Young people who sexually abuse: A framework for initial assessment

The issue of young people who sexually abuse is on the political and practice agenda, although this profile lacks any coherent policy, procedures or practice guidance to make it effective. Many competent, experienced practitioners remain anxious and dis-abled when faced with this area of work.

Conceptual frameworks to guide the evolutionary path of this work are emerging (see Calder, 1997, 1999), although operational frameworks to translate aspiration to service delivery are frequently absent. This paper focuses on an operational framework for the initial assessment of young people who sexually abuse.     

“caught in the middle” exploring children and young people's experience of domestic violence

This document seeks to explore children's experiences of domestic violence and the effects such violence may have on their lives, both in the short term and in the long term. It draws on the conclusions of various studies in this area which have been carried out in America and the United Kingdom. It aims to raise awareness of the complexity of this issue and to highlight the importance of support for both women and children who may be survivors of domestic violence. The document highlights a number of issues, namely

How children and young people may experience domestic violence;

Identification of links between domestic violence and child abuse;

The impact domestic violence may have on mothering;

The effects domestic violence may have on children and young people's lives;

The legitimacy of the cycle of violence theory;

Issues to be considered when assessing the possible impact of domestic violence on children and young people.     

An evaluation of the mencap family adviser service in Northern Ireland

For over three years, Mencap (Nl) has provided and largely funded an 'Information and Advice Service' aimed primarily at family carers and people with learning disabilities. The service employs four advisers who cover most of Northern Ireland, offering telephone but also face-to-face contact with enquirers. They have access to a specially developed, computerized database that contains details of local as well as national resources.

This paper describes the service and the evaluation process used. Information was obtained from four stakeholder groups, namely service-users; service-funders; the leaders of learning disability teams in Health and Social Services (HSS) Trusts and the chairpersons of Mencap local societies.

The features of a good information and advice service are noted, along with the developments required to the existing service. In the main these relate to improved partnership working with statutory agencies and increasing the profile of the service with services, family carers and people with learning disabilities.

The lessons learnt in Northern Ireland could usefully inform the development of similar services that are proposed for the Irish Republic, Scotland, England and Wales.     

First evaluation of The Down Lisburn Trust Befriending scheme for young people leaving care

The Down Lisburn Trust befriending scheme was initially set up in October 1998, this piece of research was conducted in April 2000 and is the first evaluation of the scheme.

The purpose of this research study was to evaluate the benefits of the befriending scheme for young people 'looked after' or leaving the care of Down Lisburn Trust. This was achieved by collecting the retrospective views of the young people and their befrienders in relation to how the befriending scheme has benefited them.

As the befriending scheme is a relatively new project, the subjects used in the study were from the first intake of participants on the scheme. This comprised of 5 young people and 6 befrienders. In order to obtain the relevant information, questionnaires were devised for the young people and the befrienders.

The findings of this research study indicated that the befriending scheme benefits those young people in care and leaving care, by providing them with someone to talk to and help them pursue their interests. Also it has ensured there was someone to support them through difficult familial relationships, life in care and/or life after care. The findings also highlighted the need for clearer procedures and follow up in relation to the ending of befriending relationships to ensure that this already vulnerable group of young people are not damaged further.

The findings of this study agree with the findings of other research studies dating from the early 1980's, regarding the plight of young people in care and leaving care.

The Adolescence Team was established in 1990/91 and provides an integrated, specialised service to young people aged between 14 and 21 years old living within the Down Lisburn Trust area. It also provides a supported continuum of care, which enables young people who have been or are in care to live independently and safely in the community. It aims to do so by providing the following services; individual counselling, family work, assessment, mediation/negotiation, preparation for leaving care, aftercare support, group work, and child protection investigations. The following is an overview of the first evaluation of the scheme.     

The Future Detection and Prevention of Institutional Abuse: Giving Children a Chance to Participate in Research

The involvement of children in research studies is historically fraught with difficulties. Experiments on children without their consent or knowledge have been carried out in the past and thus the need for stringent ethical control is undoubtedly necessary. However this paper argues that the need to protect children from unethical research has somehow become entwined in the web of secrecy that surrounds the very nature of child abuse. In the name of 'protection' are children in danger of not having their voice heard?

In the foreword to 'Listening to Children' (Alderson, 1995) Roger Singleton writes, 'much research is carried out on and about children, but seldom with children. Children themselves are often strangely silent'. This paper draws on recent literature on the institutional abuse of young people in residential care and the lack of voice that those abused in residential care have traditionally had, suggesting that their silence is not 'strange' but perhaps contrived.

This paper does not repeat the work of Alderson (1995) and make suggestions as to how research with children may best be carried out, but seeks to address the issues in relation to research with children who are in institutions.     

True or Not True

This empirical study was based upon the research findings on young children's perceptions of 'the concept of advertising' and of 'the principle of trade' described by Ingrid Pramling [1986, 1990]. It investigated through interview techniques and 'role play' young children's understanding of

(a) the role and function of Estate Agents

(b) the 'truthfulness in advertising' in general and then specifically of the details found in Estate Agents prospectuses

(c) 'the principle of trade negotiation', in particular buying and selling property

(d) the function of 'transaction'

(e) the concept of 'advertising'     

北京市幼儿家长预防儿童性侵犯知识、态度及亲子间交流状况研究

目的了解幼儿家长预防儿童性侵犯知识、态度和亲子间交流状况及其影响因素,为做好幼儿家长预防儿童性侵犯教育工作提供参考依据。方法本调查对象来自同意参加这项研究的2所北京市幼儿园儿童家长。采用不记名自填式问卷调查方法。结果 45.8%的家长能认识到对儿童进行性侵犯的人多为儿童熟悉的人,超1/4的家长担心预防儿童性侵犯教育可能会使儿童对"性"知道得太多而产生不好的影响,53.5%家长与儿童谈论过不要保守性侵犯这样的秘密,要告诉信任的人。结论要重视幼儿家长预防性侵犯教育工作,促进亲子间预防性侵犯问题的交流。     

South Australian Parents want Child Protection Programs to be offered in Schools and PreSchools

It is now widely realized that child sexual abuse is an all too common crime against children, resulting in long term damage to victims and heavy costs to the community. It is also realized that much abuse could have been prevented if children had been given basic information about acceptable and unacceptable touching, secrecy about touching and norms of adult-child behaviour.

Parents representing 250 families, caring for 565 children aged 3-12 were interviewed to find out what parents tell their children to protect them from sexual molestation.

Three quarters of all parents told their children nothing and most of those who thought that they had given information had only given hints. Furthermore, this “information” was passed on only after a traumatic event had already occurred.

Parents revealed an inadequate knowledge of the dangers to children and a desire for school and preschool programs to remedy the deficit.     

Using the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to Estimate Prevalence of Sexual Abuse Among Oregon High School Students

ABSTRACT: To estimate the extent of childhood sexual abuse, questions were added to the 1993 Oregon Youth Risk Behavior Survey of students in grades 9–12. Twenty-five high schools throughout Oregon participated in the survey. Among the 2,332 students who answered sexual abuse questions, 20.9% had ever been sexually abused; females (33.1%) were much more likely to have ever been abused than were males (8.1%). Females (10.3%) also were more likely than males (3.4%) to have been sexually abused within the past year. High school students sexually abused in the past year engaged in many high risk health behaviors such as weapon carrying, substance abuse, seriously considering suicide in the past year, and sexual activity when compared with students who had never been sexually abused. Further educational efforts with teachers, health care providers, parents, and child care providers, as well as development and use of school curricula, are needed to reduce sexual abuse.     

Ethical and practical considerations in palliative child care and the support needs of parents and siblings

Death is one of the few certainties in life and yet it is the one event that most people avoid contemplating until forced to do so. When considering death and dying it is assumed by most to occur in old age and in hospital. The death of a child is a devastating loss which can cause the most distressing and long lasting grief (Davey, 1995). According to “Childhood cancer UK” the number of children developing cancer in the United Kingdom has remained constant over the past 30 years (about 1300 new cases each year), with only two-thirds of children with the disease being treated successfully. In Britain 32 per cent of cancer deaths occur at home (Bean, 1994) however only a small proportion of these will be children. Despite the deaths of children at home being a statistically small group it must not be ignored due to the great emotional impact it has on the individual, family, health workers and often local community.

The changing status of children in the UK means that health care professionals must uphold childrens' rights whilst working in partnership with parents. A balance must be found between the traditional protectionist and paternalistic attitude of care and the liberationist approach. This can only be achieved through communication and collaboration between families and members of the multi-disciplinary team allowing the promotion of constructive problem solving

The key aim of palliative care is to give the child as good a quality of life as possible in the time remaining with freedom from distressing symptoms including pain. Every health professional working with a dying child who has pain should give consideration to the complexity of pain, it's unique and diverse effects and engage the entire family and health care team in planning interventions and providing support to the child and to each family member (Graner, 1976).

Siblings, parents and health professionals may be profoundly affected by the experience of the death of the child, therefore, each multi-disciplinary team must develop formal coping strategies to deal with the possible psychological disturbance and to facilitate adjustment after the death of the child.

Martinson, writes of her greatest encouragement which came from the parent of a dying child;

“No matter if it culminates a full life or a life shortened much too soon, does death have to be terrorising? There are many to rejoice and aid in the event of birth, as with the patient that can be helped, but for those going through the frustration of 'not getting better' when science and the masses, sometimes even family and friends who can no longer face them, have deserted, could there be a greater challenge or more considerable need for help?”

(1976, p. 13)

This is a powerful message for health professionals caring for children in the end stages of a terminal illness. It is at this time that the family and dying child are in most need of the consistent, expert and humane relationships provided by the caring professions. The challenges are immense but great reward lies in the privilege of being intimately involved in this final rite of passage through life.     

Integration: Quality in care and education for the young disabled child

The presentation aims to examine the criteria of quality for care and education programmes for young disabled children in integrated early childhood settings. The conceptual and practical issues which influence quality programmes will be discussed with particular reference to the Integration Programmes operated throughout South Australia in early childhood centres.

The Integration Programmes, developed to enable and support the integrated or normalised development of young children has as its specific 'target' group individual children who are 'too delayed or disabled' to be able to fully participate or participate without direct assistance in community based early childhood programmes. Some of these children are extremely disabled and others' handicapping conditions are exacerbated by severe lack of other available community resources, isolation and other factors.

Integration is more than 'being there'—it is a complex process based upon the recognition of human value and human rights. For greater insight into the Integration Programmes an appraisal of the following aspects will be provided.

• the principles of integration

• the goals of integration

• the dimensions of integration.

The dimensions of integration will be placed in relation to the indicators of quality in early childhood programmes. The juxtaposing of these parameters of quality will lead to the emergence of guidelines for practical goalsetting and evaluation hallmarks of excellence in integration.     

“It has been fun. Super‐duper fantastic”: Findings from a Danish respite programme to support young carers

Awareness of young carers’ experiences and needs is low on governmental and societal levels in Denmark. This article presents findings from the first evaluation of a Danish respite programme, the Buddy Programme, which aims to provide support to young carers aged 5–15 years who experience serious, chronic or mental health problems and/or death of a parent or sibling. Over a four‐six month period, volunteer students from University College Copenhagen offer young carers the opportunity of respite through participating in ordinary activities such as play and sports. In 2017–2018, based on a child‐centred approach, we conducted a qualitative study with interviews focusing on how the Buddy programme affected the children. The interviews took place at programme start, halfway through, and after completion with 22 children and 21 parents, as well as single interviews with 20 Buddies assigned to families after completion. Three main themes were identified: (1) the Buddy programme as an activity, (2) how the Buddy Programme affected the children and (3) ending the Buddy programme and wanting to continue the friendship. Our findings emphasise the importance of fun and cosy activities that provide children with respite from the serious concerns that otherwise fill the lives of young carers. Being with a Buddy created a free space, allowing children to play undisturbed and to temporarily keep concerns and a guilty conscience at a distance. By offering friendship, Buddies provided opportunities for young carers to feel special, be seen, acknowledged and taken seriously as a child with valid and specific needs and interests. Our findings may help increase awareness of the needs and interests of young carers on governmental and societal levels.     

Multimodal therapy for survivors of sexual abuse with developmental disabilities: An evaluation of treatment effectiveness

When examining the statistical data on people who have been sexually abused/assaulted, there tends to be a disproportionately large number of victims who have developmental disabilities. Yet, as a group, people with developmental disabilities also tend to have the fewest treatment resources available. Whereas there may be several reasons for this lack of resources, the question of treatment efficacy seems to arise whenever the needs of people with developmental disabilties are discussed. The following article summarizes the results of a group for survivors of sexual abuse/assault with developmental disabilities which utilized a multimodal approach to address specific treatment goals. Based upon the qualitative evaluations of the authors, it appeared that all of the participants exhibited some degree of positive therapeutic response. Further evaluation of a multimodal approach is suggested. Creative Community Living Services, Inc.     

The Arts Provider Partnership Summer Project 2001

Cedar Grove, a statutory residential facility within Newry and Mourne Health and Social Services Trust, is a short-term assessment centre located in Newry, Northern Ireland. The Centre is resourced by a qualified social work team, and has been operational since September 1999. It accommodates six young people, both male and female, between the ages of 12 and 16 years. Referrals are made to the Centre for a variety of reasons and may include: Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Emotional Abuse and/or Neglect, Disability, Family Breakdown, and Offending behaviours.

This paper focuses upon the conception and completion of an art programme held within the Centre during the summer of 2001. Of the six young people who participated in the project, four were male and two were female. The original group did not remain static throughout the project, but were joined at varying stages by others who were referred to the Centre. One female was referred mid-project, while two males joined the group during the latter part of the summer. The project was conceived by young people and staff within the facility during the spring period of 2001. A sense of commonality between the resident group was evident in their own identification of art and music as media through which they could come together as a working unit. The project sought to capitalise upon the aforementioned motivation and to provide a tailored programme of events throughout the summer period. As educational attendance and attainment had also presented as a difficulty within the last term of school, it was envisaged that this project would provide young people with opportunities to develop through more holistic activities. Thus the project, while not acting as a substitute for school, would seek to complement the more formal academic system.     

Professional and Parent Views of Early Childhood Programs: A Cross-Cultural Study

Interrelationships between the macro-, mesoand microsystems can affect the partnerships which parents and professionals form to effectively support the growth of young children. These “systems” were explored through a cross cultural study.

To study the mesosystem where family and early childhood progam meet, a fivesection survey was sent to a random sampling of ten per cent of parents and professionals involved in early childhood programs in Kronobergs Lan, Smaland, Sweden and St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States. In general, parents and professionals in Sweden agreed with each other that open-ended, creative, childcentered materials and activities were important. In the United States, however, there were many significant differences between parent and professional views. More parents than professionals favored academic tasks and conformity to rules, while more professionals than parents supported children's creative exploration of the environment. The views of the respondents were affected in diverse ways by the macro-system political and economic societal contexts.

This study suggests that parents and professionals, particularly those who have significantly different ideas, may need to discuss a common purpose and philosophy about what is important for young children in early childhood programs. This purpose needs to take seriously the societal context in which children live. Building on a common base, various formats for involvement can be created to maximize the support network among parents, professionals and young children.     

Building concepts, curriculum and confidence — an interactive preservice motor program

The preschool years are a time of increasing experimentation with a variety of motor tasks, and a period of gradual and progressive motordevelopment and learning. The development of proficiency in fundamental motor skills is one of the basic tasks of the preschool years.

(Malina, 1982:215.)

Parents and teachers should recognise the central role of movement experiences in the overall development of the young child and the many factors that can affect proficiency in motor activities .... different kinds of opportunities for movement exploration, discovery and practice should be provided.

(Seefeldt, 1980).     

A Shoestring Operation for Sexually Abused Children

The title of this paper refers to how resources were gathered to provide a therapy group for latency aged children who had been sexually abused. In one way it is a sad commentary on how society treats children who have been victimized; on the other hand, this account shows how volunteers with a will can harness the energies of social agencies to help provide a needed service that was not yet established. The history of social work is replete with accounts of generous individuals who stepped forward to do the necessary. Social work, like nursing, had its origins in volunteerism.¹ Even today lacunae in public welfare are filled by volunteers, and while not all efforts become institutionalized the trend toward innovation and compassion is still strong in contemporary society (Newsweek, “A 51 Gun Salute to Everyday heroes” pp 62-79 July 6 1987).

Within the profession, there are always fields of service that are on the cutting edge of human needs—witness industrial social work, divorce mediation, services to lesbian/gay clients, AlDs victims, etc. Often these special programs, or the recognition of special populations within an agency's service area are first made by employed professionals within the agency. If the innovative professional has success, the program or method is gradually extended to other agencies and finally adopted by the government. While the connection between individual innovation and public policy is too complex to be described here, it is sufficient to say that the current American program of AFDC had its origins from the experience of juvenile court judges who were faced with the prospect of removing dependent children from their widowed mother. The common sense of these officials and other child advocates saw the wisdom of preserving the family at state expense (Trattner, 1974, pp 185-186).

Whether the situation is that of orphaned or abused children, the process is slow that defines the fact into a social problem. Sometimes, without much fanfare or rhetoric, an individual professional or a volunteer will attempt a remedy either with spontaneous effort or a small scale program. These small efforts can emerge despite the bureauracy that controls the bulk of public welfare; sometimes the new remedy becomes part of received wisdom and public policy. Whether it is continued or not the program has responded to human need in a changing world. Social work in industry, among refugees, displaced homemakers, gay people are some of the instances in which small scale operations came before “public” help.

The problem of sexually abused children has been around a long time; any kind of sexual activity with a child is harmful (Conte 1981, pp 601-602.). An unknown number of child victims grow up without psychological help that could prevent painful memories as an adult. It was to prevent this emotional scaring that the “shoestring operation” was launched.     

Young people supporting parents with mental health problems: experiences of assessment and support

The explosion of interest in young people as carers over the last decade and a half conceals the fact that there are still no reliable estimates of the number of young people with caregiving responsibilities. This is even more problematic in circumstances where the 'looked after' person has a mental health problem. In this study, we reflect on what can be done to identify, assess and support young people in these circumstances. We draw on selected findings from a study that has been examining the constituents of good assessment practice in work with family carers supporting relatives with mental health problems. The study embraces different carer groups but this paper concentrates on the experiences of young carers at one study site where Barnardo's and partner organisations had developed a joint initiative targeting young people who are looking after parents and relatives with mental health problems. Following a review of the literature about young people as carers, the paper describes how Barnardo's worked to support them through its young carers projects. Based on face-to-face interviews with the young people (N = 10) caring for a mother with mental health problems, the main part of the paper provides an account of how they talk about, make sense of and evaluate the support they have received through this combined initiative. The findings underscore the value of one particular young carers project, and provide clues about what lessons may be transferable to other similar projects.     

Responses to Situations of Sexual Abuse Involving Teenagers with Intellectual Disability

This paper reports on significant findings from an ongoing study on the care and support services for sexually abused individuals with intellectual disability in South Africa. Only one aspect of the study is presented here, namely the professionals’ views regarding responses to situations of sexual abuse involving a group in question. So far, data presented in this study were obtained by means of interviews conducted individually and in groups, with participants recruited from the police services and schools that cater particularly for learners with intellectual disability. Findings revealed that sexual abuse among teenagers with intellectual disability is widespread. The responses are discussed under three broad areas, namely: protocols, reporting and preventive efforts. The findings will be available for use in maximizing care and support services for sexually abused people with intellectual disability in South Africa.     

Are you serious? Involving young people in children's service planning

This paper was written by the Making A Difference Today (MAD2DAY) Group, which is a group of young people who came together over the past 24 months in order to support the participation and involvement of young people in the Western Area Children's Services Plan. This group, supported and mandated by the Western Area Children and Young People's Committee, has been based on the core principle of peer-led involvement in planning, and has recently hosted the 'Are you Serious?' Conference held at the Broomhill Hotel in Londonderry on 30 June 2003, at which some 120 young people representing organisations throughout the Western Area came together to give their views of the services available to them.

The paper was delivered to the 'Think Global — Act Local' Conference held in Ballymena on 29 November 2002 to launch the four Children's Services Plans for Northern Ireland by Fiona Mullin, and to the 'Child Care in Practice' AGM at the in Belfast on 29 May 2003 by Stieneke Willis. It addresses the experience of the young people in MAD2DAY, and sets out a number of challenges that need to be taken up in order to create the conditions that will enable the views and experiences of young people to be incorporated into the planning process.