Department Of Community Services Research Articles

Domestic violence: a priority in child protection in New South Wales, Australia?

AbstractOver the last several years there has been increasing awareness of the connection between domestic violence and child abuse, yet only minimal attention has been paid to the implications of this for child protection practice. This article begins to address this gap. Drawing on research undertaken in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, it examines child protection practice in relation to children and young people who have been exposed to domestic violence. The research involved analysis of the responses of the statutory child protection authority in NSW (the Department of Community Services or DoCS) to abuse allegations involving domestic violence. The data are drawn from observation and analysis of the initial responses to referrals to DoCS and the ‘tracking’ of a sample of these referrals over an 18 month period. From the data obtained, it is evident that domestic violence referrals are treated less seriously than other referrals, with more being confirmed as abuse but fewer resulting in follow up or intervention. The implications of this for child protection practice are teased out. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Letters to the Editor

25 May 2006 Dear Editor, RE: ARTICLE ‘MENTAL HEALTH OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER AND KINSHIP CARE’ IN NEW SOUTH WALES, AUSTRALIA (MICHAEL TARREN-SWEENEY AND PHILIP HAZELL) AND THE EDITORIAL COMMENT (MAREE CRAWFORD), VOLUME 42, NO. 3, MARCH 2006 My congratulations to Tarren-Sweeney and Hazell for their article highlighting the difficulties faced by children in care in New South Wales, and for Maree Crawford’s comments. Both highlight the multidimensional social, emotional and cognitive problems faced by these children. Each of the four major purposes of the Children In Care Studies (CICS) is laudable, as is Crawford’s conclusion that the carers need ‘support, encouragement, assistance and education’ to provide the essential nurturing relationship for these children. I was dismayed therefore that there is little or no mention of the biological factors that shape these children’s lives. I understand birth parents ‘could not be reliably located in the private study’ (Tarren-Sweeney and Hazell), although there is no discussion as to how important their biological contribution would have been. There is a mention of this in the paragraph titled ‘Gender Differences’, although no attempt was made to tease out the importance of biological and environment risk factors. Does this matter? I think it does. I have been practising as a General Paediatrician for nearly 20 years in a large Regional centre in New South Wales. This has given me the very unique overview of knowing children’s birth families as well as the families into which they have been placed. Often General Paediatricians in my situation have been involved in the removal of the children from their birth family, and may be the only constant carer as the children drift from family to family, as other health-care professionals and even Department of Community Services (DOCS) officers, etc. come and go through their lives. Again and again I have witnessed personality traits in children that mirror their parents’, usually manifesting as acting out behaviours that are often termed Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorder. I have seen children perpetrate violent acts serially towards their carers’ (vulnerable) foster siblings, actions that usually see them moved on to the next family. Again, the General Paediatrician remains a constant in terms of provision of medical care, prescription medication, etc. as the children yet again move camp, change schools, General Practitioners and Government workers. Why does it matter? First, focus on nurture, epitomised by the branding of these children with Attachment Disorder, gives the false hope that changing the children’s environment will lead to a change in the child. DOCS habitually do not let new carers know about the previous biology or actions of the child, even when they have acted dangerously in a previous care situation. Stunned carers come to me saying the child has harmed one of their own children or other foster children, having been given no warning that the child had done similar things in the past. Second, when a child continues to display negative behaviours in a placement, the immediate assumption by DOCS has been that it is the environment that is producing these behaviours, which leads to scrutiny of the foster carers, usually with detrimental effects. Children in foster, kinship or adoptive care should be studied in the same way identical twins are studied, as they provide critical information on the nature-nurture debate. We ignore this at our peril, as it can only make the lives of foster and adoptive parents more difficult, and the care of their children more tenuous.

Exploring the dimensions of professionalising fostering: Carers’ perceptions of their fostering role

Australia is experiencing major difficulties attracting and retaining foster carers. This crisis in recruitment has focused attention on whether fostering can continue to rely on voluntary carers. This paper examines data from a 2003/4 survey of foster carers in New South Wales commissioned by the Department of Community Services. The research explores carers’ perceptions of the nature of the fostering role and examines these in relation to three dimensions of professionalisation: training, support and payment. The findings indicate that the majority of carers believe fostering should be regarded as a professional or semi-professional role. Among these carers, there was a higher level of support for the three dimensions of professionalisation compared to carers who regard their role as voluntary. Differences in perceptions were not attributable to other socio-demographic characteristics, aside from education levels. This paper also addresses the policy implications of these findings for the future recruitment and retention of carers.

Developing and Implementing Feral Hog Management Procedures on an Urban Nature Center

Author(s): Denkhaus, Robert | Abstract: Feral hog populations have long been established in Texas. Expanding hog populations and increasing urban sprawl have brought humans and feral hogs into contact even in urban areas. The Fort Worth Nature Center a Refuge is a 3,600+ acre urban green space owned by the City of Fort Worth and managed by employees of the City’s Parks and Community Services Department as a natural, native landscape. Evidence of feral hog activity on the site was first documented in 1999. Efforts to develop a suitable control plan that would protect the natural resources of the refuge, while being cognizant of internal and external stakeholders’ diverse concerns, were undertaken over a 2-year period. These efforts culminated in the implementation of a successful ongoing trap and euthanize feral hog control program that has received wide acceptance from all stakeholders.

A Review of the Mechanisms of Interaction between the Extremely Low Frequency Electromagnetic Fields and Human Biology

Studies of the biological efiects and any health related consequences of extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic flelds (EMF) have been going on for over half a century however with contradictory outcomes. Hence, it is now necessary to stress on standardizing the EMF-health research experiment procedures in order to enable such experiments become replicable and results comparable. In 1998, a review of several of the ELF EMF human biological interaction mechanisms regarding fleld intensities and frequencies was presented to the Australian Radiation Laboratory of Commonwealth Department of Community Services and Health in 1988 by Andrew W. Wood. Wood's 1988 assertion of the importance of understanding the interaction mechanisms did not alter even after a decade when the NIEHS RAPID (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/) gathering of world experts produced their statement, in which quoted, there have been experiments on possible mechanism/s in support or refutation of the various proposals however none were replicated. Valberg (Valberg etal., 1997) also summed up some but failed to include all the claimed proposed mechanisms at the time. This paper is to present a complete list of the allegedly possible interaction mechanisms to date. This paper will also report on an academic research on computer modeling of biological efiects of ELF EMF using one of the proposed mechanisms. The research reported here has generally aimed at modeling the proposals using computer. The initial phase of this efiort has concentrated on Ca efiect as the number of publications referencing that was considerable. Calcium is a key element in the biological performance of every organ in the human body. Thus it deemed imperative to study the efiect of EMF on Ca channels of a living cell. Furthermore, considerations for setting standards in EMF experimental research protocols are recommended. Developing a standard protocol allows results of future experiments to be comparable; and, the chance of replicability in EMF-health improve, which this aspect has indisputably been absent in EMF research projects thus far. Replication is desirable mainly because it eliminates bias, artifact and systematic errors. Replication is almost impossible in the case of epidemiological studies however in experimentation is possible if the details are specifled in full. To authenticate any efiect of MF, it is not satisfactory to present experimental results without reporting the experimental settings in their entirety.

Short Term Placements: An Exercise in Organisational Culture Exchange

This article explores the process of setting up some short (one week) and longer (six month) exchanges between two government departments on the Central Coast of NSW, with the express purpose of assisting organisational change through this form of professional development. The article outlines the program's objectives and achievements, as well as the evaluation results and benefits to the two departments taking part. The exchanges all occurred within a context of services for children and families, but the concept of the exchanges and their educational and organisational benefit have much broader application to any instance where a number of government departments are being asked to collaborate or work more closely on issues. On the Central Coast of New South Wales, the Area Health Service and the Department of Community Services have undertaken an organisational cultural exchange experiment through short placements between various sections of the two government departments and also some longer term secondments. The purpose was to increase the understanding and skills of professionals within the two agencies to understand each other's roles better, and to also achieve better client outcomes for the often shared client group of the two departments. The exchanges have all taken place in services that work with children and families and were organised with a child protection focus in mind, although the program is transferable to other contexts.

Wisdom from the drought: Recommendations from a consultative conference

Drought is a serious and recurring problem for rural and remote Australia. This paper reports the proceedings of a consultative conference concerning the mental health effects of drought held at the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, Orange, in December 2003. The conference objective was to record the collective experience of government and non-government agencies dealing with the effects of drought in rural areas and to collate information for the development of a mental health strategy for future drought. Participants were recruited in consultation with rural mental health organisations. Questions about mental health service strategies to minimise and respond to the mental health impact of the drought were posed to participants. Qualitative data were collected using a Nominal Group Technique. The Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, Bloomfield Hospital, Orange, New South Wales. Twenty-three professionals participated, including representatives from New South Wales Health, Mental Health, and Agriculture; the Department of Community Services, and Rural Financial Counsellors. Qualitative analysis of participant responses. Three general strategies emerged as the most beneficial in minimising adverse mental health outcomes in times of drought: community-building and education about the physical, financial and mental health effects of drought; co-operation between and co-ordination of agencies in delivering mental health and other drought support; and continuity and planning of improved mental health services. Drought has a serious effect on the mental health of communities. It is important to plan a response beyond the end of the drought, bringing together different government and non-government agencies to build community capacity to address common mental health needs.

Foster carers in New South Wales: Profile and projections based on ABS Census data

Administrative data on foster carers in New South Wales (NSW) are sadly lacking. Based on research commissioned by the NSW Department of Community Services, this paper uses the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census of Population and Housing and other data to provide up-to-date information on the characteristics of foster carers and the demographic trends that are influencing their numbers. Census data indicate that foster carer families are most likely to contain women aged 35–54 years, not in the labour force. Couples account for two-thirds of all foster carers, with the majority of those couples also caring for birth children. While single parents account for less than one-fifth of all foster carers, they are more likely to foster than couples, either with or without birth children. Higher rates of fostering were found in relatively disadvantaged areas. Projected increases in female labour force participation are expected to contribute to a decline (or to slower growth) in the number of foster carers over the next decade. However, projected increases in sole parent families and couples without children are expected to have the opposite effect. The relative magnitude of these effects was not ascertained.

Building a Child Impact Assessment Tool for the City of Edmonton

Children, Youth and Environments 15(2), 2005 Building a Child Impact Assessment Tool for the City of Edmonton Bob Yates Yates, Thorn & Associates Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Citation: Yates, Bob. (2005). “Building a Child Impact Assessment Tool for the City of Edmonton.” Children, Youth and Environments 15(2): 371-377. . Comment on This Article Abstract Few Canadian cities have taken their commitments to children and young people more seriously than the City of Edmonton. The City has recognized that the local government agency in Edmonton must take the lead in promoting the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The firm of Yates, Thorn & Associates, a Victoria, British Columbia-based social planning consultancy, was hired by the City of Edmonton to help develop specific aspects of its Children’s Services Framework. This report describes the development of a Child Impact Assessment Tool. Keywords: Child-friendly cities, child impact assessment tool, Canada© 2005 Children, Youth and Environments Building a Child Impact Assessment Tool for the City of Edmonton 372 Background The demands on local governments in Canada and elsewhere to provide effective services for children and youth are increasing along many dimensions: • The expectations of parents and others regarding the range and quality of services are expanding. • More children are living in poverty now than at any time in the past. Their need for services is even greater than that of those children who have the ability to pay. • Federal and provincial governments are downloading services onto local governments, and providing funding for new services such as childcare. At the same time, they frequently adopt legal (such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)) or promotional (such as Alberta’s Promise) frameworks which local governments are required to follow. • Multiple agencies are increasingly involved as partners in the delivery of services. This is positive, but also demanding of time and resources. • The value of all services is constantly being evaluated and in some cases questioned by a tax-conscious public. • Communities are focusing more on outputs than inputs. The question is no longer “how many hockey practices did you attend?” but rather “did you win the game?” or at the very least “how well did you play?” When all this is put together with the inherent vulnerability and lack of political power of children and youth, it requires local governments to include frameworks and processes in their policy making that consistently and continually prompt the question, “What will be the impact on children and youth?” The City of Edmonton recognized that this question must be addressed as part of the implementation of its Children's Services Framework. Consequently, the City of Edmonton Community Services Department requested Yates, Thorn & Associates1 to develop a Child Impact Assessment Tool: a “lens” through which the impact of programs, policies and initiatives on children and youth could be examined. Early discussion made it clear that the Child Impact Assessment process must be: • Practical - it must be simple to use, providing a set of functional tools for city administrators and elected officials. • Visible - it must act to reinforce the need for a broad range of services for children and youth. • Visionary - it must be far-sighted in its vision of services for children, with the goal of putting Edmonton at the leading edge of child-friendly cities. Building a Child Impact Assessment Tool for the City of Edmonton 373 To meet these objectives, it must be designed to: • Educate various groups about children’s services. These groups include internal department and city staff, councilors, external agency staff and volunteers, as well as the general public. • Advocate for a child-friendly Edmonton. This implies a more proactive approach focused not just on “means” but also on “ends.” • Integrate child-focused efforts into the business planning processes of the City. The Child Impact Assessment will only be effective in the long term if it is a part of the machinery of government. • Focus on the key issues of importance to the children and youth of Edmonton, which had been identified through consultation with children and adults during the development of the Children’s Services Framework. Moving Edmonton towards Being a “Child...

Learning, Enjoying, Growing, Support model: an innovative collaborative approach to the prevention of conduct disorder in preschoolers in hard to reach rural families

To develop, implement and evaluate a pilot program targeting rural families with preschool aged children at risk of conduct disorder. A prospective single group repeated measures design. Communities in four local government areas in the Mid Western Area Health Service, New South Wales. A total of 33 families were referred to the program through community services where they were established clients. The Learning, Enjoying, Growing, Support model comprised a parenting program (Incredible Years; Kids Challenge and Change); a children's social skills program (Playing and learning to Socialise) and a transition to school component. Group programs were run simultaneously over 5-10 weeks. Measures of positive parenting and child problem behaviour and social skills were conducted on referral, and at completion of the program. There was a self-reported increase in utilisation of all positive parenting skills with significant increases in rewarding (median score on referral: 4 (range: 4-6); at completion of program 6 (4-6); (P = 0.02)) and ignoring (2 (0-6) to 3 (1-8); (P = 0.02)). Children increased their levels of social skills. Significant improvement was reported in cooperation: (median score: 24 (18-33) to 27 (19-33); (P = 0.02)); interaction (24 (6-9) to 26 (11-32); (P = 0.03)) and independence(25 (16-33) to 28 (20-33); (P = 0.008)). There was a downward trend in problem behaviour exhibited with a significant reduction in internalising behaviour (median score 19 (3-30) to 12 (0-32); (P = 0.04)). The positive impact of the model on parenting skills and child behaviour is promising and communities are continuing to run the programs. We recommend a broader adoption through rural communities.

Development of the Nutrition and Swallowing Checklist, a screening tool for nutrition risk and swallowing risk in people with intellectual disability

Nutritional problems in this population group are generally under-recognised by carers and professionals alike. Dysphagia and its consequences, including nutritional consequences, are also poorly recognised. In 1997 the New South Wales Department of Community Services decided to develop a systematic approach to improving recognition, assessment, and management of nutrition problems and of dysphagia in its clients with intellectual disability. One of the strategies of the project was to develop a screening tool to improve awareness by care staff of nutrition risks and swallowing risks in the clients for whom they care. The Nutrition and Swallowing Checklist encourages carer involvement in identifying these risks and an interdisciplinary approach to the assessment and management of nutrition and dysphagia. This paper reports on the need for the screening tool and the development process up to the point of introduction into services.

Further abuse of sexually abused children

Objective: To determine the incidence of re-abuse in children known to have been sexually abused and to find factors that increase the risk of re-abuse. Method: The study group consisted of 183 children with substantiated sexual abuse who presented to two children’s hospitals’ Child Protection Units in Sydney, Australia during 1988 through 1990. At intake, when the children were aged between 5 years and 15 years, data about the child, the family, and the nature of the index sexual abuse were collected. Six years after presentation for the abuse, records of the Department of Community Services were checked to see if any of the young people had been the subject of substantiated notifications for abuse/neglect before and after intake to the study. Predictors of notifications for abuse/neglect after presentation for the index sexual abuse were identified. Results: Of the sexually abused young people, nearly one in three were the subject of subsequent substantiated notifications to the Department of Community Services for some form of child abuse and neglect or behavior which placed them at risk of harm. Later notifications for abuse/neglect were predicted by notifications for emotional abuse before the index sexual abuse (adjusted RR = 4.88, CI: 1.43 to 16.65), severity of the index sexual abuse ( p = .03), and the number of changes in the child’s primary caregivers before intake ( p = .03). Approximately one in six of the sexually abused young people were notified for sexual abuse after intake to the study. One in 10 also had prior notifications for sexual abuse. Sexual abuse notifications after study intake were predicted by caregiver changes before intake ( p = .01) and whether or not there were notifications for emotional abuse before the index sexual abuse (adjusted RR = 3.40, CI: 1.05 to 11.02). Conclusions: Revictimization of children appears to be a marker of ongoing family dysfunction. Intervention in child sexual abuse needs to consider a range of risk factors associated with re-abuse and, in particular, should focus on family functioning if further abuse is to be prevented.

Letters to the Editor

Journal of Paediatrics and Child HealthVolume 36, Issue 2 p. 196-198 Free Access Letters to the Editor First published: 24 December 2001 https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1754.2000.0473d.xCitations: 1AboutSectionsPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat 15 October 1999 Dear Editor, PRENATAL CARE APPLICATIONS Two recent cases, one in New South Wales (NSW), Australia and the other in England, UK, have examined the care and protection issues for a child born to a mother who is HIV-1 positive In the NSW case, 1 the Department of Community Services made an application to the Supreme Court rather than to the Children’s Court, as it acknowledged that powers under the Children (Care and Protection) Act 1987 only existed once a child was born. The Supreme Court agreed that it held sufficient power to make orders to protect a child who was not yet born. In its application, the Department of Community Services argued that the chances of the child not contracting HIV-1 would be significantly enhanced if the child was born by Caesarian section, the child received AZT serum within the first 24 h of life, and the child was not breast-fed. In the circumstances, it was not necessary for the court to make an order on the way the mother gave birth. Subsequent to the birth, the court did grant a permanent injunction to prohibit the mother breast-feeding as the Judge found that ‘there is such a risk of irreparable injury that the grant of an injunction is justified’. The circumstances were similar in the later English case, 2 except that the child welfare authority did not become aware of the child until she was 4-months-old. The mother was HIV-1 positive, refused treatment, refused an elective Caesarean section and insisted on breast-feeding the child. An order was sought and granted under the English equivalent of section 23 (NSW) Children (Care and Protection) Act 1987, for the child to be tested for HIV-1. If the tests were positive then, because of the lateness of action, it would be necessary for the authority to seek court orders for medical treatment without parental consent and, possibly, care orders for the removal of the child from its mother. These applications would have serious implications for the future well-being of the child. The decisions are important in demonstrating the need to act promptly, and the range of powers which may be available to a court or a child welfare agency both outside and within existing care and protection legislation. R BEST Director, Legal Services D SMITH Team Leader, Child Law Legal Services Department of Community Services Ashfield, NSW Australia REFERENCES 1 Department of Community Services vs. A baby (unreported 9 July 1999 per Austin J, NSW Supreme Court), re: Baby A (unreported 26 July 1999 per Young J, NSW Supreme Court). Google Scholar 2 BrahamsD. Court order for HIV-1 test for baby. Lancet 1999; 367: 884. CrossrefWeb of Science®Google Scholar Citing Literature Volume36, Issue2April 2000Pages 196-198 ReferencesRelatedInformation

Initial assessment: A key stage in social work intervention

This paper examines the intake practices in child protection in the New South Wales Department of Community Services as a case study of initial assessment in social work intervention. Data was collected in three Department of Community Services local offices where 39 practitioners were interviewed about their child protection work practices. An observational study of the workers' intake practices was also undertaken for a period of approximately 110 days. While official Department of Community Services policy and procedures provided the basis for intake practice, this research found that other important factors relating to the informant, the characteristics of the frontline worker, the workplace environment and the context of child protection practice influenced the intake process. The implications of the research findings for other social work practice settings are considered.

The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago's Asthma Program

The American Red Cross is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide relief for victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Within the larger organization is the Community Services Department, focused on helping people lead healthier, safer lives. The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago serves the city and surrounding seven-county area. This chapter is a pioneer of sorts, in that they are the only chapter to have developed an asthma program in addition to the other standard programs.

Family Decision Making: Good practice in child protection solutions

This paper provides an introduction and background to the Family Decision Making project which was piloted in the Department of Community Services Cumberland/Prospect area of NSW, in partnership with Burnside (an agency of the Uniting Church NSW). The paper outlines the core features and values of the DoCS/Burnside project with the aim of promoting discussion as to Family Decision Making’s wider application as a best practice model of working with children and families.

Self-reported cervical screening practices and beliefs of women from urban, rural and remote regions

This survey aimed to explore women's perceptions of a number of issues relating to the availability and utilisation of cervical cancer screening services in the rural, remote and urban regions of New South Wales (NSW) Australia. The survey involved urban, rural and remote regions of NSW determined by the definition of the Department of Community Services and Health. This was a cross-sectional telephone survey. Of the 339 eligible urban households, 265 (78%) completed interviews; of the 286 eligible rural households, 238 (83%) completed interviews; of the 285 eligible remote households, 230 (81%) completed interviews. Telephone contact was made with randomly selected households in each region. Women in the households were asked to complete a computer-assisted telephone interview. The survey addressed a number of issues relating to cervical screening: cervical cancer risk status; provider of Pap smear service; distance travelled to have a Pap smear; perceived barriers and facilitators to cervical screening. There was no statistically significant difference in the proportions of women from urban (74%), rural (76%), and remote (71%) regions who reported having a Pap smear in the 2 years preceding the survey. General practitioners provided the majority (more than 70%) of tests irrespective of region. Compared with women from urban areas, women from rural and remote areas were almost twice as likely to have had their last Pap smear from a male general practitioner. A greater proportion of women from remote regions had to travel for 60 minutes or more to access providers of Pap smear services. Few differences in the top three reported barriers to, and facilitators for screening were evident between regions and between those women who had and had not been adequately screened. Issues of distance, isolation and access to alternative service providers are a concern to women in rural and remote regions and should be considered by those involved in the implementation of cervical cancer screening services.

Non-accidental burns in children

A retrospective review of five hundred and seven consecutive admissions to a state-wide paediatric burns unit over a three year period was made to assess the characteristics of the burn injuries and to see which, if any, characteristics would help to distinguish accidental burns from burns which were due to abuse or neglect. In 86% of admissions (the ‘accident group’) it was considered that the injury was accidental, with no evidence of deliberate injury or gross neglect. Eight percent of admissions (the ‘abuse/neglect group’) were referred to the State Department of Community Services for abuse or neglect resulting in the Department becoming involved in the family's management. In six percent of cases (the ‘concern group’) the Unit had concerns that the family's emotional or social situation was a significant factor in the child's injury, or made further injury more likely, and discussed the family's situation with the Department, but formal intervention was not undertaken by the Department. There were no differences between the groups in age or mortality. Children in the ‘abuse/neglect’ and the ‘concern’ groups were more likely to require skin grafting and treatment in the intensive care unit. They were more likely to come from single parent families and were more likely to have burns involving both hands or both legs. There were few other distinguishing factors. The incidence of prior notification for abuse and neglect was four percent for the ‘accident’ group, 14% for the ‘concern’ group and 46% for the ‘abuse/neglect’ group. This is considerably higher in the ‘concern’ and ‘abuse/neglect’ groups than the annual state incidence of 1.73% for abuse and neglect notifications. While the clinical features of a burn may often not be helpful in reaching a diagnosis of abuse or neglect as a cause of the burn, it appears that many children who have non-accidental burns have also had prior notifications for other types of abuse or neglect.

Legislated residential treatment of emotionally disturbed chronic runaways—a contentious approach

Those children involved with the Department of Community Services in New South Wales have a history of childhood abuse, neglect, domestic violence and seriously dysfunctional family dynamics. This has resulted in the children developing inappropriate strategies to cope with their adverse environment by physically acting out, in such ways as destroying properties, stealing, lying, fire-setting and chronic running away, and/or internalizing conflicts by self-mutilating behaviours. The critical ages are the pre-puberty and adolescent children, who engage in a pattern of running away and are at high risk of further exploitation by others. In New South Wales, the Children (Care & Protection) Act 1987 is the primary legislation which sets out the role of the state in the care and protection of children and young persons. However, this Act makes no provision for the physical containment of severely emotionally disturbed children to enable their access to the services they need. This paper attempts to identify the special needs of these children, who do not fit any diagnostic category, and proposes legislative changes to physically contain them in a therapeutic residential centre in order for them to access special protection and care services which would create the opportunity for long-lasting positive life experiences. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

PeaceBuilders: A Theoretically Driven, School-based Model for Early Violence Prevention

PeaceBuilders is a schoolwide violence-prevention program for elementary schools (K-5). A coalition of the Pima County Community Services Department, University of Arizona, and Heartsprings, Inc., (a Tucson-based company) are conducting a formal evaluation. Children who grow up to commit acts of violence show cognitive, social, and imitative differences from their peers. These characteristics can be ameliorated, most successfully through interventions that begin at an early age and involve multiple segments of the child's social experiences and interactions. PeaceBuilders activities are built into the school environment and the daily interactions among students, teachers, and administrative staff, all of whom are taught a common language and provided models of positive behavior, environmental cues to signal such behavior, opportunities to rehearse positive behavior, and rewards for practicing it. Four schools, one from each of four matched pairs, were randomly assigned to begin PeaceBuilders in Year 1. The remaining four schools begin in Year 2. Outcome assessments include student self-reports, standardized teacher reports, playground observations, and school and law enforcement records. Process assessments include school observations and surveys of teacher practices and satisfaction. Surveys were completed by 2,736 children. The sample is about 55% Hispanic, 26% Anglo, 14% Native American, and 4% African American. Among children in grades 3-5, during the past week 15% had been sent to the office for disciplinary problems, 13% tried to start a fight 27% hit someone, and 12% reported being threatened with a gun or knife. Violent behaviors and experiences are common among the studied children. A valid evaluation is underway of PeaceBuilders.