Children's protective services and law enforcement: fostering partnerships in investigations of child abuse.
Although collaboration in child abuse investigations has been emphasized since 1974, barriers, including role conflicts and organizational differences, have often been reported. This study describes the process of collaboration based on the perceptions of investigators working with a Child Advocacy Center. Telephone interviews were conducted with 290 child protective service workers and law enforcement officers from 28 child advocacy centers in 20 different states. Respondents identified barriers to the process of collaboration such as conflicts over case control and facilitators including co-housing and cross-training. Conditions that should contribute to successful collaboration are discussed.
Newman
Bernie Sue
BS
Temple University School of Social Administration, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. bernie.newman@temple.edu
Dannenfelser
Paul L
PL
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002651:Child Advocacy / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D035846:Law Enforcement; D012926:Social Control, Formal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States