Selecting and Model and Anticipating Barriers Application - Research Paper Example

Selecting and Model and Anticipating Barriers Discussion Child abuse and neglect has become quite rampant in modern day society. The children victims often have no way of expressing themselves and the abuse they suffer from people they look up to ends up scarring and affecting them for life. It is with this in mind several methods of curbing the vice have been put across by different child abuse organizations and welfare societies. This paper seeks to support the use of one of the possible models that could be adopted to help in fighting child abuse, in Ohio. Planning a Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Plan and Anticipating Possible Obstacles Introduction What is Child Abuse and Neglect? Child abuse and neglect is a practice that is quite prevalent, as it is practiced by almost all societies in the world. Initially, child abuse and neglect was referred to as battered baby syndrome. Later on professionals who treated cases of child abuse started to use the less emotive term of no accidental injury to refer to child abuse (Hobbs, Hanks and Wynne, 1999). Child neglect and abuse is constituent of any action or inaction taken by an institution, individual or processes which has the adverse effect of causing direct harm to children or inhibiting their prospects of healthy and safe development into their adulthood (Hobbs, Hanks and Wynne, 1999). What are the Forms of Child Abuse and Neglect? Child abuse exists in several different forms, which have all been classified into four basic categories these categories are Neglect, sexual abuse, Psychological/Emotional abuse and physical abuse. Physical child abuse is causing injury to a child as a result of physical aggression on the part of the child’s parents or guardians. The action is still considered as physical abuse even if the actions of the parent or guardian were clearly not done intentionally. Beating, pinching, hair pulling, burning with cigarettes, shaking or any form of severe physical punishment may result in causing the death of the child or somehow risk causing serious harm to the child. Physical Punishment is not termed as physical abuse since it is done with the main intention of inflicting bodily pain, but not injury (Martin and Fabes, 2009). Child sexual abuse is termed as any sexual act occurring between a child and an adult. This may include actions such as rape, incest, sodomy, oral sex and penetration. The child can never be blamed for child sexual abuse, as it is unable to comprehend what is happening and only ends up falling victim because of the actions of a child sexual abuse perpetrator (Martin and Fabes, 2009). Emotional Child abuse is considered as any behavior, attitude or inaction that impedes a child’s social development or mental health. Its form ranges from actions such as verbal abuse, taunting to other extreme forms of punishment (Martin and Fabes, 2009). Child neglect is more prevalent than both child physical and sexual abuse combined. It is also more difficult to identify as a result of its nature, which is an act of omission, as opposed to doing something. Neglect is often considered as pattern displayed by the parent or guardian of not providing the basic needs of a child. A single act of neglect is not normally considered to be neglect but repeated incidences of neglect can be termed as abuse (Martin and Fabes, 2009). Which is the Proposed Model / Theory of Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect? The model that I’m proposing for use in reducing neglect and child abuse in the state of Ohio is the use of the behavioral model of leadership. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a counseling therapy that is aimed at trying to help the client by teaching them how to become healthier and help them experience a more gratifying, and rewarding lifestyle by changing their behavior and thought patterns. It focuses on helping patients to monitor and manage their thinking in a better way. The whole concept is based on the theory that both behavior and thought can affect a patient’s symptoms and be obstacles to that patient’s eventual recovery. CBT can play an essential role in aiding patients in the identification, and subsequent correction of their negative thoughts that end up influencing their feelings and emotions. These feelings and emotions, in turn, can have an effect on influencing how the client thinks and acts. CBT can be an integral asset in helping the child abuse and neglect perpetrators in the identification of their underlying psychological problems if any, and the subsequent counseling and treatment of the condition. This will help them have a better attitude and cause them to cease from committing acts of child abuse and neglect. What are the Socio Issue Affecting Ohio and how they will be Accommodated in the Theory? One of the most critical social factors affecting the state of Ohio is, the declaration by the Ohio Supreme Court in May 2003, stating that Ohio’s school funding system is unconstitutional. This is as a result of Ohio’s overreliance on property taxes. This has led to a situation where there now exist disparities in resources so vastly significant that, the Supreme Court ruled that the State of Ohio is violating its constitutional requirement, to ensure that it provides a common and thorough system of the states schools. In 2001, the Ohio Supreme Court found that the State’s school funding system would be constitutional if the state were to increase the amount of aid it gave to its public schools. This is a vital social issue that could potentially affect funding to the state’s schools. If the funding to the states schools were to reduce significantly, it would affect the school nursing programs that are currently playing a vital role in the early identification of child abuse and neglect cases in the schools that they serve in (Shapiro and Purpel, 2005). What are the Cultural Factors Affecting the Model’s Implementation? One of the key cultural factors that might end up seriously impeding the implementation of the CBT model would be the change in Ohio’s culture. According to a recent survey, it was found that approximately 88% of Cleveland Ohio’s residents could confirm that they were forced by strangers, to behave appropriately in the event they were caught misbehaving while their parents were not around. Only about 32% of those interviewed in the survey believed that the same thing could happen today. This is because the residents believed that the parents of the erring child would be more likely side with the child, or the child or parent might retaliate against the concerned adult (Melton, 1994). To deal with this issue, I would start a civic campaign that would be geared towards bringing back the old family values of discipline and respect in society. The knowledge and insight gained from this campaign would help both children and parents, respect other concerned elderly people whose main intentions might simply be for the best interest of the children. Summary on Literature on Similar Health Promotion Efforts Child abuse is a prevalent vice in today’s American society. According to research on the matter, it has been found that more often than not, perpetrators of child abuse and neglect were themselves victims of child abuse when they were young. In curb this menace, there have been efforts to try and counsel adult survivors of child abuse and neglect so as try and stop the vice from spreading on to the next generation. The United States National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect produced statistics that estimates that, in the United States approximately one million children are victims of child abuse that is mostly carried out by their parents. Of these children, about two thousand of them will end up dying under circumstances that are highly suggestive of abuse and neglect (Support line, 2012). According to Lynn M. Jacobson, 2001, when it comes to counseling cases of both neglect and child abuse, it is vital to be aware of the states reporting laws as the law in some states requires the reporting of all child abuse and neglect cases in the state. The counselor should also accept the child’s guardian or parent as a severely mentally troubled person who is in need of help as opposed to the counselor thinking of the parent as a child abuser and should use all available resources available in the surrounding community, neighborhood or ward, in an effort to assist the parent, (Jacobson, 2001). In Columbus Ohio, similar programs are in place and have a significant impact in the society (Adult Survivors of Abuse). What are the objectives of using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy? The main objective of using this intervention would be to try and help in counseling the survivors of child abuse. Although some pain in life is inevitable, they can learn how to forgive the perpetrators in the State of Ohio, who abused them while they were children and help them lead a more satisfying life that is not tainted by regret, depression or even shame (Fall, Holden & Marquis, 2009). Another objective is that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can also be used to try and change the attitude, behavior and actions of a child abuse and neglect perpetrator in the State of Ohio. This will be achieved by positively helping to resolve the parent’s psychological issues; the therapy that the perpetrators receive will help them stop abusing children under their own care (Fall, Holden & Marquis, 2009). Appropriateness of this Intervention to this Community The model will be appropriate since Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been shown to provide quick relief to patients. The method requires the patient to contribute to and also work at their getting better. This has been found by most patients to be empowering, stimulating and refreshing. The child abuse and neglect perpetrators in the Ohio will be more willing to accept this model of therapy, as opposed to other methods where the psychiatrist controls everything with little input from the patient (Hall & Iqbal). Another factor that makes this model of intervention appropriate, is the fact that it is a short-time intervention that delivers excellent results in a short amount of time. Adult victims of sexual abuse often feel better faster and can resume their normal work duties without experiencing prior disabling and troubling symptoms such as depression, agoraphobia and panic attacks (Hall & Iqbal). The state of Ohio will find this method of health promotion to be especially attractive as a result of the speed at which it delivers positive results. This speed will enable a greater number of child abuse and neglect perpetrators, and victims to receive counseling treatment and be discharged faster as compared with other models of health promotion. This will in turn result in the effective reduction of the state’s annual budgetary allocations for therapy treatment of child abuse and neglect perpetrators and victims. The funds can then be channeled towards funding other crucial items in Ohio’s annual budget. What are some of the Possible Strategies that could be used for Fulfilling Objectives and Drawing on Organizational or Funding Support? A creative way for the model to be able to fulfill its objectives would be, the model’s implementation on a trial basis starting from one county within Ohio and then based on its effectiveness of the pilot program, the model could then be copied to the other states for implementation. The Strategy could be presented to the Ohio Lobbying Association (OLA). If adopted, the association could help push for the adoption and enactment into law of the health promotion model by the State government. This will ensure that the project is implemented and in addition to this, help it receive adequate funding to help it run its operations from the State government (Lamis & Sharkey, 1994). References Fall, K., Holden, J., & Marquis, A. (2009). Theoretical Models of Counseling and Psychotherapy.Taylor & Francis. Hobbs, C., Hanks, H., Wynne, J. (1999). Child abuse and neglect : a clinicians handbook. Edinburgh : Churchill Livingstone. Lamis, A., Sharkey, M. (1994). Ohio politics, Ohio: Kent State University Press. Martin, C., Fabes, R., (2009). Discovering child development. Houghton Mifflin Co. Melton, G. (1994). Protecting children from abuse and neglect: foundations for a new national strategy, New York [u.a.]: Guilford Press. Shapiro, S. Purpel, D. (2005) Critical Social Issues in American Education: Democracy and Meaning in a Globalizing World, Routledge. Jacobson, Lynn, (2001). Child Abuse: counseling the Abusive Parent. Retrieved on May 30th, 2012, from http://mentalhealthlibrary.info/library/mi/milds/milds2001/counseling1/chapter20.htm Adult Survivors of Abuse. (2012) Retrieved on May 30th 2012, from http://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/child_abuse_survivors.php Read More