Child abuse is a significant concern in the United States. With an estimated 686,000 child victims of abuse/neglect in 2012 (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2013), it is easy to see that this is an issue that necessitates much attention. Of this staggering figure, 124,544 children were found to have been physically abused, and another 54,880 were psychologically abused (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). These figures become even more disturbing when one examines who the abuser is in these cases. In 2012, 81.5% of the child maltreatment cases in the United States listed one or both parents as the perpetrator of the abuse/neglect (US Department of Health and Human Services, 2013). Another troubling facet to this
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Unfortunately, although the above figures are quite high, and troubling, they most likely do not encompasses the full extent of the problem, as many times child abuse is not reported or discovered (Sedlak, Mattenburg, Basnea, Petta, McPherson, Greene, & Li, 2010). To combat these many issues, professionals have developed and utilize many interventions to try to break the cycle of child abuse. This paper will discuss some of the currently used interventions and their effectiveness with parents who have abused.
One of the current forms of treatment used with parents who have abused is parent-child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). PCIT was not originally designed as a treatment for maltreating parents, but rather as an intervention for children with disruptive behavior disorder (Chaffin, Funderburk, Bard, Valle, & Gurwitch, 2011, Thomas & Zimmer-Gembeck, 2011). It has since been adapted in an attempt to reduce harsh and violent parenting practices of parents who have children between two and one-half and twelve years of age (Chaffin, et al, 2011 & Chaffin, Silovsky, Funderburk, Valle, Brestan, Balachava, Jackso, Lensgraf, & Bonner, 2004.) PCIT teaches parenting skills similar to many other behavioral parenting models. (Chaffin, et al, 2011). The difference …show more content…
Peer mentors are parents who have previous involvement with the child welfare system, but have made positive changes to resolve the issues that they were experiencing (Berrick, Young, Cohen, & Anthony, 2011). Peer mentors do not take the place of professional social workers, but are used in partnership to help effect necessary change (Berrick, et al, 2011). The peer mentors provide an informal method of helping, which is paired with the formal work of the social workers (Cohen & Canan, 2006). The peer mentor model takes into account the social work value of the importance of relationships (Berrick, et al, 2011). The shared experience between the peer mentors and the parents they are serving, allow clients to rapidly develop a trusting, helping alliance, which makes it easier for the parent to accept the offered help (Berrick, et al, 2011, Cohen & Canan, 2006). The supportive relationships offered by the peer mentors help to provide motivation and encouragement to the clients, making it easier for them to confront new tasks which may be assigned by their social worker (Berrick, et al, 2011). The peer mentors can also provide role modeling and reassurance to the clients as they redefine their new parenting identity (Berrick, et al,
Unfortunately, although the above figures are quite high, and troubling, they most likely do not encompasses the full extent of the problem, as many times child abuse is not reported or discovered (Sedlak, Mattenburg, Basnea, Petta, McPherson, Greene, & Li, 2010). To combat these many issues, professionals have developed and utilize many interventions to try to break the cycle of child abuse. This paper will discuss some of the currently used interventions and their effectiveness with parents who have abused.
One of the current forms of treatment used with parents who have abused is parent-child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). PCIT was not originally designed as a treatment for maltreating parents, but rather as an intervention for children with disruptive behavior disorder (Chaffin, Funderburk, Bard, Valle, & Gurwitch, 2011, Thomas & Zimmer-Gembeck, 2011). It has since been adapted in an attempt to reduce harsh and violent parenting practices of parents who have children between two and one-half and twelve years of age (Chaffin, et al, 2011 & Chaffin, Silovsky, Funderburk, Valle, Brestan, Balachava, Jackso, Lensgraf, & Bonner, 2004.) PCIT teaches parenting skills similar to many other behavioral parenting models. (Chaffin, et al, 2011). The difference …show more content…
Peer mentors are parents who have previous involvement with the child welfare system, but have made positive changes to resolve the issues that they were experiencing (Berrick, Young, Cohen, & Anthony, 2011). Peer mentors do not take the place of professional social workers, but are used in partnership to help effect necessary change (Berrick, et al, 2011). The peer mentors provide an informal method of helping, which is paired with the formal work of the social workers (Cohen & Canan, 2006). The peer mentor model takes into account the social work value of the importance of relationships (Berrick, et al, 2011). The shared experience between the peer mentors and the parents they are serving, allow clients to rapidly develop a trusting, helping alliance, which makes it easier for the parent to accept the offered help (Berrick, et al, 2011, Cohen & Canan, 2006). The supportive relationships offered by the peer mentors help to provide motivation and encouragement to the clients, making it easier for them to confront new tasks which may be assigned by their social worker (Berrick, et al, 2011). The peer mentors can also provide role modeling and reassurance to the clients as they redefine their new parenting identity (Berrick, et al,