University Dally Kansan
Tuesday, February 17. 1976
7
Agencies fight increasing child abuse cases
By FLORESTINE PURNELL
Local health, education and social service agencies are working together in an attempt to handle the growing number of reported child abuse cases.
Mary Thomas, state specialist for the family preventive and protective services unit of the Kansas Social and Rehabilitative Service (SRS) said Friday that the number of fetal abuse cases had increased fairly steadily but her database registry was established in July 1972.
The registry has reports of child abuse received at the county level, Thomas said, as well as those reported directly to the unit by individuals.
In 1975, 3,636 cases of abuse were reported in Kansas, compared with 3,938 cases in 1974. The registry indicates an increase of 28 cases from 1972, when about 1700 cases were reported.
ONE REASON FOR the increase, she said, was the child abuse law passed in 1972. The law requires that nurses, doctors, law enforcement officials, school officials, attorneys and other professionals able to handle child abuse cases should be able to child abuse. Thomas said that under the law, private individuals weren't required to report cases, but that they often did.
Another reason for the increase is that some people's attitudes have changed, she said.
"People: we have suddenly begun to realize that the people who are reported are getting more ill."
WHEN CASES are reported, local social service agencies investigate them and report the information to the agency.
Despite the help given, Thomas said, many cases go unreported.
"There are no vicious reasons," she said.
Often it is a case of people not knowing
how to deal with someone.
There are various reasons most cases go unreported, Thomas said. Some people are afraid of being used or getting involved and so they refuse to handle a family themselves, she said.
To correct any misunderstandings, press releases are sent out and local training sessions and talks with organizations are held.
GLENNYS KUHLKE, service supervisor of the children and youth unit for Douglas County SHS, said that in the past, cases had been reported to the juvenile court.
However, since the child abuse law was
"We are usually able to screen out fights among neighbors. Then we try to determine what the family's needs are and offer services." Kuhke said.
passed, local agencies have been working together. Much of the investigation of reported cases is now done through her office, she said.
Services range from family group therapy to individual counseling and referral to other agencies, she said. The program is called Ash Mental Health Clinic, the juvenile court and the psychological clinic at the University are those services most often contacted, she said.
KUHLIKE AID most of the cases reported to her last year were those of neglect. According to law, neglect means neglecting a child to be in unsafe surroundings or situations.
"Sometimes there are cases where mothers neglect because they don't know how to care for their children," Kuhike said. "The mother will be immature herself. So she must be taught service to persons who could add to the mother's self-esteem or counsel."
against parents weren't common, and there were few cases in which children were congenital.
Kuhlke said cases involving action
"Most parents are not anxious to have their children taken away, but sometimes they know it's for their own sake," she said. The court will remove a child and its parent as a last resort. Removal adds more problems for the kids on top of everything else."
Kuhike said when cases were turned over to the juvenile court and hearings were held, it was best that her office have access to her records. In school and health officials could be used. In cases involving testimony from private individuals, attorneys represent parents could demand testimony even if the neighboring family been an anonymous until then, Kuhike said.
THE HEN CHILD is returned to the home, visits are often aimed at working the child.
Jane Krepps, probation officer for Douglas County Juvenile Court, said that when the court became involved with a case being handled by SRS, the SRS was kept informed on all action being taken as part of a working association between them.
"The purpose of the association," Krepps said, "is to keep lines of communication open."
When a report is made directly to juvenile services, it will often conduct its own investigation, Kreps said. When it has been determined that abuse has occurred, the court will take action on the home. Kreps said a hearing within the home determines what action the court might take.
FURTHER ACTION could be in the form of services through SRS and other agencies or by temporary court custody of the child. An informal hearing to determine whether the child is entitled to the home is then held. Kreps said it was for family use to be permanently secluded.
When an individual reports a case to the health department, he's encouraged to call the court if the case has been determined an actual child abuse, Scaly said. The health department will refer cases to the court if individuals won't, she said.
The Douglas County Health Department also checks into cases. Peggy Scalp, public health nurse, said the health department usually checked into borderline cases.
County health services will follow up with counselling, day care information and
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Events ...
TONIGHT: THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE ORGANIZATION will meet at 6:30 at Danforth Chapel. Supporters of FRED HARRIS for the Democratic presidential nomination will present a free slide and tape show about the Harris campaign at 7:30 at the Jawahrah Room of the University. Asian Studies and Political Science, will give "A Report on Chinese-Slides and Comments," at 7:30 at Jayhawk Room of the Union. The LAWRENCE WOMEN'S POLITICAL CAUCUS will sponsor a Political Party Night at 7:30 at the Lawrence Public Library. The film, "WINNER SOLDIER INVESTIGATION," at 8:30 at Annum Veterans Against the War, will be shown at 8 at Pearson Scholarship Hall.
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Announcements ...
DANIEL L. AZARNOFF, professor of medicine and toxicology at the KU Medical School, has been appointed to the National Advisory General Medical Sciences Council.
JAMES MOESER, dean of the School of Fine Arts, has been designated as the organist who will represent Kansas in a Bicentennial recital in July at the Kennedy Center.
Donald R. McCoy, professor of history, has been named to a three-year term on the advisory council of the U.S. National Archives.
The work of three KU professors, Carlyle H. Smith, professor of design, Gary Nemchock, assistant professor of design, and Olivia Vallane, assistant professor of design, is now in the National Invitational Exhibition of the SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA at the New York. This exhibit will four Australia and New Zealand during the next year.
--one of the seven he had mentioned in congressional testimony two weeks ago as problem banks. He didn't identify any of them and others haven't been identified.
$450-million Tennessee bank fails
Controller James E. Smith in Washington identified Hamilton National as
It was acquired immediately by First Tennessee National Corp, a bank holding company.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP)—The Hamilton National Bank of Chattanooga, with 120,000 depositors and assets of $450 million, was declared insolvent yesterday by the U.S. Comproller of the Currency
Ronald Terry, chairman of First Tennessee National Corp., told a news conference that Hamilton National Bank had been reorganized during the afternoon into First Tennessee National Bank, Chattanooga.
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