The concept of child abuse

The concept of child abuse The concept of child abuse is historically, socially and culturally bound. Critically discuss this statement with reference to the subject material and literature. Introduction This paper will look at child abuse, what that is in Australia today. Through reviewing literature on child abuse and child protection this paper aims to show that the concept of child abuse is dependent on social and cultural values. In order to discuss child abuse and its relationship to history and social and cultural values it is important to define the term child abuse in the child protection field in Australia today. Zuchowski (2009: 30) cites Fernandez as recognizing that the importance of agreed and unambiguous definitions is central to identifying maltreatment and appropriate interventions and that child abuse is a socially constructed concept defined by social, cultural and economic conditions. In Australian child protection work child abuse is defined in terms of physical, sexual and emotional abuse and in the more contentious area, child neglect. Physical and emotional abuses are defined as acts of commission or omission that cause harm or worse to children. Sexual abuse is defined as the child being used for the sexual gratification of the adult and involves the abuse of trust and power inherent in relationships between adults and children. Neglect is defined as a situation in which the parents/carers fail to provide for the basic essential needs that children require (Tilbury, Osmond, Wilson Clark 2007:5; Tomison, 2001:48). The term neglect is contentious and implies judgement; Feminism and Post-Modernist theories challenge workers to be critically reflective on the ways in which language contributes to the construction of social values (Healy, 2005:194). Applied to child protection work Feminist, Structuralist and Critical social work theories focus on social and economic resources and recognize the impact that structural disadvantages have on families capacities to provide for children (Tilbury et al, 2007:29). Neglect of children was not recognized prior to the industrial revolution and children as young as five were treated as slave labour in orphanages, workhouses and factories, where they were starved, beaten and often kept in leg irons (Tomison, 2001:48). These conditions are illegal in Australia today and would be considered as child abuse by current social values. History of Child Protection In the 19th century children were essentially seen as economic units, large families were an investment and childrens input was considered essential to family survival (Sanson Wise, 2001:5).By the turn of the 20th century changes in attitudes to child labour in Australia were reflected in laws such as the Factory Act of New South Wales and Victoria of 1896, compulsory education for all children in all Australian states by 1900 and the establishment of voluntary child rescue groups such as The Victorian Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in 1894 which was concerned with child abuse and the effects of poverty and disadvantage on their living conditions (Sanson Wise, 2001:5; Tomison, 2001:50). However, widespread public concern regarding the maltreatment of children only emerged when child abuse was rediscovered by Dr H Kempe and his colleagues in the United States in the 1960s. They coined the term battered baby syndrome and their work created interest in child maltreatment around the world. (Tomison , 2001:50; Parton, 2002:5). At the time child abuse was seen as a socio-medical problem, a disease which could be cured and prevented whereas today child abuse is currently framed as a socio-legal problem with the emphasis on gathering and assessing forensic evidence (Parton, 2002:11; Tomison, 2001:52). The professionalization of child protection services during the 1970s and 1980s saw the development of risk-assessment tools ; aids to assist workers in making the right decision and to help ensure accountability. These developments saw the worker as the expert; whereas current theories used in social work in Australia such as strengths- based approaches and narrative therapie s emphasize a collaborative effort between families and child protection services (Kreuger, 2007:237; Tilbury et al, 2007:16). The influence of the child rescue movement in the late 19th century on child protection in Australia has been profound, particularly influencing the history of social intervention and removal of Indigenous children from their families (Sanson Wise, 2001:8.).Child protection in Australia was first provided by predominantly Christian church groups in the non-government sector and targeted abandoned, neglected children and those with families considered socially inadequate. Initially rescued children were boarded with approved families until later years when orphanages were established. In the early days of settlement the deprivation that children suffered in institutions was recognized, leading to foster care or boarding out being the preferred placement for neglected children (Tomison, 2001:49). Indigenous Child Protection From the first white settlement of Australia colonial values and approaches saw the land being regarded as Terra Nullius, Indigenous people being treated as free labour at best and subsequent laws, policies and practices that forcibly removed Indigenous children from their families (HREOC, 1997:2). The Colonial response to the atrocities perpetrated on the Aboriginal people was to establish a protectorate system which would segregate and therefore supposedly protect Indigenous people. By 1911 most Australian states and territories had reserved land and assigned responsibility and therefore control of Aboriginal peoples lives to a Chief Protector or Protection Board. This power was used to remove Indigenous children from their families with a view to converting them to Christianity (HREOC, 1997). This policy approach would be considered racist by current social standards. Australia has been slow to recognize and respect the cultural values of the Indigenous people of Australia in ever y way, including child care and protection. As the population of mixed descent people grew government officials responded by removing children and housing them away from their families with the aim of absorbing and merging them into the non-Indigenous population. The forcible removal of Indigenous children continued in many guises up until the 1960s; those people affected by this practice are now known as The Stolen Generation. In New South Wales after 1940, Indigenous and non-Indigenous children came under general child welfare legislation. The inherent racism in policy and practice and lack of recognition of cultural differences ensured that Indigenous families were more readily found to be neglectful. Poverty was equated with neglect and Indigenous families, ineligible for unrestricted welfare support until after 1966, were judged as failing to provide adequately by non-Indigenous standards (HREOC, 1997). Attachment theory is based on the joint work of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth. Attachment theory recognizes the importance of the early relationship between parent and child and its influence on childrens future ability to form healthy relationships. Bowlbys work on maternal deprivation, based on the premise that attachment to a caregiver is essential for survival, was not applied to Indigenous families in the 1950s and 60s in Australia (Bretherton, 1995:759; Osmond Darlington, 2002:1). This failure can be attributed to the same racist attitudes to Indigenous Australians that saw Australia declared an empty continent by the first settlers (HREOC, 1997). Looking through the lens of attachment theory at Australias history of forcible removal of Indigenous children, it is easy to see the legacy of intergenerational suffering and its ongoing impact on the wellbeing of Indigenous communities today (Sanson Wise, 2001:39). From todays perspective historic child protection practices impos ed on Indigenous Australians are seen as child abuse and maltreatment. Prime Minister Rudds apology, in February 2008, for the damage done to Indigenous Australians through past policies of removal, evidences the change in Australian social values which are reflected in policy. In the Bringing them Home Report (HREOC, 1997:19), Sir William Deane acknowledges the extent to which present disadvantage flows from past injustices and oppression. The report recognizes the permanent wounding caused to the Stolen Generation by forcible removal and institutional abuse. All states and territories in Australia have accepted the Indigenous Placement Principle as law or policy (SNAIC, 2002:66.)This policy recognizes the importance of retaining Indigenous Australian childrens connections to their community and culture(Ban, 2005:388). The Indigenous Placement Principle embeds Indigenous cultural values in social policy by seeking to place children within extended families and their communities. This principle is critical to addressing issues such as Indigenous children being six times more likely to be removed than any other Australian children and twenty times more likely to be in the juvenile justice system. This high rate of removal can be attributed to structural issues such as poverty, lack of adequate housing and the intergenerational effects of policies that forcibly and deliberately removed Indigenous children from culture and family (Zuchowski, 2009:76). In fifty years, approaches to indigenous child protection in Australia have radically changed; they now reflect recognition of past injustices, respect for cultural differences and values and a commitment to partnership and collaboration between governments, services and Indigenous Australians to build capacities and resilience in communities to keep families and children safe (Calma, 2007). Economic Impacts Thomson (2003) suggests that there is an institutional blindness to the role that poverty plays in putting children at risk of harm. The rise of economic rationalism as the dominant philosophy through the 1990s in Australian social policy has been twofold: under- resourcing of welfare services such as child protection and a user -pays approach which sees the poor and needy further disadvantaged. Economic rationalism is a potentially value laden approach where those who are socially and economically disadvantaged held responsible for their circumstances. As Tomison (2001:52) acknowledges the focus of economic rationalism on efficiency, effectiveness and accountability potentially conflicts with the ethical commitments made by social workers such as a commitment to achieving social justice (Tilbury et al 2007:10; AASW, 1999). Economic issues impact the reconciliation process with the Indigenous community as healing and reconciliation relies on redress of past wrongs (HREOC, 1997). Thor pe (2007) also notes that a disproportionate amount of resources in child protection are spent on investigation rather than care. Current Social Policy Approaches: Prevention and early intervention The current discourse on child protection, influenced by strength based and evidence based approaches, has shifted from talking about abuse to talking about harm (Zuchowski, 2009:33). Feminism and Post-modernism recognize language as a site which contributes to defining social value; these discourses have also contributed to the shift from talking about abuse to focussing on the harm done to children. Harm is defined in The Child Protection Act (1999) as any detrimental effect of a significant natureon the childs wellbeing. This term allows for family and child to contribute to the assessment of what is considered detrimental and significant (Tilbury et al, 2007:4). The focus since the mid 1990s in Australia has been on early intervention and prevention (Tomison, 2001:54-55). Resilience has been recognized as a key protective factor in children surviving maltreatment and high risk situations and achieving healthy and adaptive outcomes. The growing recognition that enhancing protective factors to prevent maltreatment of children is cost effective, and provides both social and economic benefits, has seen an increasing focus on the delivery of early intervention and prevention services in Australia. These services are mostly delivered through non-government agencies such as Family Centres in New South Wales. Government policies now focus on health and wellbeing through enhancing community, family and individual strengths. These current strengths-based family support approaches are a contrast to historic approaches that sought to place responsibility and blame solely with the parent. Childrens health and wellbeing is now seen as a community responsibility; the impact of the socio-economic environment in which the family lives is now taken into account (Tomiso n, 2002:7; 2001:55). Conclusion According to Tilbury et al the label child abuse changes according to social context and reflects public opinion and values as well as expert opinion and reflects the degree to which society supports families to care for their children(2007:6). Furthermore understandings of child abuse and neglect differ according to socio-economic status, culture and ethnic background (Bowes Watson, 2004), as cited in Tilbury et al. (2007:6). What constitutes child abuse is dependent on social and cultural values; this is clearly evidenced in the changes to the treatment and care of children throughout even the short history of Australia since white settlement. The increase in notification and substantiation of children at risk in the last decade is the outcome of a widening definition of what comprises child abuse (Scott, 2006, as cited in Thorpe, 2007:1). Australias history of forcible removal of Indigenous children, the disconnection of British migrant children from family, the abuse of children in institutional care and the ongoing social and mental damage that these practices caused is now well known (Thorpe, 2007:1). These historic practices are unacceptable and considered abuse and maltreatment in Australia today. When compared with Australias current collaborative and culturally sensitive approach to child protection it is clear that child abuse, and community perception and response to it, reflect the dominant cu ltural and social values of the day. 1 Catriona Robertson, Student No. 0718540740, Assignment 1, WS3027: Child and Family Welfare, 10th January 2010.

The Future of Cyborgs Essay -- Technology Robots

The Future of Cyborgs Terminator and Bladerunner, portrayed cyborgs or cybernetic organisms as creatures of destruction. Are they really as horrible as the movies make them out to be? They can be more useful than perceived; it is necessary to first perfect the technology involved in creating and operating them. In this paper, I will describe how these cyborgs work and how they are portrayed in the movies. Furthermore, I will explain the helpful ways that they are expected to perform in the future. Cyborgs are a very complex creation of the future. The general concept is that they cannot be recognized as non-humans. Although it has a programmed mission, this unit thinks and reacts on its own. The understructure is made of a very strong material that resists many dangers; for example, gunshots and fire. Cyborgs are a self-contained unit under a layer of human flesh. The layer of human flesh that covers the frame is a biological organism. It has different layers and has a capillary system that is flowing with blood. Basically, a cyborg is undetectable to a human without special means and equipment. Cyborgs are portrayed as an evil force in Terminator and Bladerunner. In Terminator, the cyborg is a killing machine sent back in time from the future. The mission of the cyborg is to terminate the mother of a rebellion leader before he is born. Throughout the movie, the Terminator takes many gunshots and withstands punishments that would destroy a human’s frail body. The Terminator experiences a high-speed car crash and walks away nearly unharmed. His layer of flesh is damaged, but he proceeds to cut the damaged portion away and continues his mission. Near the end of the movie, the Terminator is in a fiery explosion involving a... ...us functions. In a military aspect, they could be used as guards to patrol the base, or put in the front line to lead the troops into questionable situations. In the medical field, they could be used as assistants during surgery and childbirth and once the technology is perfected, they could perform these procedures on their own. They could also be used in biohazardous material recovery and decontamination. Finally, if enough money was available, they could be purchased as maids in a household. As you can see, even though they are portrayed as an evil force in the movies, cyborgs could be a great asset to the world once the technology is perfected. Bibliography Terminator. Dir. James Cameron Perf. Arnold Schwarzenegger,Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton. MGM, 1984. Bladerunner. Dir. Ridley Scott. Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer. Columbia TriStar, Warner Bros., 1982.

Nursing Care Plan and Specimens Essay

Quality is a broad term that encompasses various aspects of nursing care (Montolvo, 2007). The National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators [NDNQI] is the only national nursing database that provides quarterly and annual reporting of structure, process, and outcome indicators to evaluate nursing care at the unit level (Montolvo, 2007). Nursing’s foundational principles and guidelines identify that as a profession, nursing has a responsibility to measure, evaluate, and improve practice (Montolvo, 2007). The purpose of this paper is to analyze the ‘mislabeled specimen’ indicator for an inpatient rehab unit and devise an action plan based on best practices to decrease the incidence of mislabeled specimens. Analysis of the data According to Dock, (2005) accurate specimen identification is a challenge in all hospitals and medical facilities. Ensuring that specimens are correctly identified at the point of collection is essential for accurate diagnostic information (Dock, 2005). A mislabeled specimen can lead to devastating consequences for a patient (Dock, 2005). Specimen misidentification can be serious, resulting in misdiagnosis and mistreatment (Dock, 2005). For the second quarter of FY09, the rehab unit met their target of zero mislabeled specimens. The third quarter yielded two actual mislabeled specimens with a variance of two. The fourth quarter actual was one with a variance of one. The first quarter FY10 showed an actual of one and variance of one. For the FY09 the rehab had a total of four mislabeled specimens. This indicator was chosen because of the magnitude of this medical error. Nurses, administrators and laboratory personnel must collaborate and create ways to decrease the mislabeling of spec imens. Nursing plan Nursing interventions to decrease the number of mislabeled specimens and improve actual indicator scores are: 1) Ensuring proper identification of patient 2) The use of electronic technology and 3) Bedside labeling. Each of these interventions will positively impact patient outcomes and reduce errors. According to The Joint Commission [TJC], proper patient identification is best practice for decreasing mislabeled specimens (The Joint Commission as cited by Sims, 2010). National Patient Safety Goal [NPSG], 01.01.01 states that healthcare providers should use at least two identifiers to identify patients. For example, the patient’s full name and date of birth is used to properly identify a patient (The Joint Commission, 2014). According to Kim et al., (2013), developing a standardized specimen handling system has the potential to reduce errors. Figure 1. Steps to properly identifying a patient for specimen collection. Figure 1. Essential specimen handling steps. Blue items are physician-specific responsibilities; pink items are nursing staff-specific responsibilities. Adapted from â€Å"Standardized Patient Identification and Specimen Labeling: A Retrospective Analysis on Improving Patient Safety,† by Kim JK; Dotson B; Thomas S; Nelson KC; Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2013 Jan; 68 (1): 53-6. The strongest intervention to reduce labeling errors is the addition of barcode technology (Brown, Smith & Sherfy, 2011). The use of automated patient identification and specimen collection techniques can be an additional safety net for routines that are vulnerable to error, especially when coupled with strong systems designs (Brown et al., 2011). Brown et al (2011), found that the clinical applications of electronic and information technology support can assist in the identification, control, and reduction of error rates throughout the process. According to the World Health Organization [WHO] healthcare providers should encourage the labeling containers used for blood and other specimens in the presence of the patient (World Health Organization, 2007). This would suggest labeling specimens at the patient’s bedside or before leaving the room. Nurses should never label specimens before collection as this could lead to serious errors. Summary In summary, NDNQI indicators serve as a schoolmaster that holds nursing accountable to practice. An analysis of ‘mislabeled specimens’, found that an inpatient unit had a total of four incidents for FY09. While this does not seem like a great deal of errors, any one error could have detrimental consequences. The plan of action based on best practices is to properly identify the patient, using electronic technology, and labeling specimens at the bedside. References Brown, J.E., Smith, N., Sherfy, B.R., (2011). Decreasing mislabeled laboratory specimens using barcode technology and bedside printers. Journal of Nursing Care Quality, (26)1, 13-21. Retrieved from http://sfxhosted.exlibrisgroup.com/waldenu?genre=article&issn=10573631&title=Journal%20of%20Nursing%20Care%20Quality&volume=26&issue=1&date=201101 Dock, B. (2005). Improving the accuracy of specimen labeling. Clinical Laboratory Science, 18(4), 210-2. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/204803914?accountid=14872 Kim J.K., Dotson B; Thomas S; Nelson KC; Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2013 Jan; 68 (1): 53-6. Retrieved from ent%20identification%20and%20specimen%20labeling%3A%20A%20retrospective%20analysis%20on%20improving%20patient%20safety.&spage=53&sid=EBSCO:rzh&pid= Montalvo, I. (2007). The National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators (NDNQI). Online Journal Of Issues In Nursing, 12(3). Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/detail/detail?vid=50&sid=909dc60d-9c0d-474c-a02e-2e8f9df097e1%40sessionmgr4003&hid=4104&bdata Sims, M. (2010). The Joint Commission clarifies key compliance issues. MLO: Medical Laboratory Observer, 42(4), 72. Retrieved from http://web.a.ebscohost.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=54&sid=909dc60d-9c0d-474c-a02e-2e8f9df097e1%40sessionmgr4003&hid=4104 The Joint Commission, (2014). National patient safety goals. Retrieved from http://www.jointcommission.org/assets/1/6/2014_HAP_NPSG_E.pdf World Health Organization. (2007). Patient safety solutions. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/patientsafety/solutions/patientsafety/PS-Solution2.pdf

Essay about Coping With The Aging Body - 1205 Words

COPING WITH THE AGING BODY Human bodies are not well built, powerful, or immortal, in fact, they are set up for failure. Biological, cognitive, and pathological forces knock on the door of survival every day intensifying its power of evil. At first, these changes are welcomed as one matures, grows stronger, and gets smarter, but it is an illusion of what is in store. These transformations slowly rob a person of who they were and what they were able to accomplish. People in all types of societies try to stave off the progression of growing old by any means necessary, but eventually; the bodies, minds and souls cave. The fundamentals of biological aging are determined not by calendar years, but†¦show more content†¦The four most common damaging aliments that plaque the geriatric population includes â€Å"cancer; which is the most serious of all ailments and over two thirds of the elderly are affected by this disease, Dementia, Parkinson’s, and Diabetes. (Agarw al, 2011) Cognitive changes also affect people as they age, some are normal, some are not. A slower thinking process, memory recall, and the ability to process multiple sources of information is considered normal; as long as there is no indication of disease or illness. As a person ages it becomes more difficult to arrange, categorize, and focus on more than one task at a time. The duration between tasks, jobs, and chores may take a bit longer to process, but can be effectively accomplished by modifying time constraints. â€Å"The older person is often subject to biological deterioration, social extrusion, and economic deprivation.† (Lau, 1994) Cues, signals, and aids can help the elderly recall information with easier ease, and possibly help to complete undertakings in a more timely fashion. â€Å"Another coping strategy that people tend to adopt with age is to cut down on the number and kinds of things they do, but to keep doing those activities that they like the most and do well.† (Aging in the Know, 2005) These type of cognitive changes are considered within normal ranges and does not mean a less satisfying or productive life. 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