Prevention is Primary - Case study

A Case Study Assignment: Assessment of the Childhelp’s Speak Up Be Safe Child Abuse Preventive program
PREVENTION IS PRIMARY-CASE STUDY
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Introduction
An Estimated 6.6 million child abuse incidences are reported to child protection agencies annually, out of which 3.6 million are referrals of abuse victims. Among the industrialized nations, the U.S. reports the highest child abuse and neglect statistics, with 4 to 7 deaths reported daily. Annual referrals of abuse victims have surpassed the 6.6% mark, with close to 3.2 million victims facing a possible investigation. Child abuse agencies reported over 702,000 child abuse cases in 2014(Guastaferro et al., 2019).
Numerous studies suggest that child abuse prevention should comprise school-based preventive programs. Over 85% of the United States elementary schools offering child abuse prevention programs, even though their efficacy remains unknown (Pulido et al., 2015). Sexual abuse prevention requires that a child acquire knowledge that would inform behavioral change. One study showed that first and second graders surveyed after participating in a 45-minute workshop exhibited increased knowledge regarding inappropriate touch (Bustamante et al., 2019). Primary prevention is therefore essential for creating awareness and should thus be incorporated in a socio-ecological approach. Besides, longitudinal studies were used to study the effect of child abuse prevention programs in schools, families, public health, and learning institutions (Pulido et al., 2015).
According to Guastaferro et al. (2019), prevention efforts have been curtailed by a lack of knowledge about child abuse and mistreatment. Children who have suffered sexual abuse have suffered in the hands of the caregivers and people they trust. Children who suffered emotional abuse exhibit qualities such as speech impairment, delayed speech, parental detachment, persistent somatic complaints, eating disorders, depression and could also exhibit suicidal tendencies (Bustamante et al., 2019). Research has shown that children are more likely to suffer neglect than any other type of abuse. When they do, they exhibit behavioral changes that vary depending on the type of abuse. These attributes may include medical issues, lousy hygiene, learning impairment, and deprived supervision. While in school, child abuse victims, the behavioral consequences of abuse are most likely to impact learning outcomes. Still, some are likely to exhibit indiscipline, attention deficit, high temper, and poor peer relationships (Peterson et al., 2018).
In the United States, The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (O.J.J.D.P.) is the government arm legally mandated to prevent child abuse and maltreatment while mitigating its adverse effect through mutual partnerships and multi-stakeholder collaboration (Childhelp, 2021). The agency uses tailored programs, training and offers technical assistance to partner organizations. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (H.H.S.), an estimated 3.5 million suffered at least one form of abuse in 2018 alone. A total of 1779 deaths were linked to child abuse and neglect (Brassard & Fiorvanti, 2015).
Background
The Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe program objectives are to meet the unmet physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual needs of child abuse victims. The program primarily focuses on prevention, intervention, treatment, and community sensitization (Childhelp, 2021). Besides, the program targets abused children and promise to help them live a decent, loving, and caring life. Furthermore, Child help provides abused children with an environment of love and compassion. The program's approach is unique in that it prevents recurrent abuse by cutting off the cycle, given that research links child abuse to possible future violence and persistent victimization. Studies have shown that 30% of child abuse victims are likely to turn into child abusers, thus propagating the vicious cycle of child maltreatment (Barron, Miller & Kelly, 2015). Thus child abuse prevention through education and awareness is the backbone of the program. Various factors impact the environment and events surrounding the child help program from the initial stage of development to implementation. Firstly, Child help works through mutual partnerships with various stakeholders that include children, families, caregivers, and communities to deliver tailored educational programs. The organization uses these programs to create targeted awareness programs on child abuse and neglect. Childhelp has a unique program dubbed- Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe, which is tailored for educators (Childhelp, 2021). The program is school-based and focuses on child abuse prevention among educators and educational institutions. Children are taught the various types of abuse and actions to take when in an abusive situation. Still, Child help develops and distributes a free curriculum to all participating institutions besides providing them with requisite teaching materials and tools (Childhelp, 2021; Cohen, 2010).
Through the Speak, Up Be Safe initiative, the organization targets athletes and top leaders. They are issued with curriculum and materials required to educate young athletes about abuse and prevention. Besides educating students, athletes, and educators, Childhelp also targets families (Kairys, Ricci & Finkel, 2016). The primary focus is on the family since the first child abuse cases are likely to occur in a family setting. The community center offers pre and post-school educational programs and classes for children and families where attendees are taught essential life skills. The objective of Childhelp is to propagate the Speak Up Be Safe program in all district schools and athletic organizations in the United States (Hebert et al., 2011). Through this effort, the organization hopes that child abuse will be completely eradicated. Research shows that Child abuse cases are rising nationally, and there is a need for preventive action to stem the vice. Child abuse reached alarming rates in 2014, with over 702,000 cases reported to the Child Protective Services (Kairys, Ricci & Finkel, 2016). The organization’s child abuse prevention program draws its legal mandate from the Child Abuse and Prevention Treatment Act (C.A.P.T.A.) of 1974. This piece of legislation offers practical guidance to Child Welfare institutions-both, public and private, by defining actions or behaviors deemed to constitute all forms of child abuse (Review, 2011).
Research suggests that most child abuse and neglect cases go unreported since caregivers fail to recognize the symptoms of abuse promptly. This is notable because, depending on age, child victims cannot express their caregivers' abuse (Hopper, 2015). A recent study estimated the lifetime financial cost of child abuse in the United States at $124 Billion (C.D.C., 2014; Fang et al., 2012). Furthermore, research evidence suggests that child abuse and mistreatment could have far-reaching social, economic impacts if not contained and prevented. Based on various study findings on child abuse and maltreatment, there is concurrence that school-based or educational-based preventive measures have a higher level of success. Apart from previous studies, several socio-political occurrences have helped shape child abuse and maltreatment prevention (Blakey, Glaude & Jennings, 2019).
The apparent need for Childhelp's Speak Up Be Safe program arose from the need to bridge an existing gap in Child abuse and treatment, following a statistical rise in the number of reported child abuse cases (Review, 2011). The organization exploited this opportunity by offering educational, school-based child abuse and maltreatment prevention program. The program empowers children, families, educators, and other educational stakeholders to prevent and manage an abusive situation. Several events and the surrounding environment impact the working, operation, and success of Childhelp’s Speak Up Be Safe program. These include family breakup, and challenges paused by single parenting. Environmental factors include socio-economic factors that affect family stability and childcare and education quality (Child Abuse and Neglect: 2012, p.165). While most neighboring communities appreciate Childhelp's mandate, challenges emerge when dealing with cases where a close family member abused the child victim. Though noble, this program has received mixed reactions from the community, where some view Childhelp as overly intrusive. Nevertheless, most communities welcome the child abuse prevention mandate and are receptive to the Speak Up Be Safe Child abuse Prevention Program.
The government amended the Federal Child abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (C.A.P.T.A) 1974. The child abuse legal framework is now The Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (C.A.P.T.A.) 2010 (42 U.S.C.A. § 5106g). Also known as the re-authorization Act of 2010, these legal frameworks expressly define child abuse and neglect. Nevertheless, the definition may vary from state to state based on the bare minimum stipulated in C.A.P.T.A. even though every state recognizes the four types of abuse as provided under C.A.P.T.A., namely: Physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, and emotional abuse.
In terms of funding, Childhelp is one of the Child Abuse Prevention Advocacy organizations that qualify to receive state funding through O.J.J.D.P. Research indicates that between 2017 and 2019, the agency disbursed $34 million for capacity building in the judicial system. The funding went towards expediting child maltreatment cases. O.J.J.D.P. disbursed $13.4, $12.4, and $8.8 million in the financial years 2019, 2018, and 2017 respectively. The funds allocated for training support and technical assistance support Child Abuse and Maltreatment Prevention Programs such as Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe. In terms of preparation, the child abuse prevention advocacy personnel are usually social workers with specialized training in Child Abuse prevention. The personnel also include court personnel, advocates and child abuse prosecutors, special advocates, policymakers, and practitioners.
Through O.J.J.D.P., Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe program personnel receive specialized training through its training and technical assistance fund. The National Court Appointed Special Advocates Association (CASA) received $10.7 million in funding from O.J.J.D.P. for professional training. The funds went towards special advocates, child abuse prosecutors, and other professionals involved in child abuse case investigation, prosecution, and treatment. Besides O.J.J.D.P., there exist other funding opportunities dealing with child abuse prevention. In a nutshell, Childhelp personnel comprise a multi-disciplinary team of professionals working towards Child abuse prevention through the Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe program. The established professional practice tradition is always to protect children's rights as provided for under C.A.P.T.A. 2010, (42 U.S.C.A. § 5106g).
Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe is necessitated through partnerships, collaboration, and volunteer efforts from a multi-disciplinary team of stakeholders. The organization offers training and technical assistance to educators by providing them with the tools and training needed to handle all forms of child abuse. Through the program, children are empowered with the knowledge to enable them to recognize unsafe environments and abusive tendencies. Besides, children are taught resistance skills and helpful lessons such as maintaining responsive safety support networks. The program also targets parents and caregivers, representing a significant group of stakeholders, and uses a proven ecological model to offer child abuse prevention education. (Lawson, Alameda-Lawson & Byrnes, 2012). The program engages with parents, caregivers, teachers, institutional leaders, and community leaders. The Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe program follows an evidence-based and essentially research-informed curriculum tailored for Pre-Kindergarten up to 12th grade. The curriculum is developmentally suitable for different ages. The community and society at large have a critical role in preventing child abuse.
The organization has tailored rural community initiatives to reach children and teens with the requisite skills needed to break a cycle of abuse and neglect, including physical, emotional, and sexual abuse (Lawson, Alameda-Lawson & Byrnes, 2012). Society and the community help in prevention efforts by monitoring, identifying, and reporting potential child abusers. In cases of abusive parents, the community offers the first line of protection to the child victim. The community can quickly identify a child abuse victim and immediately remove the child from the abusive environment. According to the social cognitive model, negative emotions bias parent’s perception, interpretations and evaluations of their children (Goldstein & Brooks, 2013). The government plays a crucial role in child abuse prevention efforts by proving the legal framework, regulations, and policy guidelines for practitioners. Through O.J.J.D.P. and other government agencies, child abuse offenders are prosecuted under C.A.P.T.A. 2010, (42 U.S.C.A. § 5106g). The law acts as deterrence to potential child abuse offenders. The government provides training, technical assistance, and capacity building by training frontline personnel (Spungen et al., 1989).
Literature Review Summary
Annually, the United States reports alarming statistics of Child abuse and maltreatment. However, The Arizona state revised its statutes under Title 8 and acknowledges different abuse types that constitute Child abuse. These acts of abuse include physical, emotional, neglect, and sexual abuse (Guastaferro et al., 2019). Physical abuse can be defined as inflicting bodily harm through diverse methods, even though without intention. On the contrary, Child neglect is the inadvertent failure by caregivers to provide a child with requisite basic needs such as emotional, physical, and educational needs. Sexual abuse constitutes any contact of sexual nature with a minor. It also includes child molestation, exploitation, and prostitution (Cohen, 2010). Relationships and directional connections are the most essential protective factor among the vulnerable and at risk populations (Goldstein & Brooks, 2013). Emotional abuse is classified as the act of inflicting or causing psychological or emotional damage to another person. Emotionally abused persons can be identified by severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal symptoms, and covert aggressive tendencies.
Research shows that child abuse and neglect have far-reaching implications on child victims. These implications vary depending on a variety of factors that encompass the child's developmental stage, type of abuse, victim-abuser relationship, abuse disclosure or response type, the personal trait of the victim, child support systems, and perception of the threat in the aftermath of the abuse act (Peterson et al., 2018). Child victims of physical abuse may exhibit learning difficulties, brain damage, fear of adult relationships, time management problems, mistreatment, aggressive tendencies that can be self-destructive (Goldstein & Brooks, 2013). Biological indicators of emotional trauma resulting from sexual abuse may include a feeling of shame, guilt, and excessive fear of disclosure. Research has shown that most reported cases of child abuse are perpetrated by trusted adults or caregivers who deploy manipulative and fear-inflicting tactics to scare the victim into perpetual silence (Guastaferro et al., 2019). Children who are victims of emotional abuse will often exhibit speech delay, attachment problems, constant somatic complaints, depression, suicide ideation, and even substance abuse (Lawson et al., 2012). However, studies have shown that children have a higher likelihood of becoming victims of neglect than other abuse types.
Intervention Programs
Childhelp also uses intervention models that promote prevention through the removal of children from abusive environments. Research has shown that 80% of children who die from abuse and neglect are usually too young to withdraw from abusive situations (Goldstein & Brooks, 2013). This intervention program is geared towards intervening in such situations to prevent deaths. Childhelp also uses community advocacy and multi-stakeholder partnerships to promote child abuse prevention. The organization has established critical safety networks within the community. These networks act as a safety net for victims. Besides the primary strategies
Resources
Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe is based on an ecological prevention-oriented instructional model. The organization offers a tailored curriculum that engages all stakeholders, including administrators, parents, society, caregivers, community, teachers, and schools. These stakeholders are the most incredible resource at Childhelp's disposal and are usually in the frontline of executing the organization's primary mandate (Childhelp, 2021). A Childhelp curriculum is research-based and evidence-driven. It incorporates experiential learning as well as play-based learning. The curriculum is underpinned by inquiry frameworks that emphasize equipping children to spot unsafe situations or abusive tendencies. Experience-based activities help them build resistance skills, become responsive to safety networks, peers, and trusted adults (Goldstein & Brooks, 2013). The organization boasts a team of well-trained and certified educators. Through them, the organization delivers age-appropriate educational content. Besides, Childhelp empowers its school-based facilitators by offering them free educational credits through state funding.
The organization provides online resources to its multi-disciplinary team of stakeholders, including educators, administrators, and the community. Parents are caregivers provided with reinforcement learning material, whereas children are given curricula in different languages such as Spanish. In fact, evidence-based research shows a positive association between emotional support systems, scholastic competence at an early age and the quality of adaptation in late adulthood (Goldstein & Brooks, 2013).Through L.M.S. online courses, facilitators are taught how to align their lessons to age-specific virtual classroom environments and handle online abuse disclosures. Childhelp invests financial resources into its Speak Up Be Safe program. However, the cost is justifiable, considering that the estimated cost per victim is over $210,012 (Childhelp, 2021). Research suggests that prevention education is essential in eradicating child abuse. Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe, educational content is informed by evidence-based research and best practices in all spheres of child education and development (Goldstein & Brooks, 2013).
Implementation
Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe is an ongoing project funded through various donor networks and has several projects. The organization conducts impact assessments based on feedback used in priority setting and service provision (Childhelp, 2021). At the operational level, the program is guided by its operational strategy. The organization provides support to program implementers through its system dubbed SUBS learning portal. Through the portal, grade-appropriate educational content is offered as well as facilitator training lessons. Other resources channeled into implementation include educator reinforcement and implementation resources for stakeholders, parents, teachers, and community leaders (Goldstein & Brooks, 2013). At the implementation level, Childhelp provides Pre-K to 12th abuse prevention curriculum. The curriculum addresses the risks children face at each developmental stage encompassing physical, emotional, and sexual abuse (Childhelp, 2021). Higher grade curriculum includes how to deal with neglect and any bullying. The organization's child abuse prevention strategies and interventions are financed through various sources of funding. These include government through agencies such as O.J.J.D.P. The choice of methods and techniques employed in the Speak Up Be Safe program are based on proven research and evidence-based practices on child abuse prevention. Besides, program operations are guided by various child education, safety, and wel...