Respond to at least two colleagues who selected a different position from the one you selected by suggesting how the policy initiative can be achieved. Be sure to identify any challenges or obstacles you see in passing and implementing the initiative.

Support your response with specific references to the resources. Be sure to provide full APA citations for your references.

Response to Professor

Hi Bonita,

I appreciate that you discuss the social problem from a preventative standpoint – as I think such an approach is needed for long term social change. From a practice standpoint, I think it can be argued that there are several policies that take a reactionary/intervention approach due to the influx of clients in need. In this way, can you identify a policy (i.e.) – at the state or federal level that addresses child abuse? What are the policy objectives and do you think they are appropriate in addressing the social problem?

Dr. G

Response to Lauren

The policy statement on child abuse and neglect I selected from the NASW states “all states must create and enforce laws that protect child witnesses of domestic violence and provide appropriate care for nonoffending parents and children” (NASW, 2009). I chose this particular statement because I have seen firsthand the lasting effects that witnessing domestic violence has on children. While children may not have suffered any abuse, the physical, mental, emotional, and psychological effects can be absolutely devastating to a child.

A policy initiative I would introduce to further the NASW’s position on children witnessing domestic violence would be for social workers and counselors to follow up with any children listed as a witness to the domestic abuse. Basically, when a police and/or shelter report is being filed, social workers, counselors, and domestic violence shelter advocates will get a copy of the report once everything is documented, filed, and done. Social workers, counselors, and domestic violence shelter advocates then can follow up with these children to make sure they have all of the counseling resources and any other necessities they may need to help them overcome the trauma they are experiencing.

When it comes to child abuse, Tennessee has a mandatory reporting law. Tennessee code 37-1-403 states that

“Any person who has knowledge of or is called upon to render aid to any child who is suffering from or has sustained any wound, injury, disability, or physical or mental condition shall report such harm immediately if the harm is of such a nature as to reasonably indicate that it has been caused by brutality abuse, or neglect or that, on basis of available information, reasonably appears to have been caused by brutality, abuse, or neglect” (Tennesee Department of Children’s Services, 2016).

My initiative would flow with this policy very well. With mandatory reporting, a domestic violence report is documented and filed. The only extra step needed is in addition to police having a copy, social workers, counselors, and domestic violence shelter advocates will also obtain a copy with the child’s information to contact them.

References

NASW. (2009). Social work speaks. Washington, DC: NASW Press. Child Abuse and Neglect (pp. 42-48)

Tennesee Department of Children’s Services. (2016, December n.d.). Tennessee Child Abuse Hotline FAQ. Retrieved October 16, 2017, from Tennesee Department of Children’s Services: https://www.tn.gov/dcs/article/tennessee-child-abu…

Response to Jeanie

“All states must create and inforce laws that protect child witnesses of domestic violence and provide appropriate care for non-offending parents and children” (NASW, 2009). In this policy, children who are witnesses to domestic violence in their homes should be protected. The non-offending parent should be provided with proper care for themselves and the children. There are laws in place that extend or increase the penalties and fines of the perpetrator (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2016).

A policy initiative I might introduce to further this position is to have the perpetrator pay for any counseling the child may have along with the extended penalties. Due to the emotional distress on a child, the counseling will be necessary. While it is difficult to get the perpetrator to attend domestic violence classes, the child should be granted that and it should be paid for by the abuser.

Currently in North Carolina, should someone commit an act of violence with a minor under the age of 18 in the presence of the situation, they are charged with a Class I Misdemeanor (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2016). The perpetrator is placed on supervised probation and any other court imposed punishment (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2016). Also, the perpetrator is sentenced to an active punishment, no less than 30 days, as well as any other court imposed punishments, should it be a second violation or subsequent violation (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2016).

My initiative might alter these existing policies as the courts may not order it as additional punishment. Often the additional punishment is court order for the perpetrator to attend classes. With the policy to have the perpetrator pay for counseling of the minor, the courts are then doing more for the child who ultimately has been damaged in these situations.

Class Reference

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (n.d.) Laws and policies. Retrieved on October 18, 2017 from

www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-polici…

NASW. (2009). Social work speaks. Washington, DC: NASW Press. Child Abuse and Neglect (pp 42-48)

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