Child Abuse and Neglect Societal Change - Case Study Example

Topic: Child Abuse and Neglect Societal Change Introduction Among the many different facing, the world today is the problem of child abuse and neglect. Child abuse and neglect refers to the maltreatment of a child, which could be done physically, emotionally, sexually, or even in form of the neglect itself. It is unfortunate that in most cases, those who propagate the neglect and maltreatment of the child are those to whom the child has been entrusted. They end up becoming fearful and along the way making wrong choices involving their lives because of lack of proper guidance. Some of these children may end up taking drugs in an attempt to escape the reality of having faced a terrifying experience and end up feeling a false sense of security and power. It is due to the causes and effects of child abuse and neglect that and reliable change is needed I order to ensure a better and safer life for the children who are the future of our world. Enabling them be knowledgeable and brave enough to report should their rights be violated and their needs neglected. On the other hand, it is also the duty of the adults to ensure that these rights of a child are respected and their needs are met. In order for this to happen, the society as well as the government and schools have to come together and work towards taking care of the children and educating them while listening to what they may have to say. It is essentials for there to be more programs and awareness about them and their purpose of ensuring that child abuse and maltreatment is managed and incorporating the contribution of the government, the environment, the purpose of knowledge and the society as a whole. 2. Needed change The needed change is that there needs to be more programs that are intended to help children who have been victims of child abuse through parenting training sessions. The programs should also involve helping those who may have or be prone to promoting the abuse against the child and enabling them manages their problems as adults. Sometimes, the adults themselves may be experiencing psychological problems such as stress or emotional strains, which may end up affecting the child. Such programs will ensure that anybody can access help and anyone can recommend help for a child or person who may propagate the child abuse or neglect. It is also essential that there is awareness of these programs as most people are not aware of their existence or location, which may contribute to instances of child abuse and neglect being ignored by the society. When a society is aware of counseling programs for children and adults on the protection of the rights of the child an improving on their parental skills, then perhaps instances involving child abuse and neglect will reduce. The parent will be aware of what to do and not to do even in extreme cases of anger, stress or depression (DuMont, Mitchell-Herzfeld, Greene, Lee, Lowenfels, Rodriguez, Dorabawila 2008). Should there be a child who is a victim of child abuse or neglect, then they will be guided on how to live past this experience and develop a strong character that is not defined by the negativity they may have faced. This promotes a child with a stronger personality and high self-esteem. 3. Goals The goals of counseling programs against child abuse and neglect are diverse and accurate. They do not just aim at helping the child but also reaching out to the violators of the child’s rights and trying to rehabilitate them as well. This ensures that the problem is not simply rectified on the spot but future violations are prevented. These goals of such a program include preventing the occurrence of child abuse and neglect, guiding a child who has been a victim of child abuse and neglect towards overcoming the traumatic experience. Building the self-esteem of the child and enabling them believe in themselves, offering security intervention by informing authorities, offering counseling services to parents under stress or depression to prevent them from performing child abuse or neglect. Offering rehabilitation services to adults who have violated the rights of the child and providing solutions to child abuse and neglect of children at home. These programs also promote awareness on the rights of the child and what counts as abuse and neglect of the child’s rights and needs. This keeps the members of the society looped in on what is acceptable by law and what is considered illegal when it comes to raising a child. The programs also enlighten the society about the needs of a child and how to go about fulfilling them. The therapy and treatment programs of child abuse and neglect ensure that the family unit remains united. They also educate the parents as well as the society about the consequences of child abuse and neglect and the effect that such actions may have on a child (Howe 2005). They also act as platforms for voluntary reporting systems in case of any inhumane act performed on a child and a concerned member of the society wishes to report it in order for necessary action to be taken. These programs also aim at promoting the involvement of the society and the government in ensuring the protection and fulfillment of the right and needs of the child. 4. Analysis The parent training programs involve the parent being educated on various ways of how to ensure that they offer the best attention to their children. It involves being attentive to what the child is saying. This will ensure that the parent identifies wrong things such as bad language or wrong information and correct them. It also equips the parents with the necessary skills of how to correct the child without damaging their self-esteem. This way, should the child have a question or a problem in the future, and then they will be able to come to their parent for advice, assistance or consolation. They are also able to bond in the process as they figure out ways to deal with an issue. An analysis of this program shows that they are essential in promoting a healthy relationship between the parent and the child. The program also educates the parent on the various activities that both the parent and the child can get involved in order to promote their relationship. Teaching them on how to be supportive parents and e there for their child and not neglecting them when they engage in sports or clubs. A child is a delicate being and the way they are handled at a tender age determines the character that they will have in their adulthood; the way they reason and respond to various circumstances. It also determines the goals that they will set in life and how they will work towards achieving them. As a result, the child will be able to either be positive minded or negative minded. 5. Objectives The objectives of the parent training programs include ensuring that the parent is equipped with the necessary skills to give the best to their child. The parents learn the venues where they can bond with their child and how to maintain a healthy relationship with them. The parent is also required to bond with their child in a healthy manner that allows the child to be free with them. Following their academic performance and not neglecting the variations in their grades. The parent learns the healthy skills of disciplining the child without violating their rights. They are able to help the child understand between what is wrong, what is right and the reason for the differences (Letarte, Normandeau, Allard, 2010). Since it is also the duty of the parent to protect their child they are also taught on the places where a child can be allowed to go depending on their talents on their preferences. 6. Action plan The parent training programs can be very useful to the society if appropriately used. They can be put in strategic places such as schools and medical facilities. This will ensure that the parents have access to these programs effectively and they gain the best that they can. In schools, the parents can be fully educated about the better means of parenting during meetings an encouraged to enroll in order for them to be able to attend session. This will create awareness among the parents about the existence of counseling and parent training programs and their purpose and usefulness. The parents will be able to access these programs and earn as much s they can which will all be helpful in uniting the family back t home. They will know how to correct the child when they have dropped in their academics as well as how to handle disappointment themselves. This venue is also favorable for educating the children about their rights and to whom they can report to when their right are violated or if they face any problem. The parent training programs give parents the skills of earning the trust of the child while still maintaining the parent-child respect without destroying their bond. This would be in line with the advocacy theory of social change, as it would promote wellbeing of the society as a whole. The whole community would learn new strategies of parenting and contribute towards the eradication of child abuse and neglect. The lessons given by the parent training programs would also influence the society by making them ware of the current expectations of children from the parents. They learn which old ways are not suitable for bringing up children in this era and what still counts as disciplining (McCoy Keen, 2009). The parent becomes well vast with knowledge on how to give the best that they can to their child. The parent influences he morals that the child will have and they learn how t shape the moral character of the child without abusing their rights. The government and leaders also have a role to play in promoting the rights of the child and ensuring that they do no undergo child abuse and neglect. This is because they control the laws of a country and determine how these laws are followed to the letter. The government also has a role of funding some of these parent training and research programs in order to ensure that the parents are aware and acquire the necessary parenting skills. Other than this, it is also up to the government to ensure that the laws broken by the individuals who abuse the rights of the child are apprehended and punished accordingly. This will discourage others from doing the same and undergoing the same fate. The government is also responsible for ensuring the security of every person in a country including the children and as a result, it has set up harsh laws to punish those who go against the rights of the child. The whole society has a role to play in ensuring that the child abuse and neglect is eliminated. This includes the leaders, the teachers, law enforcers as well as the parents (Blasi, Jost 2006). Therefore, the parent training programs will be very useful in ensuring that the children are in safe hands and in safe environment. 7. Evaluation a) Strengths This change is strong as increasing the parent training programs benefits not just the child but the society as a whole. The members of the society re educated on the advantages of proper parenthood that protects the child from abuse and neglect. The child develops a healthy mind and is also physically healthy as they can be because the parent properly takes care of their needs and provides security. The parent is also able to take necessary measures to avoid leaving the child in the hands of the wrong people. They learn on what to look out for in order to avoid placing their children in situations whereby their rights might be abused. It promotes uniting the family and enabling them share, which is all family, is about (Lundahl, Nimer, Parsons, 2006). b) Weaknesses The weaknesses of parent training programs is that although the parents may be educated about everything necessary in order to ensure that the children grow up safely, sometimes, the parent may not be in control of all situations. They may not be able to tell the character of each person that may interact with their child while they are at school. This leaves them at a disadvantage when the individual propagating the child abuse is a part of the school or day care facility that they are taking their child to. These programs are also aimed more towards ensuring that the parents have the right skills and preventing the occurrence of child abuse rather than on how to deal with those who are already victims of child abuse or neglect (Wang, Holton, 2007). Hereby, the child who has been a victim of abuse is left out and may not be offered a solution on how to deal with the events that they have been through. The other programs such as the counseling and advice programs may however be useful in this scenario. c) Opportunities The parent training programs are a great venue as they provide parents opportunities to learn on how to deal with various issues and become better parents. They are also able to interact with other parents and build on each other’s knowledge and experiences in parenthood. Should one parent have a problem managing their temper with their child, perhaps associating with other parents and trying to address this issue will help them grow not just emotionally but also as better parents or guardians. They learn to act depending on what counts as the best thing for their child which is what is required of every parent. It also provides an opportunity for the child to experience great parenting and bond with their parents as they grow. The parent learns the importance of taking care of their child’s financial, physical as well as emotional needs and how they affect the personality and reasoning of the child in the future (Barthn Landsverk Chamberlain Reid Rolls Hurlburt Kohl 2005). The child is offered an opportunity to progress in life and perhaps even get higher learning. When an individual has progressed into this higher form of learning, then the opportunities presented to them for a stable job and sufficient lifestyle is widened. It is for this reason that most students are urged to work hard in school and move on to the next level of higher learning, earn a degree and acquire stable jobs. Once this has been achieved, then they can be associated with those who are successful in life. Education is a factor that leads to acceptance and a sense enables one acquire a place in the society. They are able to fit as it todays world, it happens to be comparable to a rite of passage. It has advantages of broadening ones knowledge on a diverse number of matters and educating them about their rights d) Threats Unfortunately, there are factors that may pose as a threat to the security of the child. These factors include abuse from other students. Child abuse may also happen and the child may not even realize that their rights have been violated. However, the child may end up feeling stress and being unable to express them and describe what has happened to them. This could also come about when the parents learn from the programs of how to be better parents and avoid child abuse and neglect but instead of doing as they have been taught, some of them may ignore what they have been taught. This is a risk because the child is denied an opportunity to grow and develop in a healthy mental physical and emotional environment (Barth 2009). Another scenario could be whereby the parents is not fast to practice self control and despite learning all the acceptable things to do when rising a child they do ahead to insult their child. I return, the child develops low self esteem. 8. Conclusion In conclusion, children are an important part of our society and safeguarding their interest is in the best interest of their future. Training each parent will ensure that the children get the best parenting that they can. It will promote a healthy relationship between them and their parent or guardians and ensure that when they have a problem they have someone to go to. Their confidence will also be built as well-trained parents are able to take care of the physical as well as the emotional needs of the child. On the other hand, when a child is abused and neglected in various ways they may end up developing low self-worth and negative attitudes in their life. They may feel that they are destined for less and put less effort in establishing or achieving their goals. Such factors may lead them into getting into wrong habits such as engaging in robbery and drugs at an older age. However, when a child feels that they have someone to look up to and a dependable parent at their side, then they are determined to emulate their parents and achieve as much or more than their parents have. Even when they enter parenthood, they will continue with the same culture that they were brought up with displaying respect and concern for their children. Parent training programs are therefore useful not just to ensuring good parenting in the current generation but also in generations that are to come. References Barth, R. P. (2009). Preventing child abuse and neglect with parent training: Evidence and opportunities. The Future of Children, 19(2), 95-118. Barth, R. P., Landsverk, J., Chamberlain, P., Reid, J. B., Rolls, J. A., Hurlburt, M. S., ... & Kohl, P. L. (2005). Parent-training programs in child welfare services: Planning for a more evidence-based approach to serving biological parents. Research on Social Work Practice, 15(5), 353-371. Blasi, G., & Jost, J. T. (2006). System justification theory and research: Implications for law, legal advocacy, and social justice. California Law Review, 1119-1168. DuMont, K., Mitchell-Herzfeld, S., Greene, R., Lee, E., Lowenfels, A., Rodriguez, M., & Dorabawila, V. (2008). Healthy Families New York (HFNY) randomized trial: Effects on early child abuse and neglect. Child abuse & neglect, 32(3), 295-315. Howe, D. (2005). Child Abuse And Neglect: Attachment, Development And Intervention Author: David Howe, Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan Pages. Letarte, M. J., Normandeau, S., & Allard, J. (2010). Effectiveness of a parent training program “Incredible Years” in a child protection service. Child Abuse & Neglect, 34(4), 253-261. Lundahl, B. W., Nimer, J., & Parsons, B. (2006). Preventing child abuse: A meta-analysis of parent training programs. Research on Social Work Practice,16(3), 251-262. McCoy, M. L., & Keen, S. M. (2009). Child abuse and neglect. Psychology Press. Wang, C. T., & Holton, J. (2007). Total estimated cost of child abuse and neglect in the United States. Chicago, IL: Prevent Child Abuse America. Read More