterSentencing |
Author: Carne, Sarah Title: Using systems thinking to address intimate partner violence and child abuse in New Zealand Summary: Key Messages - Systems thinking is recommended to address intimate partner violence (IPV) and child abuse and neglect (CAN) in New Zealand. - Systems thinking is an umbrella term that encompasses a range of ideas, methods and tools that focus on understanding system behaviour, emphasising the contextual nature of the problems we try to solve. It aims to affect transformational systemic change that is both sympathetic to existing needs and disruptive in terms of making changes aimed at positive outcomes. - Systems analysis helps build a collective understanding of the parts, and relationships between the parts, which leads to a view of the whole. - System designers often talk of bringing the whole system "into one room" since the capacity to understand and explore the issue are spread across the system. - The experiences of people directed impacted by a system play a critical part in understanding the system and in the design, implementation and review of any change process. - Systems tend to pivot around leverage points: places in the system that have a significant impact on system behaviours. These leverage points need to become the focus of interventions, targeting scarce resources where they will have the most effect in reducing the incidence and improving the response to IPV and CAN. Systems analysis also informs theories of change and helps identify measures and indicators. - Using systems thinking to address IPV and CAN requires transformational change and an enabling framework. This includes: - Government leadership and a strategic intent - Early and sustained collaboration across the system and integrated government and community level efforts - Infrastructure and processes to link and enable the various parts of the prevention and response system to work together - Effective stewardship including oversight, monitoring of outcomes and acting on shared learnings - A framework for measurement, monitoring and evaluation for the purpose of learning. Details: Auckland, NZ: New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse, 2019. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Issues Paper 13: Accessed February 7, 2019 at: https://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/NZFVC-issues-paper-13-systems-thinking.pdf Year: 2019 Country: New Zealand URL: https://nzfvc.org.nz/sites/nzfvc.org.nz/files/NZFVC-issues-paper-13-systems-thinking.pdf Shelf Number: 154513 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectIntimate Partner Violence |
Author: Australia. Productivity Commission Title: What is known about systems that enable the 'public health approach' to protecting children Summary: The Secretariat for the Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision is seeking input from individuals and organisations on the second What Works project. This project investigates what is known about systems that enable the 'public health approach' to protecting children. The focus will be on systems that protect children from abuse and neglect that occurs within families (to minimise duplication with recent work on child abuse in institutional settings). Australian governments have committed to taking a public health approach to protecting children under the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children 2009-2020. A range of approaches have been used to date, but there is growing concern that efforts are still too crisis oriented, focused on responding to child abuse and neglect after they have occurred, rather than on prevention. This project will look specifically at system design: what is known about 'what works' to build a system where all the parts are working together to enable the public health approach to protecting children. It will highlight system-change approaches that appear effective, but will not assess the effectiveness of individual programs or interventions. Details: Melbourne: The Commission, 2019. 17p. Source: Internet Resource: Consultation Paper: Accessed March 6, 2019 at: https://www.pc.gov.au/research/ongoing/report-on-government-services/what-works/child-protection/consultation/what-works-child-protection-consultation.pdf Year: 2019 Country: Australia URL: https://www.pc.gov.au/research/ongoing/report-on-government-services/what-works/child-protection/consultation/what-works-child-protection-consultation.pdf Shelf Number: 154824 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Protection Child Welfare Public Health Approach |
Author: Brown, Rick Title: Exploring the implications of child sex dolls Summary: The importation of child sex dolls into Australia has created increasing concerns. However, the implications of these products, and especially their link with child contact sexual offending, remain unclear. From a review of the literature, a number of possible negative impacts are suggested. Although currently unproven, it is possible that use of child sex dolls may lead to escalation in child sex offences, from viewing online child exploitation material to contact sexual offending. It may also desensitise the user from the potential harm that child sexual assault causes, given that such dolls give no emotional feedback. The sale of child sex dolls potentially results in the risk of children being objectified as sexual beings and of child sex becoming a commodity. Finally, there is a risk that child-like dolls could be used to groom children for sex, in the same way that adult sex dolls have already been used. There is no evidence that child sex dolls have a therapeutic benefit in preventing child sexual abuse. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2019. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice no. 570: Accessed March 28, 2019 at: https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi570 Year: 2019 Country: Australia URL: https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi570 Shelf Number: 155200 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild Pornography Child Protection Child Sex Offenders Child Sexual Abuse |
Author: Harwin, Judith Title: The contribution of supervision orders and special guardianship to children's lives and family justice. Summary report Summary: This report is about the use of 'family orders' to support family reunification and placement with family and friends as outcomes of S31 care and supervision proceedings brought under the Children Act 1989 . These proceedings are brought by local authorities for children who they believe have experienced or are likely to experience 'significant harm' as a result of the parenting they have received falling below a reasonable standard. They are amongst the most vulnerable children in society who have met the highest threshold of concern and their futures cannot be decided without the intervention of the court. The main focus is on supervision orders made by the courts to help support birth families to stay together, and on special guardianship when the child is placed with family and friends, with or without a supervision order. It is important to distinguish between these two family orders regarding the support they provide for permanency. A special guardianship order (SGO) lasts until the child reaches the age of 18 but a supervision order is time-limited. A supervision order places a duty upon the local authority 'to advise, assist and befriend the supervised child'. It is initially made for a period up to one year but can be extended after this to a maximum of three years. An SGO gives the carers the main responsibility for the child's care and upbringing but retains the legal link with the birth family. The local authority does not hold parental responsibility when either order is made. The over-arching aim of this study is to understand the opportunities, challenges and outcomes of these orders, and their use at national and regional level. This is the first study of both supervision orders and special guardianship to make use of national (England) population-level data routinely produced by the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass) concerning all children subject to S31 care and supervision proceedings. It is also the first study to use this data to examine the proportion of SGOs in which a supervision order is also made for the child. The report is being published at a critical time in family justice. The overall trend regarding care demand is upward. Despite a small drop in demand in 2017/18, the number of children in care and supervision applications is still more than double the figure recorded in 2007. This has created huge pressures on the family court and children's services alike. As part of its inquiry into ways of tackling the issues, the recent Care Crisis Review concluded that the family itself is an underused resource (Care Crisis Review, 2018). Since 2013, case law has also affirmed the important role of the court and children's services in promoting permanency orders that keep families together, and most recently called for new guidance on special guardianship. This comes just three years after a major review undertaken by the Department for Education introduced changes to the regulatory framework (Department for Education, 2015). Details: Lancaster, UK: Lancaster University, Centre for Child & Family Research, 2019. 183p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2019 at: https://www.cfj-lancaster.org.uk/app/nuffield/files-module/local/documents/HARWIN%20main%20report%20SO%20and%20SGOs%20_%204Mar2019.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.cfj-lancaster.org.uk/app/nuffield/files-module/local/documents/HARWIN%20main%20report%20SO%20and%20SGOs%20_%204Mar2019.pdf Shelf Number: 155602 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChild SupervisionFamily CourtFamily JusticeParentingSupervision Orders |
Author: United Nations Children's Fund - UNICEF Title: The Economic Burden of Violence Against Children in Nigeria Summary: The 2014 National Survey on Violence Against Children in Nigeria (NVACS) indicates that violence in childhood makes men and women significantly more likely to engage in risky behaviours (i.e alcoholism, smoking, drugs abuse), experience negative health outcomes (like mental illnesses, Sexually Transmitted Infection's including HIV) or/and drop out from school. International research has also confirmed that violence of any kind experienced in childhood has a life-long negative impact on the individual's physical, psychological and cognitive development and consequently, affects entire communities and nations by diminishing their human capital. The fact that the human capital is considered the most critical capital in economic development, The Federal Government under the leadership of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development and UNICEF engaged a renowned scholar in this field, Professor Xiang Ming Fang, Professor of Health Economics at Georgia State University and previously Senior Health Economist with the Division of Violence Prevention at the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) to interrogate the economic burden of Violence Against Children in Nigeria, by estimating the size of the economic burden of VAC and to analyse the index causes using the Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY). The estimate calculates both the years of fully productive life lost to mortality and morbidity caused by VAC and the subsequent economic value of this loss of productivity. These estimations paint a clear picture of the significant impact that VAC has on Nigerian children, and the economic burden on the country as a whole. In summary, this report provides the evidence, especially the economic justification that is needed to prioritize child protection services, especially those that will lead to elimination of violence against children, recognizing the need to arrest the build-up of risks and vulnerabilities throughout the life cycle as associated with the adverse health, education and productivity effects of VAC. I therefore join other stakeholders that make a case that sufficient attention should be place on arresting the negative and avoidable build up that has serious economic cost, human capital development and lifelong impacts associated with VAC. With the current ranking of the country on the Global Human Capital Development Index there is no better opportunity than now to create a fiscal space for child protection especially to specific preventive Child Protection programmes and services. I recommend this report as it provides us with veritable answers to questions that must be asked before budgetary apportionment and expenditures is made. It is also well aligned to the strategic objectives set out in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plans, under "the investing in our people" pillar. We as a people must not only improve the lives of the present generation but also our future generations. Details: Abuja, Nigeria: Author, 2019. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2019 at: https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/media/2216/file Year: 2019 Country: Nigeria URL: https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/media/2216/file Shelf Number: 155621 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseEconomic AnalysisEconomics of CrimeEconomics of ViolenceViolence Against Children |
Author: Williams, Mike Title: The NSPCC'S Protect and Respect Child Sexual Exploitation Programme: A Discussion of the Key Findings from Programme Implementation and Service Use Summary: This report presents a discussion of the key findings from the evaluation of the NSPCC's Protect & Respect programme, which ran from June 2014 to November 2017. The Protect & Respect programme, provided support to children and young people affected by sexual exploitation, and included the following: - A group work service, where NSPCC practitioners did work with small groups of children and young people (numbering between 2 and 10) on a weekly basis over a period of one to two months. - Four different types of one-to-one service. One-to-one work involved an individual NSPCC practitioner doing work with a child or young person to support them on issues relating to exploitation. The four different services covered prevention, risk reduction, child protection and recovery. Work was sometimes done with carers and professionals who supported the child or young person. - The commissioning of research into child sexual exploitation. -- One piece of research, on the link between child sexual exploitation and neglect, was commissioned and completed during the evaluation period (Hanson, 2016). - An unpublished rapid evidence assessment was conducted on research on service delivery responses to child sexual exploitation published between 2006 and 2018 (Walker et al, 2019). In particular this report summarises and discusses: - The implementation of the Protect & Respect programme. - The findings from the group work service and the one-to-one service, which are detailed more fully in two separate accompanying reports (Williams, 2019a; 2019b). This introductory chapter sets the context to the report by: - Providing a note on the NSPCC's position on the use of child sexual exploitation films and the lessons that the NSPCC has learned over the course of the programme. - Providing a note on the NSPCC's position on children and young people's agency, the use of victim-blaming language and the lessons that the NSPCC has learned over the course of the programme. - Summarising recent policy developments in the area of sexual exploitation. - Looking at the evidence base for the effectiveness of professional responses and services in working on sexual exploitation. - Describing the NSPCC's recent involvement in working with sexual exploitation and the reasons for establishing the Protect & Respect programme. - Summarising the guidance provided to NSPCC managers and practitioners on providing the Protect & Respect programme. - Describing the evaluation methodology used. The description includes an account of how the focus of the evaluation changed over the course of the data collection period. Details: London: NSPCC, 2019. 140p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 9, 2019 at: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/media/1699/a-discussion-key-findings-from-programme-implementation-service-use.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/media/1699/a-discussion-key-findings-from-programme-implementation-service-use.pdf Shelf Number: 155708 Keywords: child Abuse and NeglectChild GroomingChild PornographyChild ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual Exploitation |
Author: Thimanna, Sanchia Title: ECPAT Country Overview: Czechia Summary: Czechia is a central European country with a population of 10.7 million of which 1.8 million are children. Although a high-income country ranking 27th on the Human Development Index, poverty driven by socioeconomic inequality and ethnic discrimination continues to persist in Czechia. Children belonging to marginalized groups often live in excluded localities with substandard housing and drop out of school early to escape from discrimination entrenched in the education system. These factors contribute to making children highly vulnerable to sexual exploitation. In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of reported cases of exploitation of children in prostitution in Czechia, including those of very young children. High rates of Internet and mobile phone use among children in the country have facilitated online child sexual exploitation, by making it easier for perpetrators to establish contact with them. The sharing of self-generated sexual content among children is also a matter of growing concern. Czechia continues to be a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking, with children comprising more than half of the identified victims of sale and trafficking for sexual purposes. The risk of sexual exploitation of children in travel and tourism is of grave importance, particularly in light of the exponential increase in the number travellers and tourists in the country. An emerging trend of cross-border trafficking for the purpose of fraudulent marriages has also put children in Czechia at risk. The country has ratified the main legal instruments to combat the sexual exploitation of children (SEC), including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography, as well as the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons Especially Women and Children, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Protocol). Czechia is also part of a number of international and regional commitments addressing SEC, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Child Sexual Exploitation Online. However, amendments to the national legislation are yet to be made for the definitions of all SEC-related offences to align with the ratified instruments and commitments. Further, loopholes in the legal framework need to be fixed in order to protect children above 15 years of age. Czechia does not have a national strategy or coordination body specifically addressing SEC. Some aspects of SEC are addressed within broader national strategies by different government bodies, mainly the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. The trafficking of children has been prioritized in the National Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Human Beings 2016-2019. Efforts have been made by the government to implement prevention measures through raising awareness, with much focus on safer Internet use by children. In terms of children's access to justice, Czechia does not have an Ombudsperson for Children to receive and resolve complaints made by children. Nevertheless, several child-sensitive measures have been put in place, including trainings for law enforcement personnel on how to communicate with child victims in specially designed hearing rooms. Czechia does not have specific recovery and reintegration services for victims of SEC, and could benefit from having clearer avenues for child victims to seek compensation. Although there has been progress in children's participation in matters of governance, efforts must be made to involve child victims and survivors in order to take their needs and interests into consideration while designing policies. Details: Bangkok: ECPAT International, 2019. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 20, 2019 at: https://www.ecpat.org/news/czechia-child-sexual-exploitation-through-prostitution-reaches-new-high/ecpat-country-overview-czechia-czech-republic-2019/ Year: 2019 Country: Czech Republic URL: https://www.ecpat.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/ECPAT-Country-Overview-Czechia-Czech-Republic-2019.pdf Shelf Number: 155932 Keywords: Child Abuse and Neglect Child Prostitution Child Sexual Abuse Child Sexual Exploitation Child Victims CzechiaForced Marriage Sexual Exploitation of Children Sexual Exploitation of Children in Travel and Tour |