Ways to Reduce Child Abuse in The Society - Research Paper Example

Introduction Child abuse has been in existence for centuries and to this child abuse still exists. The last century has been the century where child is recognized as an individual that should be accorded rights just like any other person. States and international organization has been working hard to contain cases of child abuse. Child abuse has been recognized by the researchers, clinicians and psychologist as one of the factors that contribute highly to unhealthy growth of a child. This paper explains child abuse and preventive measures to reduce cases of child abuse (Kiran 2011). Child abuse is physical, emotional, or sexual harm of a child deliberately; it can also be failure to provide basic needs that are necessary for health and educational and emotional growth of a child. Physical abuse of a child is defined by physical injury such as burns, bruises, fractures mainly caused by planned burning, punching of a child or other physical harm of a child. Some of the injuries could be accidental others could be planned for example some parents beat up a child as a way of punishing them. Others maybe from a result of rage, punishing a child when a parent is emotionally disturbed can cause serious physical injury (Lynn 2008). Why is this topic relevant in your career field? Education center plays an important role in curbing cases of child abuse. This because it help in identifying, reporting such matters to authorities and also act as prevention center for child abuse. Child abuse investigation is conducted mostly by consulting teachers because they often spend much time with children. School is the best place where abused child can be identified easily and action taken to assist the child. The fact is that most children who are abused seem to trust their caring and loving teacher. However, most of the teachers are not aware that they can identify and prevent cases of child abuse. Therefore, there is a need to provide more information to teachers on child abuse identification, prevention and reporting of such matters to the relevant authorities. The facts are teachers are more close to children as stated above and they are also have professional experiences and obligated by the law to report such matters to the relevant authority. Teachers need also to understand that children need to concentrate well during leaning period to achieve their targets. However this cannot be achieved in the child has difficulties responding in class because of abuse afflicted on the child (Panel on Research on Child Abuse and Neglect 1996). Child in school has an opportunity to programs that can assist in prevention of child abuse. This is because they provide support to a child and also have programs that a child can learn in order to have good relationship with the family. Based on above analysis, study of child abuse is good to my career as a leader because I will be able to present facts to teachers on ways of identifying, preventing and reporting of child abuse cases to the authorities. Why is this topic of interest to you? Child abuse is important topic to the society because of needs to tackle it based on the fact that it ever existing. Analysis above has presented various child abuses happening in the society. Such cases have serious impacts on a child health, educational and emotional growth. Child abuse also has serious impacts on the society and the economy at large because the government will need to provide funds to meet medical treatment for abused child. However, reducing child abuse in the society is important so as to avoid above mentioned difficulties. This makes the topic quite interesting to me. Statement of the Problem The maid idea in this paper is to present facts about child abuse and ways in which it can reduce in the society. The papers also present statistics of child abuse in various states in the world especially developed countries. History of existences of child abuse and ways in which it has been recognised as problem that need to be addressed is also discussed in the paper. Policies that have been enacted by different states to prevent child abuse are discussed on the paper. Ethical and legal issues Legal issues According to James (2000) child protection from abuse was identified at the end of 19th century but laws regarding the issues enacted in 1960s. Child abuse and neglect was identified by the end of industrial revolution as physical, emotional and omission of child. Concerns of child abuse in the society have been increasing with enactment of laws to prevent child abuse. Child abuse and neglect has been one of the critical issues discussed in the public for the past three decades. Consider the case of Australia; child abuse in Australia was identified as physical, emotional and omission of a child during 1960 just like other western developed countries. The recognition of child abuse by Australia was followed by reform of the laws relating to child abuse. The fact is that Australia recognised child abuse as the increasing case affecting the growth of a child and the society at large. Additionally, the international society led by United Nations declared rights that should be accorded to children. Australia joined United Nation and became part that promoted child protection and accordance of child rights in 1981. The state of Australia is responsible for enactment and application of laws that prevent child abuse and maltreatment. Additionally, cases of child abuse reported to the state are determined whether the person that has committed such act is convicted by the state. This shows that the state of Australia is responsible for care of a child from abuse and neglect (James 2000). Kropenske and Howard (1994) explain that US enacted Child Abuse Prevention Law in 1974. From the day of signing of the law, the government has acted a promoter of reduction of child abuse in the society. This was further supported by development of manual to help the society in identify cases of child abuse. The manual developed by the National Centre on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN) has assisted the society in pointing and preventing some of the complex problems relating to child abuse. United States has done its best in identifying prevention of child abuse. This has been done with help from funding from the government that has assisted in investigation cases relating to child abuse and prosecution of the offenders. Despite the unknown number of child abuse cases in US currently, research shows that, cases of child abuse are common and are the main causes of child psychological problems. The issue of child abuse in US is a responsibility of each state. Each of the 50 states has laws that identify cases of child abuse and ways that should be followed to address such issues (Okeke 2006). Ethical issues Ethical principles must be regarding when informing the relevant authority about a case of child abuse. According to Morelen & Shaffer (2012), guidelines such as American Medical Association (AMA) and American psychologist Associations are some of the ethical consideration that has to be followed by professionals when dealing with child abuse cases. The fact is that, such principles binds the clinical profession and assist them to define and make decisions while maintaining good conduct. In situation where psychologist is faced with child abuse he or she has to make decision based on their scientific knowledge. Additionally, he or she has to be familiar with such case of abuse. Furthermore, professional doctors or psychologist should be aware of laws that might be used to prosecute them on jobs that that require them to work with children. In addition, psychologist should be reasonable when working to avoid harming the client or reduce chances of harm. This conduct relate well with child abuse, because chances of child abuse will be reduced at all cost. Confidentiality should also be maintained according to American Psychologist Association, it states that psychologist should have a discussion with a parent or caretaker with child and make such matters confidential. Disclosure of information if law requires, it must be done without the consent of the client. The fact is that, client or other related professional will be protected from exposure of information Why is this issue causing conflict in decision making? There are some values that then to be conflicting in decision making to prevent child abuse. Consider a case where a parent considers corporal punish as a only way of disciplining a child. However, corporal punishment then to be dangerous or harmful to a child depending on the kind of object use. Most parents use belts, wire or sticks that can proof to be harmful to a child in case a parent is angry. Some parents want their independence to be valued and they would want to make their own decisions regarding child disciplining criteria. However, according to the law corporal punishment is regarded as harmful and no need to use (Barsky 2008). Supporting Research According to Barsky (2008), resolving issues that are conflicting need serious and clear facts to be presented to people having conflicting issues. However, researchers have found that ways of solving such matters so as to satisfy both conflicting sides. One of the approach that can be use to satisfy sides that are in conflict is the interest based approach. According to the author, this approach needs persons in conflict to focus on the real problem and leave other unnecessary issues like personal issues or feelings that can interfere with the situation. For example, in a situation whereby parent is disciplining a child, another person cannot interfere with it because some decisions like family matters are decided independently. To resolve such matters both conflicting parties should leave other matters aside and focus on the right values. Legal/ethical principles, models and/or theories In most countries laws have been enacted to resolve cases of child abuse. In US, all states have laws that obligate doctors, nurses, teachers, clinicians or social workers to report case of child abuse to the relevant authorities. The Laws that has to be followed when reporting child abuse cases are clearly stated in Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act. However, difference arises in various states because of definition of child maltreatment. Some states do not include other values that have to be seen by clinicians or any other person reporting case of child abuse. However to resolve such issues, relevant authorities have a government website o explain such matters inclusive of who should report to authorities. Ethical principles include confidentiality as stated earlier above. Confidentiality protects both parties and maintains trust. Consent should also be considered whereby a person has to be informed to give any information or share information with other parties. Model that applies well in solving issues of child abuse is public health pyramid. The model present various ways on which child abuse can be prevented right from the start to a situation that it has already occurred. The model describes three levels, primary, secondary and tertiary level. The lower level is primary level, all population is targeted where by community is advised to stop practicing cultural practices such as corporal punishment. The next level is secondary level, whereby families having problems such as poverty, health problems, domestic violence and other related activities. Such families are targeted because there is chance that child abuse is likely to occur. Education and home visiting can be used to help such families so as to curb cases of child abuse. Tertiary level is the highest point in the pyramid this point deals with the situation that has already occurred. At this level it is the responsibility of the government to educate the family and victims on ways they can leave to avoid such matters arising again. Additionally, the states enact laws that can be use to prosecute offenders and laws that can protect children from abuse (McClennen 2010). How does your problem relate to other case studies found in the research? The problem of child abuse has to be tackled as earlier by teaching the community on ways to can solve such situation. This problem of child abuse is related to my career as a leader because I will be responsible in providing education to children on ways they can avoid child abuse by maintaining good relationship with parents. Additionally, I will be responsible for the child who have been previously abuse by giving them confidence that they can make it and avoid such problem from happening again. Recommendations From the study I prefer application of model theory in resolving or reducing cases of child abuse in the society. The model has proofed to be quite significant to the society as starts to deal with problem from the root cause. Prevention of child abuse is also well applied in the model from the primary level. Additionally, the model has also described ways on which child abuse that is likely to happen in families that are vulnerable can be solved by educating them and home visiting. Describe 3-5 strategies for resolving the issue at hand Preventive strategy is best for resolving issue of child abuse. This can be done in three ways, public awareness, teaching young child and providing education to parents regarding issue of child abuse. Public are thought to maintain good relationship, healthy standards, child safety and present cases of child abuse to the authorities. School should consider offering programs to children that teach those ways of child safety to avoid abuse such as sexual abuse. Parents are thought to maintain good relationship with their kids and avoid child abuse (Collins 2011). Describe strategies to reduce risk for future dilemmas of this type Dilemmas can be reduced by involving both parties in the decision making according to Barsky (2008). The author explains that dilemmas such as ethical dilemmas can be solved by use of strategies such as interest based conflict resolution. The strategy provides an opportunity to both parties to be satisfied without any side losing. References Barsky, A. (2008). A Conflict Resolution Approach to Teaching Ethical Decision Making: Bridging Conflicting Values. Journal of Jewish Communal Service, 83 (2/3), 164-169. Collins, K. S., Strieder, F. H., DePanfilis, D., Tabor, M., Freeman, P. A. C., Linde, L., & Greenberg, P. (2011). Trauma adapted family connections: Reducing developmental and complex trauma symptomatology to prevent child abuse and neglect. Child Welfare, 90(6), 29-47. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1016368125?accountid=458 James, M. (2000). “Child Abuse and Neglect: Part 1—Redefining the Issues” trend s & issues in crime and criminal justice, no. 146 , Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra. Kiran, K. (2011). Child abuse and neglect. Journal of the Indian Society of Pedodontics and Preventive Dentistry, 29, 79-82. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0970-4388.90749 Kropenske, V. and Howard J. (1994). Protecting Children in Substance-abusing Families, USA: DIANE Publishing. Lynn, K. (2008). Evaluating potential obstacles to mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect by educators in a suburban public school district. (Order No. 3370298, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, Graduate School of Applied and Professional. McClennen, J. (2010). Social Work and Family Violence: Theories, Assessment, and Intervention, New York: Springer Publishing Company. Morelen, D., & Shaffer, A. (2012). Understanding Clinical, Legal, and Ethical Issues in Child Emotional Maltreatment. Journal Of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 21(2), 188-201. doi:10.1080/10926771.2012.639054 Okeke, C. W. (2006). Dimensions of child abuse and neglect: Their relationship to academic achievement. (Order No. 3317508, Texas Southern University). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, , 143-n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/304958234?accountid=458. (304958234). Panel on Research on Child Abuse and Neglect…(1996). Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect, USA: National Academies Press Read More