Total Credits: 1.5 including 1.5 American Psychological Association, 1.5 Association of Social Worker Boards, 1.5 National Board of Certified Counselors, 1.5 California Board of Registered Nurses, 1.5 State Bar of California
Child sexual abuse continues to be a significant societal problem. Children’s disclosure of abuse and their degree of recovery are associated with the level of support they receive from professionals as well as their caregivers. While the forensic interview is a critical tool for gathering information in child sexual abuse cases, nonoffending caregivers are integral to the effective investigation and treatment of child victims of sexual abuse. By definition nonoffending caregivers have not sexually abused or directly participated in the abuse of their children. However, nonoffending caregivers are often scrutinized regarding their children’s sexual abuse. Common reactions caregivers frequently express after a disclosure of child sexual abuse are often misinterpreted by professionals. Issues of parental culpability, beliefs, and support in cases of child sexual abuse as well as intergenerational recidivism are discussed.
Culturally sensitive investigations and interventions are not only important for successful outcomes but the long-term welfare of the child and family. Effectively engaging caregivers and offering them with the necessary resources and services allows them to make decisions that can safeguard their child’s future. Implications for research, practice and policy are discussed.
Objectives: After this training, attendees will be able to:
| Handout: Succeeding with NOC Book Chapter (23 MB) | Available after Purchase | ||
| PowerPoint Handouts (1.6 MB) | Available after Purchase | ||
Dr. Viola Vaughan-Eden is a Professor and the PhD Program Director at the Ethelyn R. Strong School of Social Work at Norfolk State University. She is also the President and CEO of UP For Champions, a non-profit in partnership with The UP Institute, a think tank for upstream child abuse solutions. As a clinical and forensic social worker, she serves as a consultant and expert witness in child maltreatment cases – principally sexual abuse. Dr. Vaughan-Eden lectures nationally and internationally on child and family welfare to multidisciplinary groups of professionals.
Bolen, R. M., & Gergely, K. B. (2015). A meta-analytic review of the relationship between nonoffending caregiver support and postdisclosure functioning in sexually abused children. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 16(3), 258–279. https://doi.org/10.1177/1524838014526307
Bux, W., Cartwright, D. J., & Collings, S. J. (2015). The experience of nonoffending caregivers following the disclosure of child sexual abuse: understanding the aftermath. South African Journal of Psychology, 46(1), 88–100. doi:10.1177/0081246315595038
Vaughan-Eden, V. (2014). Nonoffending mothers of sexually abused children. In J. Korbin and R. Krugman (Eds.). Child Maltreatment Series: Contemporary Issues in Research and Policy (Vol. 2). Handbook of child maltreatment (pp. 431-441). New York: Springer Publishing.
Vaughan-Eden, V., LeBlanc, S. S., & Dzumaga, Y. (2020). Succeeding with nonoffending caregivers of sexually abused children. In R. Geffner, J. White, L. K. Hamberger, A. Rosenbaum, V. Vaughan-Eden, & V. Vieth (Eds.). Handbook of interpersonal violence and abuse across the lifespan: A project of the National Partnership to End Interpersonal Violence Across the Lifespan (NPEIV). Springer Nature. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-62122-7