13
FRIDAY, APRIL 19, 1985
RIGHT MOVE IN FIGHT AGAINST CHILD ABUSE
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THE GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE WAS BROADLY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, TOLD A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH TODAY.
BUT THERE WAS A NEED TO IDENTIFY AND BOLSTER THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT SYSTEMS WHICH EXIST, OR POTENTIALLY EXIST, AND TO MAKE BETTER USE OF SUCH FACILITIES, SHE ADDED.
MEDICAL OR LEGAL INTERVENTIONS, BY THEMSELVES, WERE UNLIKELY TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF CHILD ABUSE. AS WITH OTHER CHILD CARE SERVICES, A VARIETY OF TREATMENT AND PREVENTIVE APPROACHES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO SUIT INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES, STEREOTYPED PROGRAMMES SHOULD BE AVOIDED, SHE SAID.
IT WAS ALSO NECESSARY, SHE SAID, TO FACE UP TO THE FACT THAT RESOURCES WOULD PROBABLY NEVER BE AVAILABLE IN SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES TO PROVIDE THE IDEAL TREATMENT FOR ALL AFFECTED FAMILIES.
IN THIS SITUATION, TREATMENT MUST HAVE SPECIFIC AND LIMITED GOALS WHICH WOULD HOPEFULLY ENABLE REUNION OF THE CHILD AND THE PARENTS WITHIN THE FAMILY HOME IN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME, SHE SAID.
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S APPROACH TO THE PROBLEM OF CHILD ABUSE WAS AT TWO LEVELS - CRISIS INTERVENTION, DIRECTED AT INDIVIDUALS, AND PREVENTIVE INTERVENTION, AIMED AT PRESERVING FAMILY UNITY AND HARMONY.
THE MAIN THRUST OF CRISIS INTERVENTION WAS TO PUT AN IMMEDIATE STOP TO THE ABUSE AND TO SECURE THE SAFETY OF THE CHILD. CONCURRENTLY IT WAS NECESSARY TO TREAT THE ABUSIVE PARENTS, AND ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WAS TO RELIEVE STRESS.
+HOSPITAL TREATMENT IS FREQUENTLY INDICATED FOR THE CHILD SINCE STATISTICS INDICATE THAT PHYSICAL ABUSE CONSTITUTES OVER 80 PER CENT OF ALL KNOWN ABUSE CASES, SHE SAID.
IF CONDITIONS IN THE HOME ARE TOLERABLE, IT IS FREQUENTLY BEST TO ALLOW THE CHILD TO REMAIN WITH THE FAMILY WHILE THE SOCIAL WORKER WORKS WITH BOTH THE CHILD AND PARENTS.
MRS CHAN SAID THAT ENFORCED SEPARATION WAS LIKELY TO INCREASE THE FEELINGS OF GUILT ON THE PART OF THE CHILD AND INTENSIFY THE ANIMOSITY THAT THE ABUSIVE PARENT FELT TOWARDS THE CHILD.
/+TER, SEPARATION.