tuation will begin. The social worker will do an initial assessment, the investigation will take place, and so forth. With a standardized process we can insure that every child will receive our best efforts to insure that they are safe. The last part of my plan calls for us as social workers to do a major part now. We must develop and identify methods for treating abusers and victims. An open dialogue must be kept so that our ideas can influence those who are conducting research. We must be diligent in our application of these treatment methods to insure that they do treat what they are meant to treat. If any evidence is found that a particular treatment method isn't really effective it must be passed on to everyone else. We are the grunts in this war. Along with developing treatment methods we must make people aware of the problem and force them to act against it. Even if you decide not to adopt my plan action must be taken. Ideas for programs, treatment, etc. must be promoted because we can no longer ignore this issue.In 1996, 1,000,000 children were the victims of child abuse and neglect. Most of these children were under the age of 3. The effects that child abuse and neglect can have on children have been identified; these effects are quite severe and long lasting. Currently most of the research being conducted is on treatment methods for abusers. A study conducted in 1990, found that out of 1,500 articles published on child abuse and neglect only 2 dealt specifically with the treatment of victims. This has to be our wake up call. I have presented a general framework for dealing with this issue. If steps such as universal treatment are taken, we will raise children who are a lot less violent and less likely to abuse their own children. It is necessary that we develop treatment programs for the victims because their hurt does not simply go away when the abuse does. Social workers have always taken on the social pr...
