Assignment

Title

Name

Institution

Introduction

This assignment is intended at creating the research based description of social problems associated with the field of child abuse and neglect. Moreover, after deliberate intellectual analysis, identification and documentation of social systems will be presented that social workers encounter during their field exposure. Notable historical developments within the field of child abuse and neglect will be presented in the next section along with the description of some social agencies that operate in NYC providing associated services. Conclusion section, in the end, will attempt to summarize meaningful inferences from whole textual activity.

Main body

Preface

Selected field is child abuse and neglect because childhood is the crucial age of physical, psychological, emotional and social development. At the time when individual is born, his mind is identical to blank slate; tabula rasa as suggested by John Locke. With the passing time, based on the personal and vicarious experiences, human mind undergoes series of documentations and individual develops personality in terms of cognitive and behavioral modifications accordingly. Hence, it is purely rational to say that negative experiences in childhood from parents, siblings, teachers, peers and other individuals are potent enough to inflict psychological, behavioral and social problems in child readily.

What are the social problems that the field of practice addresses?

Child neglect is referred to as a facet of child abuse. In more specific terms, it is failure in fulfilling child’s physical, psychological and emotional needs including provision of inadequate healthcare services, nutrition, clothing, education, belongingness and safety requirements (Steven & Clive, 2006). There is a predefined perceived set of behaviors which must be provided to the child for their healthy personality development.

In American society, maltreatment of children is a devastating social issue. Statistics estimate that during 1990, approximately 3 million instances of child abuse and neglect were documented (McClain et. al., 1993). However, prodigiously limited insights in ubiquitous and terminal cognitive, behavioral, social and emotional ramifications of child abuse and neglect are provided by the death counts and devastating injuries of children (Rhodes et. al., 2012).

The field of child abuse and neglect (FCAC) is hence concerned with the prevention, management and promotion of child wellbeing (McClain et. al., 1993). Prevention includes research which helps in further policy making and education for parent and teachers for the realization of significance of their behaviors and delicacy of fragile minds (Koehler et. al., 2018). Management encapsulates treating affected individuals with originating behavioral problems including depression, delayed development, domestic violence, deviant sexual orientations, criminal and antis-social activities, alcoholism, juvenile delinquency, deteriorated academic performance, moral issues, substance abuse and troubled interpersonal relationships (Koehler et. al., 2018; Nikolaidis et. al., 2018). These problems are then addresses through family and individual counseling, medical care, specialized education and foster care programs (Koehler et. al., 2018).

What are the social systems that social worker must deal with while working with clients within this field of practice?

During field practice, social workers have to deal with a number of environmental and interpersonal systems. The first and definite social figures are parents (Fallon et. al., 2017). Typically, child abuse comes from parents in several ways including their parental styles, attachment styles with children, fulfillment of their love and belongingness and survival needs (Witt et. al., 2017). Sometimes, abuse takes place other than the parental influence, for example, bullying from peer group at school, negligence and taunting from teachers, discriminatory behaviors from other individuals of society and child labor (Fallon et. al., 2017). Moreover, some environmental factors also contribute to this issue for example, poverty, social status, racism, discrimination, unplanned pregnancy and unemployment (Witt et. al., 2017). A social worker has to deal with all the associated etiologies.

Briefly trace the historical development of services within the field of practice.

Child abuse issue grabbed the attention from constitutional agencies and common public in 1870s when 9 years old Mary Ellen, an orphan, suffered from occasional beatings and whippings during his foster care residence. Attorneys were presented with the plight against this abuse to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Attorneys were in view that no law can be greater than child protection laws. As a result, New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children was formulated in 1874 (Koehler et. al., 2018). Services provided by the social worker in this field followed diverse transitions; mainly with the evolution of psychological theories within this field. These services initially focused on legal assistance of the victimized. With the origination of psychological theories of personality i.e., Freud’s theory of psychodynamic personally development, Erickson’s theory of psychosocial development and so on, social services took a new direction and services were altered accordingly (Steven & Clive, 2006). These services are now focused on the interpersonal, intrapersonal and social interventions including psycho-education, family and parental education, cognitive and behavioral modification, shelter and medical care (Fallon et. al., 2017).

List 3-5 social work agencies in NEW YORK CITY that provides services within the field of practice.

Following are the agencies aimed at mitigating this burning social issue in the New York City:

Office of Children and Family abuse (OCFA)

The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NYSPCC)

Prevent Child Abuse New York (PCANY)

The New York Center of Children (NYCC)

Safe Horizon—moving victims of violence from crisis to confidence

Winchester County Center (WCC)

Conclusion

This assignment was aimed at creating research based description of social problems associated with the field of child abuse and neglect. Moreover, after deliberate intellectual analysis, identification and documentation of social systems it was revealed that social workers encounter many social systems during their field exposure including family and environmental circumstances. Notable historical developments within the field of child abuse and neglect were presented e.g., Ellen’s case and contribution of psychologists in determining the course and nature of interventions. In the end, six social agencies operating in NYC providing associated services were listed.

References

Black, T., Trocmé, B. N. Filippelli, J. Carnella, N. (2017). Responding to safety concerns and chronic needs: trends over time. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health, 11, 60. doi: 10.1186/s13034-017-0200-5. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29270214

Koehler, J., Jud, A., Kosirnik, C., Mitrovic, T., Ben, S. H., Fux, E., et al. (2018). Mobilizing agencies for incidence surveys on child maltreatment: successful participation in Switzerland and lessons learned. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health, 12, 3. doi: 10.1186/s13034-017-0211-2. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5921261/

Nikolaidis, G. Petroulaki, K. Zarokosta, F. Tsirigoti, A. Hazizaj, A. Cenko, E. et al. (2018). Lifetime and past-year prevalence of children’s exposure to violence in 9 Balkan countries: the BECAN study. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health, 12, 1. doi: 10.1186/s13034-017-0208-x.  Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29308086

Rhodes, A, E., Boyle, M. H., Bethell, J., Wekerle, C., et al. (2012). Child maltreatment and onset of emergency department presentations for suicide related behaviors. Child Abuse & Neglect. 36 (6): 542–51. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2012.04.006.

Steven, B. W., Clive, B. R. (2006). Early Childhood Development and Social Mobility. The Future of Children, special issue: Opportunity in America. Princeton University. 16 (2): 73–98. doi:10.1353/foc.2006.0011. JSTOR 3844792.

Witt, A. Brown, R. C., Plener, P. L., Brähler, E., Fegert, J. M. (2017). Child maltreatment in Germany: prevalence rates in the general population. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health, 11, 47. doi: 10.1186/s13034-017-0185-0. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28974983