I am beginning to write up some research done on a sample of 100 children and their families who were seen at an assessment unit and then referred on for furher assessment for legal purposes or for "treatment" or intervention of some kind. We are looking to identify some of the factors that encourage or hinder the uptake of these referrals by families and children and hypothetically prevent re-abuse and promote some "recovery" or change. One of the issues is that the management of child protection is across several government departments and non-government services, and the method of communication may be an issue.
Method of communication is an issue. Whether they communicate is an issue. Whether they actively undermine each other is an issue.
We have started a Children's safe house program here. It's quite modest, just a place where a trained forensic interviewer can interview children who are the subjects of reports of child sexual abuse. It has taken 2 YEARS to get a multidisciplinary protocol signed, where each of the relevant agencies agrees about how to divide up the responsibilities. Even though every agency has now signed off, implementation is, shall I say (being as diplomatic as I can) spotty. The division of responsibilities across agencies is, in my experience, one of the major weaknesses of the "system."
Good luck with your analysis.
Jody Crowley
Joan (Jody) Crowley
Assistant Professor
Department of Criminal Justice
New Mexico State University
Box 30001, Dept 3487
Las Cruces, NM 88003-0001
505-646-5376