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VIOLENCE

IN THE FAMILY:

A National Concern

A Church Concern

UNITED STATES CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

Office of Domestic Social Development

Prepared By

Barbara Ann Stolz, Ph.D.

Approved by

Committee on Social Development and World Peace

U.S. Catholic Conference

June 21, 1979



copyright 1979

Publications Office

United States Catholic Conference

1312 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20005



ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This publication, while the primary responsibility of the Office of

Domestic Social Development, was prepared in cooperation with the

Family Life Office of the United States Catholic Conference and the

Office for Pro-Life Activities of the National Conference of Catholic

Bishops. In particular, Fr. Donald Conroy, Ms. Cecilia Bennett and Ms.

Gail Quinn read drafts of the document and provided necessary critiques.

The project was begun by an informal hearing at which experts in

the area shared information and insights into the problems of abuse.

They included: Professor Hart Nelson, Ms. Stephana Tewey, Ms. P.J.

Marschner, Sr. Gertrude Coffey, Ms. Kathleen Gardner, and Ms. Joanne

Howse. Dr. Veronica Maz and Cookie Wheeler of the House of Ruth

also shared their time and expertise.

Finally, Ms. Karen Curtis of the Office of Domestic Social Develop-

ment typed and retyped the drafts of this document.



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INTRODUCTION

Virginia K’s baby was stillborn after her husband knocked her down and

repeatedly kicked her in the stomach .
1

A five-year-old- has belt marks on his arms, legs and back. His mother

beat him when he refused to eat his vegetables. 2

My woman drinks and every Friday night when I come home, she just
startspounding me. ,3 The man is a policeman.

Elizabeth M. was hacked with a ceremonial sword wielded by her hus-

band, a West Point graduate.
4

Mrs. A. aged 78, is physically abused by her 13-year-old granddaughter.
5

The image of the family as a warm, nurturing and safe environment

has been shattered by reports of parents abusing their children, husbands

beating their wives, and even children assaulting their parents. Over a

million children are abused each year.
6
Studies estimate that 1.8 million

women are beaten each year by their husbands. 7 Husbands are assaulted

by their wives, parents by their children, sisters by brothers and brothers

by sisters, although the number of these cases is not known. Abuse may

be emotional, as well as physical, but the harm is just as real. These sta-

tistics are not simply numbers; they are family members seriously injur-

ing other family members. While domestic violence does not occur in all

families, it happens in families in all socio-economic groups. For many

men, women and children, the home may be more dangerous than the

street outside.

Church Concern

Family violence is a problem which the Church at all levels has a

responsibility to address. The imperative to respond is rooted in a con-

cern for human life, human dignity and family life. It is also a matter of

social justice. Historically, in its role as sanctuary, the Church has pro-

tected those in danger. Whether the harm is from outside the community

or from the family within the community, the Church has a responsibility

to those whose well-being is threatened.

Out of a concern for human dignity and human life, the Catholic

bishops of the United States have addressed numerous social justice is-

sues. Violence within the family is life-threatening. It may even be fatal,

1



as indicated by estimates that over 2,000 children a year die from child

abuse.
8 Even if it is not fatal, violence perpetrated against another person

is an affront to human dignity. It denies the personhood of the individual

who is harmed, reduces the dignity of the perpetrator of violence, and

lessens the respect for human life in the society in general. Abuse, as-

sault, or murder are not less serious, because they occur within the family.

Yet, that is the way in which our society has traditionally reacted to child

abuse, battered women, or other forms of family violence. Violence,

whether committed against family members or strangers is anthithetical

to the Judeo-Christian message of love and respect for the human person.

Our obligation to respond is also based on our concern for the fami-

ly. It is in the family that we learn to respect one another and to har-

monize our personal needs with those of others.
9
Violence within the

family diminishes, perhaps even destroys, the ability of the family to

fulfill its role. If the basic arena in which individuals learn to associate

with others does not promote good relationships, it not only will affect

their family life, but also their ability to interact with those outside the

family. In the context of the Plan ofPastoralAction on Family Ministry,

the timing is particularly appropriate for parishes, dioceses and other

local organizations to consider family violence.

Since the family is the primary environment in which we learn to

relate to others, violence in the family does have consequences for the

larger society. Most dramatic is the fact that 1 in 5 of all the police of-

ficers killed each year are killed intervening in family disputes. More

subtle are the effects of family violence on societal attitudes toward

violence, punishment, and mechanisms for the resolution of disputes,

among others.

The relationship between family violence and society is complex.

Many of the social issues which have been addressed by the Catholic

bishops in other contexts, are related to the incidence of violence in

family life. Unemployment, poor housing, lack of food, inadequate

health care and deficiencies in the welfare system are social structural

factors which can influence the incidence of family violence. False values,

such as excessive materialism; intense personal and corporate competi-

tion, which create pressures on family life; and acceptance of violence

contribute to domestic violence in all segments of our society.

Family violence is a critical issue for the Catholic community. The

mandate to respond to this national concern is clearly rooted in the basic

values and traditions of the Church.

Purpose of the Publication

The purpose of this document is to provide information about

domestic violence, to precipitate action, and to identify available re-

sources. The information is directed toward a wide audience, including

those in parishes and dioceses throughtout the country who should be

aware of the existence of the problem, those witnessing family violence,

those experiencing the problem as victim or perpetrator, those in minis-

2



tries or professions (e.g. teachers, health care professionals, social work-

ers, recreational directors) who may come across this problem in their

work, those professionals or volunteers who could assist in developing a

local response to these problems.

The basic descriptive materials are found in Part I. Activities that

might be undertaken or supported by diocesan, parish, ecumenical or

other groups are suggested in Part II and several models are provided in

Part III. In the last section further resources are indicated.

3





PART I Overview of the Problem

Description of the Problem

Who is Abused? Abuser?

Who is abused? Children? Wives? Husbands? Parents? Studies in-

dicate that the answer to all of these questions is yes. Who abuses? Re-

search also indicates that mothers, fathers, wives, husbands and even

children can be abusers.

Child and wife abuse have received public attention. Yet other fam-

ily members are abused too. There are incidents of sibling abuse where

a child may seriously injure a brother or sister. Wives may abuse their

husbands.

Abuse of a parent by a teenager or adult child is now beginning to be

recognized as a problem. Although the legendary Lizzie Borden, who, as

the rhyme goes “with an ax/gave her father 40 whacks/and after that

was neatly done/gave her mother 41” seems to be an extreme case, some

children do seriously harm their parents. The abused parent may be el-

derly, handicapped or for other reasons be dependent on a child. Inci-

dents of parental abuse do occur even when the parent is healthy, middle-

aged, and economically self-sufficient.

Moreover, other family relations or individuals living as family

members may also abuse. Stepfathers, stepmothers, aunts, uncles, cous-

ins, boyfriends or girlfriends may commit acts within the household

that are considered as family violence, rather than as an act of a stranger

or acquaintance. Presumably, they, too, may be abused.

Awareness of the problem of domestic violence has emerged categor-

ically, reflecting concern for specific victims, for example, abused chil-

dren or battered women. This has focused attention on certain types of

abuse and perhaps these are most prevalent. Yet, it appears that any

family member can be the victim of abuse and almost any family member

can be an abuser.

What is Abuse?

The character of abuse, whether the victim is a child, spouse, parent,

or sibling—can vary. In its most extreme form, abuse results in death.

It may involve severe beatings and bodily injury, such as broken bones
and bruises. Psychological abuse may be part of abuse, as may neglect.
Child abuse, for example, has been divided into several types. These

classifications suggest the variety of behavior subsumed under the term

abuse, whoever the victim is. Types of child abuse include:

• Physical abuse: nonaccidental physical injury to a child. Frac-

tures, bruises, burns, damage to internal organs can result even

5



from mild abuse.

• Sexual abuse: a form of physical abuse that may range from inap-

propriate fondling to sexual intercourse. Girls or boys may be the

victims of such abuse. The offender is usually someone who is

known to the child.

• Emotional abuse and neglect: verbal assault on a child or failure

to provide love, direction and appropriate support. This includes

placing unrealistic or extreme demands on a child, being harsh or

overly critical, or failure to provide necessary guidance.

• Physical neglect: denial of the essentials of life such as food and

shelter. Dehydration, skin infections, failure to thrive, malnutri-

tion and infestation with maggots can be the result of neglect.

As these subtypes of abuse indicate, the term abuse encompasses a

variety of forms of behavior. This sometimes creates problems in deter-

mining the dimensions of the problem of family violence, since different

informational sources may use different definitions of abuse. For ex-

ample, child neglect statistics may or may not be included under child

abuse statistics. Furthermore, certain types of abuse may be more evi-

dent; for example, broken bones are usually more visible than psycho-

logical damage. They may, therefore, be more readily identified, re-

sponded to, and thus officially recorded as abuse.

Abuse is thus a multi-faceted problem. Its manifestations are

varied. The extent of abuse also differs, although the impact of abuse

can be severe whatever the degree of physical or psychological harm.

While death is irreparable, psychological abuse may have serious and

broader societal ramifications over time. The definitional problems make

it difficult to specifically delimit abuse, but the violence is real.

How Widespread is Abuse?

The statistics on domestic violence, to the extent that they exist,

are usually classified according to victim—child, wife, husband, sibling,
parent. Research has also tended to focus on specific aspects of family

violence; consequently, the availability of data varies according to type

of abuse. The literature on child abuse, which has been perceived as a

national concern since the 1960’s, is more developed and voluminous

than the literature on parental abuse, which is only now being rec-

ognized as a concern.

There are also many problems associated with the gathering of sta-

tistics on abuse, which influence the statistical evidence and thus the

perception of the problem and its dimensions. Most of the statistics sug-

gest the incidence of the problem, but not its prevalence. Although it is

believed that abuse occurs much more often than the incidents reported,

only estimates can be made as to how prevalent the problem is. The

reasons for this difficulty in determining prevalence are quite simple.

First, not all incidents of abuse come to public attention. A victim may

6



hide the injury by avoiding other people or covering the injury by wear-

ing long sleeves. In the case of a child, the parent may hide the abuse.

Second, abuse may not be recorded as abuse. It may be recorded

as a specific injury, a broken leg or arm. In an emergency room or in a

private physician’s office there may be no perceived reason or desire to

inquire beyond the injury. There is, therefore, no record of abuse.

The statistical information available is limited in its description of

incidence of abuse as well. Clinics and social agencies may more often

raise questions of abuse, particularly in repeated incidents. Written rec-

ords of abuse have tended to come from the social agencies dealing with

low-income persons rather than middle and upper income persons. This

recording factor has perpetuated the myth that abuse primarily occurs in

lower income families.

Furthermore, variations in the definition of abuse, particularly by

reporting agencies, have undermined the validity of available statistics.

For example, one state may appear to have a smaller abuse problem than

another, but the former state may not include neglect and the latter may.

The statistics available, therefore, provide only an approximation

of the problem of abuse. They are limited by inadequacies in reporting,

recording, and defining the problem. In some instances, little data is

available. What is most important about these statistics, in spite of their

limitations, is that they are about people and they indicate that the prob-

lem is significant.

Child Abuse

While estimates of child abuse vary, a widely accepted figure is 1

million cases each year. 10 Furthermore, 2,000 children die each year 11 as a

result of abuse—1 child every 4 hours. Child neglect is perceived as being
even more prevalent than abuse. Estimates vary, but most are in the

millions.
12

Battered Women

It is unclear how many women are beaten by their spouses or male

partners. Estimates suggest between 1.5 and 1.8 million are battered each

year. The extent and frequency of abuse in these cases vary and many

incidents are not reported. Taking these factors into consideration, the

true incidence rate has been approximated at 50 to 60 percent of all

couples.
13

Other Types of Abuse

Data on other types of abuse are not as well developed. Statistics are

usually based on surveys of selected populations; therefore, figures on

incidence and prevalence nationally are only projected estimates.

In some instances, there seem to be even more problems affecting

the reporting of such incidents than those of wife abuse or child abuse.

7



Battered husbands may not report abuse because it conflicts with the

“macho” male image. An elderly parent may not be physically able to

report abuse or neglect or may not want to admit that he/she is abused

by his/her child.

In other cases, researchers are debating the extent as well as the

specifics of abuse. For example, some suggest that approximately the

same number of wives and husbands are battered. Others strongly dis-

agree. While husband/wife, wife/husband homicide rates are almost

identical, some argue that a wife usually kills her husband in self-defense

or after undergoing much abuse. Clearly, more careful study of this

problem is necessary.

While the research conclusions as to the dimensions of husband,

parent and sibling abuse are limited, they indicate a problem. By per-

ceiving the family as a unit of persons each entitled to human life with

dignity, the statistics, themselves, become less important than the aware-

ness that a problem exists which needs a response.

Abuse: A Person Harming Another Person
Although the studies in the area of domestic violence are generally

limited to a single category of abuse, there are a number of observations

which recur in the literature. These observations are critical to an under-

standing of domestic violence and therefore to any efforts to respond to

the problem effectively. They underscore perhaps the most important

element of abuse— it involves one person harming another, whoever the
abuser or victim is.

The Abuser, A Neglected or Abused Child
An almost universal observation is that most abusers as children

have been severely neglected, abused, or have witnessed abuse in their

own families . 14 A parent may have been abused as a child; consequently
this is his/her model for child rearing. A man may have watched his
father abuse his mother. A woman may have watched her mother be
abused. The abusive relationship may therefore be their only example of

what to expect from and how to participate in a marriage relationship.

Childhood abuse and/or neglect may instill violence or subconscious

approval of violence. The problem of abuse in the family, therefore,

tends to be a cyclical one, since children usually imitate the behavior of

their parents.

Sometimes individuals do break the pattern. In other instances,

abusers who recognize their problem need to learn alternatives to the

violent responses which have been a part of their behavior pattern. In

still other cases, the abuser does not admit to having a problem for which

outside assistance is needed to resolve it.

8



Unrealistic Expectations

In the area of child abuse, a recurrent finding is that some parents

have unrealistic expectations of the parent/child relationship.
15
For ex-

ample, parents may feel they are always expected to understand why their

child is crying. If they do not, they perceive themselves or believe others

perceive them as bad parents. As a consequence of lack of information

about child development, parents may also expect too much of a child at

a particular age, resulting in frustration and anger when the child is un-

able to meet the expectations. A one year old child is too young to be
toilet trained. Moreover, a parent may attribute unrealistic motives to

a child’s action: “She cries to upset me.”

Similarly, couples may have unrealistic expectations about marriage

or about each other. A husband may expect a wife to fit a particular
image or to do certain things, and vice versa. These may not be the ex-

pectations of the other person. There may be conflicts between the per-

ceived and real personalities of the individuals. For example, one mem-

ber of a dating couple may be submissive and participate in social activi-

ties which he or she really does not enjoy in order to please the other.

Once married he or she may refuse to do so. Not only does this individual

not exhibit the same interests, but he or she is also not fulfilling the sub-

missive image projected while dating.

Love/Hate Dynamic

In most instances, the relationship between the abuser and the abused

is not entirely negative. There is usually an element of love. This dynamic

is reflected in the contradictory actions and statements of spouse and

child abusers. For example, child abusers may say they love their child

but also say that the child needs to be beaten into being obedient. This

love/hate relationship often creates conflicts for a battered woman, re-

sulting in her staying and living for the “good times.”

Isolation

Families in which abuse occurs tend to be isolated. Parents may be

socially isolated from friends, neighbors and relatives. They may have

little chance to be away from their children. In the case of wife abuse,

isolation may also be a consequence of abuse, since a woman may not

wish to have to explain a visible bruise or injury. She may not wish to

risk endangering a friend by relating her problem and possibly subject-

ing her friend to abuse because of that knowledge. She may expect rejec-

tion by friends or relatives after telling them about her situation and

therefore remains silent instead.

It has been suggested that wife and child abuse may have been more

difficult to hide in an era when people lived in closer proximity and in

smaller communities. Whether or not this “closeness” really existed his-

torically is debatable. Strengthening relations with other family mem-

bers, neighbors, and friends, however, may be helpful in dealing with

particular situations of abuse.

9



Poor Self-Image: Abuser and Abused

A poor self-image usually characterizes the abuser as well as the
abused. Women who tolerate abuse often have a negative self-image
growing out of their earlier life experiences. Many men who abuse their

wives also have low self-esteem, believing that they do not live up to the

society’s masculine ideal. They may believe that the way to demonstrate

their masculinity is through the use of physical force. They may be

attempting to compensate for lack of prestige in their work, education,

or status among friends and neighbors. This negative image may also be

reflected in a perception of perfection in others. When others do not

meet this standard, the person reacts violently. Child abusers too may

exhibit low self-esteem. Spouse and child abusers, when faced with a

frustrating situation over which they feel no control may react against

those who are near rather than against those who are creating the prob-

lem.

Rationalization

Abusers and the abused often rationalize the abuse. “I was drunk.”

“I deserved it.” Crises, such as unemployment or debts, may be used to

justify abuse. Even children may articulate rationalizations for their

being abused. “I was bad.” Witnesses to abuse may also rationalize the

incident, blaming the victim for precipitating the abuse or excusing the

abuser.

Drugs and Alcohol

Studies have shown a high degree of association between abuse and

misuse of drugs and alcohol. Estimates are that from 40 to 95 percent of

spouse abuse cases are linked to alcohol abuse.
16 The National Council

on Alcoholism, Inc., has stated that violent behavior attributed to alcohol

misuse accounts for 56% of fights or assaults in the home and 60% of

child abuse. Drugs appear to play a lesser role and often when they are

associated with abuse, they have been combined with alcohol.

The misuse of alcohol and drugs can influence abuse and neglect in

a number of ways. First, it can be associated with physical violence. Sec-

ond, a need for physical closeness on the part of an alcoholic parent may

result in incest or other inappropriate physical contact with a child. Third,

it may result in neglect of a child or spouse during times of withdrawal or

detoxification. Fourth, a parent may avoid disciplining a child because

of fear of hurting the child, and instead beat his/her spouse. Whatever

the specific form of abuse that alcohol or drug induced behavior pre-

cipitates, it conflicts with good parenting practices and good spousal

relationships.

This is not to say that all abuse is associated with alcoholism, nor

does it mean that all alcoholics beat their spouses or children. It does

suggest, however, that there is a relationship between alcohol or drug

misuse and family violence.

10



Society’s Problem

Finally, research findings suggest that abuse is not just an indi-

vidual’s problem with its sources rooted only in the individual. It is soci-

ety’s problem, as society contributes to the source of the problem .
17
The

fact that resolving serious problems by violence is part of our American

society and culture supports abusive behavior. Societal and cultural per-

spectives on violence are reflected, for example, in how the legal system
deals with abuse. The tendency of criminal justice agencies not to take

abuse cases seriously reinforces the image that abusing one’s spouse or

one’s children is legitimate and accepted behavior. Society can provide

or appear to provide a socially-acceptable rationale for abuse.

FACTORS INFLUENCING ABUSE

Attempts to describe the sources of abuse in the family have pro-

duced a multitude of theories and explanations. Researchers have ex-

amined the problem through various academic disciplines—psychology,
psychiatry, biology, sociology and political science. While their conclu-

sions may differ as to importance of societal or economic factors versus
psychological factors, it is evident that the perspectives are not contradic-

tory or mutually exclusive. An effective response to family violence re-
quires a multi-faceted approach, reflecting the influence of individual,

familial, sociological, economic and political factors.

Societal Factors

There are a variety of societal factors contributing to domestic

violence. Among others, they include idealized expectations of family
life; attitudes toward violence, punishment and abuse; socio-economic

factors; war; criminal punishment; and power structures in human rela-
tionships.

The American family has been idealized as warm, loving, and nur-
turing. That is perceived to be the norm. Statistics indicate that there is a
significant difference between the ideal and the real. This does not mean
that the ideal is not good or that it may not help to stabilize society by
projecting an image of what family life ought to be. There is, however,

a tension created by the expectation of the ideal when that ideal is not
achieved.

In spite of the “ideal” of tranquil family life, there also seems to

exist a norm, which permits physical force to be used by family mem-
bers against other family members. This view has been evidenced in a
number of surveys . 18 From this perspective “marriage is a hitting li-
cense,” and parental rights imply a “hitting license.” Although this
conflicts with the ideal of the family, both norms contribute to our every-
day reality. Failure to recognize real conflicts in family life and coexist-
ing conflicting norms prevent the society from fostering ways to deal
with family conflict constructively and effectively.

11



Differentials in the employment and educational opportunities

afforded to different populations create economic contrasts and pres-

sures on family life. Inadequate educational skills and employment op-

portunities may create frustrations because of the inability to provide for

a family’s needs. Women who continue to earn significantly less than
men may be forced to endure physical attacks because of a lack of inde-

pendent financial resources.

Socio-economic pressures affect not only lower income families, but

middle and upper income families as well. At all socio-economic levels

one finds forced competitiveness and the sacrificing of human develop-

ment for material goods
19

in order to succeed in one’s job, to secure

status in society, and to gain economic security. Society prescribes

achievement as a goal, but not everyone is able to fulfill that expectation.

Research has indicated that in some instances, failure of the husband to

achieve his expected economic and occupational status may result in

abuse .
20

A society’s approach to national difficulties both internally and
externally, as it reflects that society’s attitude toward violence, appears

to influence family violence. In dealing with international disputes, a

society’s willingness to use war suggests the acceptance of violence as a

way to resolve conflict. Similarly, a society’s manner of response to

criminal offenders through the criminal justice system indicates that

society’s tolerance for violence. Recent surveys in the United States sug-

gest that Americans tend to support violence to resolve international

disputes and the use of capital punishment to respond to crime in

society.

Another societal factor which a number of researchers have ex-

amined in relation to family violence is the power structure within the

family. The traditional role of women as subservient to men appears to

foster abuse of women. Different cultures within the society may reflect

more stringent views on the place of women. This can further exacerbate

the abuse problem in certain communities by condoning violence to

maintain prescribed roles. With regard to child abuse, the lack of at-

tention to the human needs of children appears to have permitted abuse

within the family, as well as in institutions that are supposed to protect

the interest of the child.

These societal factors interact with family and personal factors

creating an atmosphere conducive to violence in the family, as well as

violence in society.

Family Factors

There are numerous influences within families which have been

studied in relation to family violence. Family resources, unemployment

and underemployment of family members, individual family members

with special needs, and relationships among family members are some of

the factors that have been considered.

12



As stated earlier, domestic violence is not just a problem for lower

income families, it occurs in all segments of the society. The availability

and accessibility of resources may create more stress in lower income

families, but similar problems can confront those who are economically

well-off. For example, abuse of elderly parents by the use of drugs or

restraint may occur in middle income families, where special needs have

depleted family resources.

Concerns such as inadequate food, job pressures and dissatisfaction,

and educational frustrations may occur more often in low income fami-

lies. The frustration created by the lack of resources in a society where

tacit approval is given to the release of frustration through violence may

contribute to domestic violence. Furthermore, lack of resources may in-

fluence one’s ability to respond to abuse. Preventive measures and treat-

ment may be less available to certain groups, particularly if there is not

an immediate crisis or threat to society.

Underemployment and unemployment are particular stress factors

which are often associated with abuse. Not only does unemployment

create financial stress but it affects the self-image of the individual who

is unemployed. Unable to react to the source of the frustration, an indi-

vidual may lash out at a family member. It should also be noted that not

all unemployed persons are from previously lower income families.

Recently, attention has been focused on the abuse of persons with

special needs. There appears to be a high rate of abuse among handi-

capped children .
21

Similarly, the elderly, particularly those who are ill,

immobile or handicapped, may be more vulnerable to abuse and neglect.

In some cases the special needs may cause severe emotional, physical and

financial strains and frustrations for those providing for the family. The

financial strains are evident, but too often the emotional and physical

stresses are not only not recognized, but resources are not available to

respond to those needs. For example, some elderly people need constant

supervision, but a nursing hyme may not be available and their children

may be unable to care for them during the day because of their job. This

may result in an elderly person being drugged or tied up all day. Day care

for the elderly may prevent the neglect or abuse of those who cannot

be left alone, when institutionalized care is unavailable, unnecessary, or

not desirable.

The character of family interactions may also contribute to violence

in the family. A lack of verbal communication, not simply words but
communication about the real problems within a family, may lead to

interaction through physical violence. As stated earlier, researchers have

found that most abusers experienced neglect or abuse as children; they in

turn demonstrate abusive behavioral patterns to their children.

Family interactions also reflect perceptions of expectations, roles,

and relationships. Conflicting expectations or unrealistic expectations

of other family members, conflicting role perceptions, or conflicting

views as to the right of one family member to influence another can con-

tribute to abuse. A parent may expect too much from a small child. A

13



husband and wife may have serious disagreements over responsibilities

in the home. Violence may be used to attempt to enforce these percep-

tions.

Many other factors relating to the family have been studied in rela-

tion to domestic violence—ethnicity, race, religion, political beliefs,
social class and relative position of wealth within the class, aspirational

level, and individualism, among others. When attempting to respond to

the problem of domestic violence the influence of these factors, however,

should not be considered separate from social factors or individual fac-

tors. Abuse is not simply the result of internal family factors. Violent

interactions between family members may be reinforced by societal fac-

tors and vice versa. The tendency in our society to ignore assaults within

the home has reinforced the view of the abuser that this behavior is ac-

ceptable.

Individual Factors

Characteristics of individual family members have also been ex-

amined to determine their impact on abuse. These have included psycho-

logical disorders, personality traits, alcoholism and drug abuse, educa-

tion levels, earlier experiences with abuse, and parenting skills.

While some abusers are mentally ill, research indicates that most

abusers do not exhibit severe psychiatric disorders. Some abusers are

sadistic, aggressive, or immature. Many abusers do have a poor self-

image. Psychological and personality traits and disorders, however, ex-

plain only a small proportion of cases of abuse.

Another personal factor associated with abuse and neglect is al-

coholism. Emotional neglect and physical abuse occur in a significant

proportion of families where there is an alcoholic parent. Only recently

have researchers begun to examine the relationship between these two

problems. While many complex social and familial factors contribute to

abuse, there is need of further study of alcoholism and its relationship

to abuse, as an individual factor and within the social and familial con-

text.

The level of education of abusers has also been studied. Doctors,

lawyers, professors, may be abusers as well as those with minimal educa-

tion. Dropping out of school at any level, however, may create feelings

of failure and inadequacy that contribute to abuse.

The possession or lack of good parenting skills is a factor influenc-

ing child abuse. The assumption is that one knows how to be a good

parent when one becomes one. Individuals tend to learn how to be a

parents from their parents; thus, if parents neglect or abuse their chil-

dren, this model of parenting is usually perpetuated. It should be em-

phasized that abusive parents are not constantly abusive toward their

children. They do relate to their children in loving and caring ways.

They are often fearful of criticism and punishment for failure to raise

their children well. Efforts to assist parents or prospective parents to

develop good parenting skills and alternatives to violent reactions may

help to reduce some incidents of abuse.

14



Precipitating Factors

Almost any incident can precipitate abuse—an argument, a problem
without an apparent solution, a frustrating situation. While the precipi-

tating factors are part of the total picture of abuse, in individual cases

they may be focused upon as an easy solution. Too often a battered wife

is advised to attempt to meet her husband’s expectations. More often than

not, fulfilling the “if only you would or would not do this” creates

another such request. This is because the “if only . . .” is not the real

problem. Changing or eliminating the precipitating factors may alleviate

but, does not resolve the problem; therefore, an effective response to

abuse should consider these factors within the context of more complex

sources of abuse.

MYTHS VS. REALITIES

Perceptions about abused children, battered wives, as well as those

who abuse are often based on myth rather than reality. Many of these

myths have been disproved by research, but too often the reality does not

receive the public attention given to myth. To address the problem of

abuse effectively, several myths, in particular, need to be exploded or the

premise for action will be inaccurate.

Myth: A buse is only a problem in lower incomefamilies.
Reality: Abuse is found in all socio-economic groups.

• Official data may reflect a larger proportion of cases

from lower income families, because of the source of

the data. Public agencies, tending to serve lower in-

come individuals, keep more extensive records on

abuse than the private service providers serving middle

and upper income families.

• While certain stress factors may increase the incidence

of abuse in certain populations, it is erroneous to per-

ceive abuse as a lower class problem.

Myth: Those who abuse are severely disturbed.

Reality: Estimates are that only 10% of parents who abuse or neglect

their children exhibit serious psychiatric disorders. Similarly,

most wife abusers are not psychologically ill.

• Abuse is not usually a total personality pattern.

• Abusers tend to imitate the role model of their parents.

Myth: A buse is accidental mistreatment.
Reality: Abuse is a pattern of behavior; the frequency of incidents

varies, but abuse is not accidental.

15



Myth:

Reality:

Myth:

Reality:

Myth:

Reality:

Myth:

Reality:

Myth:

Reality:

Abuse is not society’sproblem.

Abuse affects society and is influenced by society.

• The pattern of abuse is cyclical.

• Researchers are becoming more aware of how many

abused and neglected children may later be incarcerated

as juvenile or adult offenders. (John Wilkes Booth,

Charles Manson, and Lee Harvey Oswald are a few

famous examples of children who were abused.)

• The level of abuse influences the level of violence in

the society.

If it occurs in the home, assault is automatically treated as a

crime.

Family violence often tends not to be treated as seriously as

the same act perpetrated against a stranger.

Onefamily member owns another.

Each person in the family has a right to human life and to be

treated with dignity. While membership in a family implies a

right to influence the behavior of other family members, this

is not a license to abuse.

• While the beating of one’s wife and children has often

been condoned historically, based on the view that

women and children are the property of the husband,

women and children are emerging in contemporary

society as persons.

• While overt cultural norms call for love in the family,

implicit norms and in some cases state laws, support

use of violence against women and children. This ten-

sion needs to be resolved.

The victim deserves it.

Action by one family member may call for a reaction, but

that reaction does not have to be violent and abusive.

• The greater strength of men versus women, children

versus parents, makes it highly likely that women and

children will be seriously injured when beaten up.

• Studies suggest there are disproportionate numbers of

attacks by husbands on pregnant women resulting in

serious injury to the unborn child.

• An infant’s crying or a child’s behavior may be frus-

trating but there are more acceptable ways to respond

than abuse.

Being sorry means it won 7 happen again.

The problem of abuse goes deeper than words, even the best

intended ones.

16



Myth:

Reality:

Myth:

Reality:

• The response of physicians or clergy has often been,

“Don’t worry, he/she didn’t mean it.” Whether stated

out of ignorance, hope, or an unwillingness to con-

front the problem, it is poor advice for the victim of

abuse and does not help the abuser.

• Abusers need to recognize there is a problem. In many

instances they need to learn alternatives to using

violence.

Abused individuals can leave home.

It is difficult, if not impossible, for those dependent on the

abuser to leave home.

• Small children cannot just leave home. Institutional

custody of the child may not be a satisfactory re-

sponse, since evidence shows that abuse of children

can also occur within institutions.

• A child, wife, or elderly or handicapped parent may be
economically or emotionally dependent on the abuser.

• Many women wishing to leave home do not qualify for

welfare, but need short-term financial assistance.

• A child who leaves home is guilty of a status offense

—

running away—even if the child leaves for self-protec-
tion. If this occurs repeatedly, the child may be insti-

tutionalized.

• Abused women may fear reprisals against or rejection

of self and children by others.

Remedies exist in the criminaljustice system.

While the criminal justice system is the place of last resort in

cases of domestic violence, it often does not fulfill even that

function. Problems of proof and enforcement as well as at-

titudes of many in the criminal justice system limit the effec-

tiveness of the criminal justice system in this area.

• Perceived fear of risk to police may discourage in-

volvement. 1 in 5 policemen killed are killed interven-

ing in “domestic disturbances.”

• Police, courts may ignore abuse cases or inaccurately

inform abused persons of their rights and of available

legal procedures. Often the expectation is that the vic-

tim will not follow through.

• Legally, it is difficult to prove abuse.

• It is difficult to enforce court orders in abuse cases.

• Police and court personnel often view abuse as a

“family matter.”

• Legal recourse is a substantial expense to victim.

17



SUMMARY

Abuse is a complex problem. Our perceptions of it are too often

rooted in myth rather than reality. Much research has been completed,

but the limitations on statistical information, the specificity of most

analyses, and the categorical approach to the issue have produced much

data but the information needs to be integrated. What is clear is that

there is a problem; that its source is multi-dimensional; and that an ef-

fective response is a legitimate and pressing concern for the Christian

community.

FOOTNOTES

1 . Roger Langley and Richard C. Levy, Wife Beating: The Silent Crisis, New

York: Pocket Books, 1977, p. 24.

2. Brian G. Fraser, The Educator and Child Abuse, Chicago, Illinois: National

Committee for Prevention of Child Abuse, 1977, p. 2.

3. Langley and Levy, p. 201

.

4. Langley and Levy, p. 24.

5. Suzanne K. Steinmetz, “Overlooked Aspects of Family Violence: Battered

Husbands, Battered Siblings and Battered Elderly,” in Hearings before the

Subcommittee on Domestic and International Scientific Planning, Analysis

and Cooperation of the Committee on Science and Technology, U.S. House

of Representatives, 95th Congress, 2nd Session, February 14-16, 1978, p. 158.

6. Cited in New Light on an Old Problem: 9 Questions and Answers About

Child Abuse and Neglect, Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of Health,

Education and Welfare, 1978, p. 5.

7. Murray Straus, “Wife Beating: How Common and Why?” Victimology: An

International Journal, Vol. 2 (1977-78) #3-4, p. 445.

8. New Light on an Old Problem, p. 5.

9. “The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World,” The

Documents of Vatican II, ed., Walter M. Abbott, S.J., New York: Guild

Press, 1966;U.S.A.: American Press and Associated Press, 1966, p. 257.

10. New Light on an Old Problem, p. 5.

11. Loc. cit.

12. Child Abuse and Neglect: An Overview of the Problem, Washington, D.C.:

National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, U.S. Department of Health,

Education and Welfare, Vol. I (1974, 1975), p. 10.

13. Murray Straus, “Wife Beating: How Common and Why?” p. 447.

14. Langley and Levy, p. 66.

15. See for example: Child Abuse and Neglect: An Overview of the Problem,

p. 23;

—

A Look at Child Abuse, Chicago: National Committee for the Pre-

vention of Child Abuse, 1976, p. 9.

16. Langley and Levy, p. 87.

18



17. Murray A. Straus, “A Sociological Perspective on the Prevention and Treat-

ment of Wife Beating,” in Maria Roy, ed., Battered Women. New York:

Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1977, pp. 195-237.

Suzanne Steinmetz and Murray A. Straus, ed., Violence in the Family

,

New

York: Harper and Row, 1974.

David Gil, Testimony before the Subcommittee on Domestic and Interna-

tional Scientific Planning, Analysis and Cooperation of the Committee on

Science and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, 95th Congress, 2nd

Session, February 14-16, 1978, pp. 92-116.

18. Murray Straus, ‘‘Sexuality Inequality, Cultural Norms, and Wife Beating,”

in Emilio Viano, ed., Victims and Society, Washington, D.C.: Vintage Press,

1976, pp. 545-546.

10. David Gil, Testimony, pp. 92-116.

20. Langley and Levy, p. 96.

21. A Look at Child Abuse, p. 10.

19





PART II—Action Strategies

The responsibility of the Church community to respond to violence

in the family is rooted in the concern for human dignity, human life, and

family. Its response is based on its involvement in family life and social

justice. The Church is ideally situated to address this problem because of

the traditionally close relationship between the Church and the family.

Moreover, many of the underlying factors contributing to family violence

are social justice issues with which Church groups are already concerned.

Finally, the historical role of Church as sanctuary provides support for

involvement with those in crises who need shelter and a safe abode.

The actions needed are both long-term and short-term. They involve

creating an awareness of the problem, providing services to those in need,

and advocating changes in public policy to address the societal sources of

abuse. These activities should be not only directed toward immediate

needs, but also toward change within the society and community as well

as within individuals.

Within the parishes and community, these activities should ultimately

be directed toward creating an environment that alleviates the sources of

abuse. Specifically, this might involve creating support groups to over-

come alienation, isolation, and the burden of economic and social pres-

sures. It means creating an atmosphere of caring, problem-sharing,

cultivating individual identity and self worth. The focus should not sim-

ply be on “binding the wounds” of the abused, but on creating an at-

mosphere which reduces the incidence of violence.

The mandate for action is clear. There are, however, several practical

considerations which should be part of any effort to develop an effective

response to family violence. These factors should be considered to ensure

that the most effective and appropriate use can be made of available

resources. It is important that what is promised succeeds and meets real

needs. At the same time, much can be done with resources effectively

utilized. In considering the appropriate course of action, the following

questions should be reviewed:

1 . What are the needs, related to domestic violence, of those in the

community?

2. What resources are available through the Church? Human/skills/

material/financial.

3. What resources can be mobilized through the local community?

Human/skills/material/financial.

4. How can those resources be most effectively organized to meet
identified needs successfully?

5. What approach/approaches should be undertaken?

21



In the next few pages, a variety of specific action strategies will be

described. They have been divided into four categories: education, ser-

vice, community mobilization and legislation. In practice, these cate-

gories may be interlocking. For example, educational efforts may be a

prerequisite or counterpart to the establishment of a shelter. In some

cases, available resources will only permit a limited application of one

type of strategy, for example, inclusion of information on family violence

in pre-marital counseling.

Assessment of community needs and resources may suggest other

types of activities. This list is certainly not exhaustive, but attempts to

suggest types of activities that can be and have been undertaken by local

Church groups. Where possible, examples of specific projects will be

given. Additional references are included in the resources section, Part

IV.

EDUCATION

There are various types of educational activities that can be under-

1

.

Provide parenting skills and relational skills education as part of

audiences to which these activities can be directed also vary. Some ac-

tivities are directed toward those in counseling roles, others to those

generally interested in the problem, others to abusers and/or the abused.

The resource list in Part IV includes resources that might be used in these

endeavors.

A. Utilize Church Communications Mechanisms.

1 . Provide parenting skills and relational skills education as part of

people in crisis can receive assistance. Utilize parish bulletins, announce-

ments, bulletin boards, diocesan newspapers, and other publications.

2. Invite speakers to address Church gatherings and groups, in-

cluding: social concerns groups, parish councils, family life committees,

engagement and marriage encounter groups, pro-life organizations,

women’s groups, and priest senates.

B. Utilize Existing Educational Programs as a Mechanism to Provide In-

formation on Family Violence.

1
.
provide parenting skills and relational skills education as part of

pre-marriage preparation programs, adult education and teenage educa-

tion.

2. Include workshops, speakers, discussions on abuse and the pre-

vention of abuse in programs for youth.

3. Include courses on family and family counseling, including

domestic violence, in seminary training programs.

C. Provide Education and Information for Those in Parish/Dioceses

Who May Come in Contact with Problems ofAbuse.

22



1 . Provide educational workshops for teachers, counselors, priests,

and others, in order to insure that they are:

Informed about the problem;

Know how to identify it;

Understand their moral and legal responsibilities;

Know what resources are available;

Understand the complexities of counseling in this area.

2. Provide guidelines for confessors, and others who may have con-

tact with abuse situations, to assist them in appropriately responding to

these situations.

D. Provide General Education on the Issue.

1. Sponsor workshops on the various aspects of abuse for those in

parishes and dioceses.

2. As part of general family life program, focus attention on the im-

portance of enhancing human life and dignity within the family.

3. Sponsor workshops on problems, such as alcoholism, which are

associated with abuse and neglect. Examine the relationship between these

problems and abuse.

E. Provide GeneralA wareness Program Directed TowardA buses.

1. Sponsor workshop/discussion on abuse which seeks to assist

abusers and potential abusers to recognize and deal with their problem.

SERVICE

Programs of direct service can be provided for the abused, potential

abusers, or abusers. For the most part, service programs have been

focused on responding to abuse after the fact, for example, providing

shelters for battered women or operating a hotline. Services may also be

preventive. Another type of service activity involves mobilizing resources

that might be directed toward reactive or preventive efforts. Finally,

services may be provided for the abusers. Some of these efforts might

be developed through already established programs, such as Catholic

Charities agencies and Catholic health care institutions.

A. Provide Emergency Care or Services to Those Who Have Been Abused.

1 . Provide a sanctuary or emergency shelter, where those in need of

protection from abuse can spend the night. They can be put in contact

with other services in the morning.

2. Sponsor a home for battered women. Programs are in existence in

a number of dioceses, for example:

St. Joseph’s House, Minneapolis, Minnesota

House of Ruth, Washington, D.C.

Further examples are presented in Part III. More specific information on

shelters can be obtained by contacting the various programs or the re-

sources listed in Part IV.

23



3. Sponsor counseling and referral services, if the resources to de-

velop a shelter are not available. The Office of Social Ministries in

Steubenville, Ohio has developed a program.

4. Develop a volunteer program to assist parents with abused and

neglected children. Catholic Family Services in the Diocese of Saginaw,

Michigan has such a program.

5. Establish a “Parent Anonymous” or similar program. The

Diocese of Portland, Maine is supporting such a program in Augusta,

Maine.

6. Strengthen foster care programs dealing with abused and neglected

children. Ensure that these programs are well-monitored in order to pre-

vent institutional abuse.

7. Provide counseling for children of battered spouses.

8. Sponsor a hotline to provide emergency counseling and recom-

mendations for assistance to abusers and the abused.

9. Develop a program to assist spouse abusers. This program should

be separated from those for the abused.

B. Provide Preventive services.

1 . Sponsor a crisis nursery to assist parents in time of abuse or po-

tential abuse. “Crisis foster care,” utilizing screened volunteers, might

be an alternative approach.

2. Provide day care for the elderly.

C. Mobilize Church Resources That Might Be Used to Provide Emergency

or Preventive Services.

1. Mobilize professionals—doctors, lawyers, social workers, psy-
chologists, educators, business professionals, and other—to give their

time and skills to programs for abused person.

2. Mobilize non-professional volunteers, provide training for them,

and utilize their skills in service programs.

MOBILIZATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES

In many instances the Church, parish, or diocese may not have the

resources to develop its own service program. In other instances, pro-

grams may have already been begun in local communities. For this rea-

son a critical role for the Church community can be the mobilization

of resources in the larger community which can be directed toward a

broad-based community response. Such activities may be ecumenical as

well as involving community groups.

A. The projects described in the previous section on service might be

developed through community mobilization.

B. Other programs reflecting the broader responsibilities of the larger

community might also befostered. They might include:

24



1 . Advocacy for needed community resources for services and pre-

ventive activities;

2. Mobilization of community resources to confront factors such as

unemployment;

3. Monitoring of violence in the community;

4. Development of resources for parents with “problem children”;

5. Development of resources to assist elderly;

6. Development of a training program to assist law enforcement and

court personnel to better respond to cases of domestic violence.

LEGISLATION

A consistent theme throughout this publication has been the signif-
icance of the influence of societal factors on domestic violence. An ef-

fective response to domestic violence involves societal change, as well as

changes within individuals and within families. Many of these societal

factors can be influenced through changes in law. Legislative action is

therefore a critical element of an effective response to domestic violence.

There are short-range and long-range concerns which can be met

through legislation. Some of these legislative issues must be addressed at

the state level, others at the federal level, and still others at both levels of

government.

A. Legislative efforts relating to immediate concerns include

:

1. Passage of state and federal legislation to provide financial sup-

port for emergency shelters;

2. Including assistance to victims of domestic violence in victim

compensation statutes;

3. Development and passage of legislation to protect the rights of

family members in the context of family;

4. Where necessary, passage or reformulation of laws on reporting

of abuse. These laws should be designed to protect the abused, to pro-

tect the confidentiality of those reporting so that they will report abuse,

and to protect families from unwarranted interventions;

5. Ensuring that legal proceedings protect the rights of victims as

well as offenders;

6. Reconsideration of the rationale behind laws which permit con-

sideration of the offense of assault and murder by family members as less

serious matters than those committed by strangers.

B. Long-range measures include:

1 . Support for public policy measures directed toward securing for

each person the right to:

• employment

• food

• decent housing

• health care

• protection of human life
• adequate income and resources

25



Specific proposals for action in these areas are included in policy state-

ments issued by the U.S. Catholic Conference;

2. Support for legislation providing for the needs of persons, par-

ticularly children, and those with special needs;

3. Opposition to legislation reinstituting capital punishment and the

other forms of socially sanctioned punishment reflecting an acceptance

of violence.

26



PART III—Program Suggestions

The readings in this section include descriptions of a number of pro-

grams that have been undertaken by communities. Several of these have

been undertaken by dioceses or with Church support. They represent

selective examples of services that can be supported in the community by

Church organizations. Crisis nurseries, Parents Anonymous chapters,

battered women shelters, and programs for batterers are short-term

responses, but important ones for those in need.

PARENTS ANONYMOUS

Child abuse — the thought sends a shiver thorugh most of us and
has traditionally conjured up pictures of depraved people beating their

children in darkened rooms. But today more and more people are real-

izing that a parent who abuses a child is not necessarily a horrible ogre,

but is someone who needs help.

Until recently that help has been difficult to find. But today there is

an organization for those who define themselves as abusive to their chil-

dren. This organization is Parents Anonymous (P.A.). P.A. has recently

opened a state office in Augusta to coordinate P.A. groups throughout

Maine. Its funding is being handled through the Diocesan Human Rela-

tions Services.

New organization
Parents Anonymous is a relatively new organization. It was started

in the early 70s by Jolly K., a frustrated young mother who searched in

vain for help to combat her abusive behavior toward her child. With the

help of a psychiatric social worker, she decided to devote her energies to

starting a group composed of mothers with child abuse problems. She

called it Mothers Anonymous.

In 1974, when the group (now called P.A.) received its first federal

government grant, it already consisted of 60 chapters mostly in Cali-

fornia. Today there are over 800 chapters with the national headquarters

in California and a national toll-free hotline which can be reached by

calling 800-421-0353.

Recently P.A. has begun a program of decentralization trying to

reduce the dependency of chapters on national P.A. and shifting em-

phasis to a more local level. The following goals have been established;

27



that each state have its own P.A. state office with a state coordinator;

that each such office have an advisory council or a policy making board;

and that each state establish its own statewide telephone help line. Thirty-

five states already have state P.A. offices, and the recently opened office

in Maine brings the number to thirty-six.

State coordinator

The state coordinator of P.A. for Maine is Linda Whitcomb, a

young woman who herself has lived through the horror of being an abu-

sive parent. She talks openly about her own problem because she feels it

is important for people to understand that child abuse can happen in any

home.

The group’s function

Linda Whitcomb explained it this way, “All of us are children in a

lot of ways. But these are people whose needs for nurturing weren’t met

when they were children. So that’s what the group’s function is. Some-

times the members tell their experiences. Some people don’t say any-

thing. One person may talk about something going on in his life, and the

others will be able to identify with that situation and help him. We talk
a lot about our backgrounds and what it was like for us growing up. We
discuss different problems that have gone on during the week.’’

Some people come to meetings because they are hoping to get their

children back. Some are there because they have been referred to P.A. by

the courts, and some come for reasons similar to Linda’s. They know

they have a problem and they want help.

“If they care about their kids, it doesn’t matter what gets them

there,’’ Linda said. “Because they generally wind up feeling pretty com-

fortable with the other people. Often when they first come in they as-

sume they’re different from everybody else and they’re pretty hostile.’’

One misconception about child abuse is that the parent’s relation-

ship with the child is abusive in all respects. Parents who abuse their

children can and do love their children and relate to them in many

healthy ways. Abuse is often just a small part of the relationship. “Some

parents really do care about their children even if they have a hard time

taking care of them.’’ Linda explained.

One of Linda’s tasks as state P.A. coordinator is to determine guide-

lines for selecting a P.A. group sponsor. Since a sponsor is such an im-

portant part of the group, it is necessary to find the right person for the

job. She explained that it is important that sponsors be accepting and that

they feel good about themselves and be able to encourage and be sup-

portive of the good qualities in other people. Often the sponsors are pro-

fessionals in health care or social services, but this is not always neces-

sary.

“Someone who understands something about child development

28



would be helpful,” Linda added. ‘‘If you think in terms of a good

parent, and a person who can be a role model to the members as far as

handling crises and coping with life generally, that’s the kind of person

that we are talking about.”

Seeking volunteers

Linda said that she hopes to get as many volunteers as possible in-

volved in P.A., because P.A., in order to survive, needs a great deal of

community support. The more people who know about P.A., the more

P.A. can help.

The state P.A. office has been funded through a grant from the

National Office of Child Development, a grant which has been matched

by state funds. This funding is currently being handled through DHRS.

But eventually P.A. hopes to be incorporated and operate as a separate

entity.

The present goals of the state office are to develop and incorporate a

state organization; to set up a state wide toll-free telephone hot line; to

get local chapters together probably on a regional basis so that they can

meet regularly to share problems; and to develop new chapters. Linda

hopes the new state office will help to end the isolation felt by P.A.

groups around the state and will be able to assist these groups by pro-

viding materials, information, and coordinating functions as well as pro-

viding a link with the national P.A. office.

How to reach Parents Anonymous

While the state wide hotline has not yet been established, the state

P.A. office can be reached by calling 622-5650 or by writing 125 State

Street, Augusta, Me. 04330. The State Department of Human Services

also operates a hot line for reporting child abuse and for those seeking

help. Linda Whitcomb said that some parents may be reluctant to call

that number if they are seeking help for themselves because it is connected

with the state. She emphasized that people should not hesitate to contact

her or a local P.A. chapter if they need help.

Deciding to seek help through P.A. is a tremendous step for most

people to take. Linda said that when ever possible, she picks up new

people and drives them to meetings, because often it is so difficult for

them to come on their own.

‘‘Just calling is a difficult step to take. Because what you are doing

is admitting to another person that you have a problem, and this society

kind of frowns on that. You are supposed to handle your problems your-

self — at least I was raised to do that. One of the functions of the group
is to help people see that they need other people. You can’t function as

an island, and they shouldn’t look at life that way — that they have to
solve everything themselves, and that they should always appear to be

perfect parents. Everybody has problems in raising kids, and people

who have an abuse problem are really isolated people in most cases. They

29



usually have a negative self-concept, and they think that everybody is

waiting for them to make mistakes. What the group does is encourage

them to start reaching out, to see that they can trust people to help them.

Some people aren’t going to be there when you need them. But other

people will. The more people you have to call on, the more likely that

there will be someone who can help.

“What we are trying to do in the group is to learn to control our

behavior. In families in which there is an abuse problem, a habit has

developed of reacting and behaving in a destructive way. We just have to
rechannel the destructive behavior in different ways.”

There are probably not many people who would be as open about a

child abuse problem as Linda Whitcomb has been. She believes that it is

important to tell her story so that more people will understand what an

abusive parent lives with and that the pattern can be changed, that help is

available.

Parents Anonymous is anonymous, and members do not have to

use their full names. Linda Whitcomb and other P.A. members and spon-

sors emphasize if you need help or know of anyone who does, don’t

hesitate to call or write. There are many people who understand and who

care.

Martha Bull

* The Church World

January 18, 1979 reprinted with the permission of The Church World

CRISIS NURSERIES*

One form of relief is the crisis nursery. Having its roots at the Uni-

versity Hospital in Denver during 1973, crisis nurseries developed out of

a natural need for parents to get away from their children. Without these

periods of relief professionals were beginning to note that parents were

becoming higher risks for abuse or neglect.

Today crisis nurseries of many types are developing throughout the

country. These facilities fulfill a unique form of crisis intervention. In

essence, they provide minimal intervention before the crisis erupts. For

example, the parent who had settled down to read her two-week-old

book might have noticed her frustrated need to be alone. In order to

avoid a crisis, she might then have taken her daughter to the nursery

for a couple of hours before she decided to steal some time to herself. By

so doing the parent could have relaxed and caught her breath without

being interrupted by the child.

Crisis nurseries operate on a 24-hour basis. Most accept children at

all hours in order to either divert or relieve a potential or an existing

crisis. The definition of crisis is frequently very loose so that the service

will satisfy broad needs.

30



One word of caution—crisis nurseries are supplemental services. To
be most effective they must integrate with the entire community system

of social services. Alone, crisis nurseries cannot effectively help parents—

they may only provide short-term relief. But, as oneform of crisis inter-
vention and only as one component in the total system, crisis nurseries
may be ofextreme value to the parent and to the child.

Several programs, for instance, have grown into full service treat-
ment centers for families in crisis. They also have become fertile ground
for research about abused or neglected children.

Like other approaches, which appear to be working effectively, this

one is becoming more popular. It is less threatening to the parent and to
the child than other forms of temporary separation, and as such may
better satisfy the need for parental relief so necessary for a healthy

parent-child relationship.

Types of Nurseries

The first step for developing a crisis nursery is to decide on the type
of nursery you wish to establish. To do this you should set specific goals
and establish long-range functions.

Goals and Functions

For example, some crisis nurseries provide minimal services—that
is, their goal is to provide an ongoing mechanism for short-term parental
relief. For the sake of clarity, these facilities will be called emergency
shelters. Other nurseries include broader services for either the parent or
for the child. We will refer to these facilities as residential treatment cen-
ters. Which type of nursery you wish to establish must be decided at the
outset.

Before these decisions can be made, it is important to determine the
needs and demands within the community. Furthermore, with the addi-
tion of a new service, sometimes community needs increase.

Ideally such decisions should include input from a broad base of
professionals. As a result, one of the first steps should include a meeting
of interested and concerned community representatives. It is advisable to
invite persons from the local department of social services to attend this
early planning meeting.

Likewise, recalling that crisis nurseries are a form of supplemental
service and can rarely provide the full gamut of treatment for families in
crisis, it is important to seek support from other community service pro-
viders. Quite often, in an enthusiastic attempt to help children and
families, concerned professionals make the mistake of trying to do every-
thing. Be careful that you set realistic priorities which remain within the
purview of the nursery.

31



Staff

Once you establish the number of children that your facility will

accommodate and the scope of services,you can determine your staffing

needs. Regardless of whether you have an emergency shelter or a resi-

dential treatment center there are several things you must consider.

Training

Most essential to any program involving abused and neglected chil-

dren is adequate training. All persons who have direct contact with the

children must learn how to cope with these children. They often present

unusual behavioral patterns which are unique to their situations. For

example, abused children tend to demonstrate excessive behavioral ex-

tremes. That is, some will be very active while others are very withdrawn.

The essence of both these behaviors is the demand for unusual amounts

of adult attention. However, very often they reject physical or emo-

tional closeness. In addition these children sometimes exhibit inappro-

priate behavior—specifically, they will cry for no apparent reason or they
will not cry when they are obviously hurt or saddened. They tend to have

difficulty relating to adults and to peers.

Because of these unique behaviors, the children require skilled adult

attention. Training should only be conducted by persons' who have

worked with abused or neglected children and who have had experience

with their unusual needs.

Once the first group of staff are trained, if there is turnover in per-

sonnel, these staff can provide training for new employees.

Staff Composition

Another essential ingredient for staffing also relates to the unique

needs of the children. Abused or neglected children often have some

trouble relating to either a male or a female adult, depending on who

perpetrated the abuse. As a result, it is important that a minimum of

two persons—one male and one female—attend the nursery at all times.
These staff may change with shifts but the essential male/female com-

position should be consistent. (Where funding is limited, student help

may assist with staffing in order to balance the team—or, volunteer
staff can offset paid staff).

Examples

Throughout this booklet two types of crisis nurseries were dis-

cussed: The emergency shelter and the residential treatment center. These

two types are the most common. However, program structures must be

molded to fit the needs of different communities . As a result, these two

types are by no implication rigid. But, they offer model guidelines which

may be modified and adjusted according to community needs.

32



National Center for Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse &

Neglect (NCPT-CAN)

The National Center in Denver, Colorado operates one of the oldest

known 24-hour crisis nurseries and is a forerunner with this type treat-

ment modality for abusive and neglectful families. The nursery is a

separate component of the total treatment program comprising NCPT-

CAN and is primarily funded through private monies.
Observing a maximum 72-hour residential stay per child, the

nursery limits itself to providing relief and to enabling parents to interact

freely with their children. Except for minimal exposure to play therapy,

the nursery does not provide therapeutic services. However, the staff are

active referral sources to the other treatment components within NCPT-

CAN and the Denver community.
Serving a maximum of 7 children, ages 0 to 5 years, the nursery

maintains two full-time staff daily and one during the evening. This staff

composition is consistent regardless of the number of children in resi-

dence. All staff are paid. The director of the nursery is trained in early

childhood education and supervises all staff training.

Since its beginning during 1973, the nursery has been housed in an

old convent. The building is near the University hospital and allows easy

access to medical personnel.

The following components comprise the crux of the basic policies

for eligibility, referrals and community liaison:

Eligibility

Person taking calls makes a decision about whether there is a poten-

tial for abuse or neglect.

There are age limitations and capacity considerations. The nursery

will accept older siblings as needs arise.

Parents sign a release form allowing the nursery to care for the child.

Referrals

Accepts all voluntary referrals; rejects all forced referrals from

social services or from the courts.

Discourages hospital referrals which are based on the hospital

staff’s judgment that parents are incompetent.

Rejects all anonymous referrals.

Community Liaison

There is ongoing contact with social services, and the worker often

accompanies the parent for his/her first visit whenever possible.

Parent and child dften tour the facility before the child is brought in

to stay overnight.

When the child is left for over 72-hours, the staff attempt to locate

the parent. If these attempts are unsuccessful, social services are

called in order to find the child more suitable placement.

This situation rarely occurs.

33



Whenever there is a self-referral, social workers are contacted in

order to evoke services for the parent. When the child is injured,

the staff explain to the parent that a report will be made.

The average number of children contained in the nursery is five.

Ninety percent of these come in during the dinner hour and remain until

the following day. Many different parents now utilize the service.

The overall function of the nursery is to provide abusive/neglectful

families with a nonthreatening support service during times of crisis.

The Family Learning Center

The 24-hour crisis nursery in Westminster, Colorado operates a full-

service program including research and direct treatment for the child.

The center is federally funded under the Office of Child Development. It

began operating three years ago and has since enjoyed full community

recognition and a good relationship with the local service agency.

The essence on the program is to help the family reunite. The nursery

is located in a large old house, and the staff attempt to maintain a home-

like atmosphere. Licensed as a receiving home in the state of Colorado,

children may remain in residence for as long as sixty days. The average

stay, however, is one to three weeks.

Because of the extreme needs of the children, the nursery limits its

intake to six children between ages 0-12 years. Each child is fully tested

both medically and psychologically. The program employs volunteer

professionals including a psychiatrist, a psychologist, and a speech and

hearing specialist. In addition, the staff researcher has developed instru-

ments for assessing behavioral measures which are administered con-

jointly with other admissions tests.

Two house parents supervise the child care. These parents are care-

fully recruited and trained. They rotate every four days with a second

set of house parents. Both parents are young couples who have children

but who are warm and responsive to the total needs of the family. The

house parents reside in the home and transport the children to school and

to other activities as would “normal” parents. They are substantially

paid in order to discourage turnover.

Other staff include six part-time lay therapists, three volunteer con-

sultants, one coordinator, ,one researcher, four social workers, one nurse,

one community service aide and the director.

The following components comprise the crux of the basic policies

for eligibility, referrals, and community liaison:

Eligibility

Children must be abused or in a potentially abusive situation.

There are age limitations and capacity considerations. If there is an

unusually active child living in the home, the staff reduce the num-

ber of new children accepted.

34



Parents sign a release form allowing the nursery to care for the

child.

Referrals

Accepts all voluntary referrals.

Accepts placements from the police and from social services.

Rejects children who are destined for long-term foster care or for

institutional care.

Community Liaison

At intake each child is assigned to a social worker who is either a

staff worker or a worker from the local service agency. This worker

assumes responsibility for following the case.

When the child is left in the Center for a prolonged period without

contact from the parent, the staff attempt to locate the parents. If

the parents cannot be found, the child is referred for more suitable

placement. A close relationship with the local social service agency
facilitates this process.

The overall function of the nursery is to serve the needs of the parent

and the child through treatment and referral. Parents are encouraged to

interact with the child while he remains in residence. Then frequent visits

are an essential part of the total treatment program.

The Center averages a full child capacity at all times. As a result of

good community awareness many different children and parents utilize

the service.

*“I Love My Child But I Need Help ...”

How To Develop A Crisis Nursery

National Center of Child Abuse and Neglect Children’s Bureau

Administration for Children, Youth and Families

Office of Human Development Service

U.S. Department of HEW

SHELTERS FOR THE ABUSED
House of Ruth Annex: Battered Women Shelter

The House of Ruth Annex is a shelter for battered women and their

children. It is located in Washington, D.C. In 1977 it was cited as a model

shelter by the President’s Commission on Mental Health. The shelter

draws its support from all segments of the community—business, church,
social groups and organizations. To survive, it relies on voluntary dona-

tions of food, clothing, furniture, household items, services and monies.

It also depends on dedicated groups of volunteers both men and

women for professional, clerical and maintenance services. Local semi-

narians have been an important part of the volunteer corps, providing

counseling and general assistance. The program of the shelter is out-

lined briefly below.

35



ANNEX PROGRAM

Introduction

Program goal—to develop a residential program which augmented
by other public and private social service will better the condition of

battered women and their children.

Objectives—(1) To provide a secure, temporary residential home
for the safety of battered women and the welfare of their children. (2) To
admit battered women and their children up to the age of twelve /12/
years old who have no other safe alternative living arrangements open to

them. (3) To provide through formal individual and group counseling

along with the invaluable informal peer counseling the opportunity for

the battered woman: a) to re-examine her view of herself; b) to help her

realize she is a valuable person in herself and does not need to subject

herself to the crime of being battered. (4) To refer the women residents to

appropriate protective, legal, medical, educational, housing, employ-

ment and welfare resources so as to provide the comprehensive services

the women need to make the necessary change in their financial, environ-

mental and psychosocial condition.

Resident capacity—there is a twenty resident capacity in the Annex
including mothers and children.

Program Length—there is a five week program for each woman and
her children. After a women has left the Annex she is encouraged to con-

tinue making use of the groups sessions and private counseling if prac-

ticable.

Admission

Requirements— It must be ascertained at admission time that each
prospective resident is truly a battered woman. This is evidenced by

physical bruises, etc. AND/OR AUTHENTICATED BY REPORTS OF
mistreatment.

Responsibility and accountability—this decision is ultimately made
by the Director of the House of Ruth Annex or one of the professional

staff.

Intake

Initial contacts—are usually made by telephone from an agency or
the individual in need. If it is ascertained that a woman and her children

are in need of the House of Ruth Annex’s program, and if there is a

space available, the woman and her children come to the Annex for an

interview. Immediate medical needs are attended to.

A. Program Expectations of Resident

1 . The philosophy of the overall program is discussed with resi-

dent.

2. Annex Guidelines are reviewed with each new resident.

3. Pay structure and residency agreements are reviewed and the

latter is signed by the resident and the representative of the House of

Ruth Annex.

36



4. Release from liability will be explained to the resident and

signed by her.

5. Parent Consent for Trips and Authorization for Emergency

Treatment and Care of Chiid(ren) will be reviewed with mother

and signed by her.

Medical and Dental Attention

A. Emergency needs are referred to Howard University Hospital.

B. On-going medical needs are referred to the Shaw Clinic.

C. The Upshur Clinic or other neighborhood clinics will provide

dental care to those women who have Medicaid. Other clinicians

are also available to those residents who have Medicaid.

Legal Needs

Legal referrals include: how and where to file assault charges; where

and how to file for child custody and support; requirements and pro-

cedures for divorce. Legal advice is available through the Antioch Law

School, the Department of Human Resources, the Office of Social De-

velopment of Catholic Charities, and the various Legal Aid Societies.

Counseling

A three pronged counseling program is oriented to helping the resi-
dent put together for herself those parts of her life which need strengthen-

ing and/or change.

A. Peer Counseling—a valuable aspect of the Annex program is the
on-going informal exchange among the residents. The new residents

are quick to note how reassured they are to find other battered

women who are taking positive action to change their situation.

B. Individual Counseling—will be provided by a professional social
worker at least one hour a week. If more intensive guidance is

needed plans will be made for sessions at the Shaw Clinic.

Those residents who evidence mental illness will be referred as

soon as possible to an appropriate psychiatric facility.

C. Group Counseling—
1 . Group sessions—the Annex Director and other staff mem-

bers usually meet weekdays with the women residents for a brief

session to:

a. Discuss and sign up for the household duties, meal plan-

ning and implementation.

b. Provide an opportunity to air individual and group

questions and problems. These simple group exchanges offer the

residents tangible positive experiences in problem solving and plan-

ning which can be carried over their own family-work situations.

2. Group therapy—weekly group therapy sessions are held one
day a week. Emphasis is on attitudes and feelings of the residents

towards abuse, violence and conflicts residents may encounter when

they leave the Annex.

37



During the time mothers are at the therapy session, a group

session will be offered for the children under the direction of a com-

petent child development worker.

Program Focus

Week I:

Week II:

Week III:

Week IV:

Week V:

is devoted to providing a warm, sympathetic and under-

standing environment.

concentrates on the women’s present situation and

future. Alternatives are presented to her. Each woman

makes her own decisions,

is devoted to planning for the future,

is focused on processing the woman (who decides to

leave her husband) through the appropriate social ser-

vices offices to secure housing, Medicaid, schooling,

employment.

is devoted to the separation of the woman from the

shelter.

House Responsibility

A. Guidelines for regulating daily House of Ruth Annex life are

clearly outlined in the form House of Ruth Annex Guidelines. A
copy of these are discussed with each resident at intake.

B. When feasible residents would be encouraged to attend commu-

nity, civic, educational and recreational activities. Camping experi-

ences are provided for the children.

Employment and Housing Referrals

A. The counsellor provides supportive help to each resident in

searching out adequate housing and gainful employment. A direc-
tion away from welfare is encouraged when possible.

B. Volunteer advocacy program volunteers are utilized when neces-

sary in these referrals.

Art Therapy

The art therapy program conducted by an art therapist assisted by

the Annex Director focuses on the effects of home violence on the child.

Utilizing simple arts and crafts, the program seeks to appraise what the

children really feel toward family, love, father, etc.

Progress Evaluation

Professional staff meets regularly to access the progress of each of

the residents for utilizing the program at the Annex and also to project

termination plans.

Termination

Approximately five weeks from the date of admission it is expected

that a resident will leave the Annex.

38



Follow-Up

It is strongly recommended that residents who feel the need of con-

tinuing support whether in the rap sessions, in the peer counseling situa-

tion or in socializing with the residents are welcome to return to the

Annex after they leave.

SHELTERS FOR THE ABUSED
St. Joseph’s House: Refuge for Victims of Family Violence*

From Probe, a Newsletter of the National Assembly of Women Religious

“The Catholic Worker Movement, founded by Dorothy Day and

Peter Maurin during the depression, continues with hospitality houses

scattered around the country. They have a common aim, existing in

voluntary poverty to provide food and shelter and family for the hungry

and homeless. We hope to have our Sisters’ residence become such a
house. Dorothy told me last summer that ‘there should be a hospitality

house connected with every parish and it makes good sense that it would

be the convent.’
’’

Thus I wrote some hundred friends and relatives in February, 1977,

begging their help. After housing women and their children in our upper

flat for eight months we were saying “sorry, no room’’ so often—to
eighty per cent of the requests—that we decided we needed more space.
We had found a house and named it St. Joseph’s for we are Sisters of
St. Joseph. We needed the down payment and operating expenses. That
was two years ago. Now we are still saying “no’’ too often—to sixty per
cent of our requests. At that some 250 women and 150 children have

stayed with us since then for a few days up to a month usually. They

come to us on the run from a man, or out of chemical dependency or

psychiatric treatment, from prison and prostitution. They come, evicted

to make way for “rehabilitation and urban renrewal.’’ They come from

the crisis center at our general hospital.

They come needing time and safe space to heal and begin reshaping

their lives. To do this they need money: welfare or a job. Many times

they need education to get a job that pays enough to support their chil-

dren and themselves. Sometimes they need furnishings, clothes and food

in order to move on. Desperately they need housing. In our town only

thirty per cent of available rental units allow children, if they are AFDC
recipients, the housing these women can afford is often roach infested,

mouse-ridden, insecure, located in the near downtown area shared with

many other broken people. Sometimes they go back to “him’’ because

self-reliance seems impossible.

Our family, like most, has good times and bad. Several months ago

I wrote: Morale got pretty low here. Many specifics contributed. For in-

stance, one of the guests stole some money. A desperation thing, she was

39



new in town, pregnant, near due, deserted by her husband, broke. How
to get back home to Kentucky? She ransacked the place and left. Later

she returned with all but six dollars, thank God. A week later another
guest’s purse was taken and not returned. Suddenly it seemed a rash of

cigarettes was gone, bathtub left dirty, toys broken, bike parts and tools

missing: hospitality turned to hostility, suspicion. The sanctuary isn’t

safe. How it happened I don’t know. People come and go. Sometimes
the combination of chemistries is sweet, sometimes bittersweet. This

month, we tested vinegar. There is more. Down at the apartment we

sublet, one of our residents got beaten up in the hall so bad she was hos-

pitalized. Awakened one other night by what I thought was a neighbor’s

beer party turned fight, I finally went downstairs to discover it was

happening on our front porch: an ex-guest entertaining! Infuriating! So

now we lock the screen door with a broom stick. On and on. It go so

bad it got bizarre, laughable, better.

Now that is the bad, and the exception. Usually there is lots of ten-
derness. People, commiserating over common griefs and problems and

solutions, exchange advice on how to proceed. Much of the housework is

done by guests who come back as workers after they move on. Evenings

are for playing cards, popping corn, going for a walk, shooting pool,

building a fire, talking. The miracle of the place seems to me to be the

weaving of so many people. Each brings something, each needs some-

thing. Lots of unmet needs, broken hearts, broken spirit^, yet together

people give kinship and worth to each other. In the last two years several

hundred people forming one body, many members fitted together, ex-

changing life and hope, turning hostility to hospitality.

We exist through donations. Sister Rita Steinhagen, Sister Ann
Diehl and I live at the house, sleeping in the attic. We all work at part-
time jobs and here at the house. Each month we send a newsletter, a

combination thank you, reminder and needs list. The readership grows

and is now over six hundred. Money comes—enough, food, clothing,
household supplies and furniture to use and to recycle. People come to

help with the hospitality, to walk with the guests through the red tape of

the “heeling agencies” toward self-reliance. They invite us to talk to

their church groups, and the word ripples out.

I am struck with how wide and generous are the connections nuns

have, yet each need unveils a new one. Truly each parish could fill a

house. Surely each parish could work to change church and state laws

and biases against the poor. Such societal violence feeds personal

violence, as it feeds personal despair.

Sr. Char Madigan, CSJ, St. Joseph ’s House, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Excerpts from the Christian Science Monitor Tuesday, February 20, 1979

reprinted by permission from the Christian Science Monitor 1979 The Christian

Science Publishing Society

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

40



SHELTERS FOR ABUSERS
“Counseling offered to men who beat women”

Boston center stresses alternatives to violence

By Scott Armstrong

Special to The Christian Science Monitor

John, unemployed, used to get drunk and hit his wife—sometimes
brutally. Angered by a feeling that no man without a job is much good.

John used his wife’s sloppy housekeeping as an excuse to beat her.

Paul, who holds a professional job, has consistently slapped and

intimidated his wife throughout their 20-year marriage. His wife worked

to help support the family, and he felt frustrated that he was not the

sole “breadwinner.”

John and Paul (not their real names) are two men recently helped by

Emerge, a counseling service set up in Boston to help men stop battering

women by bringing out their more sensitive sides. Emerge encourages

them to throw off traditional, sexual stereotypes and explore the roots of

their hostilities.

The program is run by a group of male volunteers, primarily social

workers and counselors, who help only men who come to them volun-

tarily.

“There is a basic inequality in our society,” says David Adams, a

social worker, and one of the volunteers. “Men take the license to batter

women. We encourage them to be responsible for their own behavior.”
Richard J. Gelles, a sociologist at the University of Rhode Island,

says that when he and several colleagues set out to survey the extent of

domestic violence several years ago, skeptics told them nobody would

talk.

Not so, Mr. Gelles said many men freely told of beating their wives.

The reason, he says, is that “many of the people just didn’t think there

was anything wrong with it.”

It is “a sign of the Humphrey Bogart macho image,” he adds. “The

majority of people don’t recognize it [wife-beating] as a problem.”

Emerge counselors confirm that it is difficult for men to admit they

have problems and to express their feelings. Some of their clients have

backed out after the first counseling session.

“Some people are so tense when they talk to us that they hardly let

out any feelings at all,” says Robert Wald, one of the counselors. But he

adds, “Generally men in the group sessions have appreciated talking

about themselves with other men, and their communication with their

wives has improved.”

Emerge encourages men to adopt short-range alternatives to violence,

such as punching pillows, taking walks, screaming—or even resorting in
the old-fashioned “count to 10” method, which can be “very effective,”

says Mr. Adams.

The next step, counselors say, is to head off the violence before it

41



occurs by encouraging men to analyze the cause of their anger. “What

hurt me? Who disappointed me? What was unfair or unjust?” are ques-
tions Emerge counselors suggest that abusers ask themselves.

Emerge was spawned almost two years ago out of the feeling among

staffers in Boston area shelters for battered women that abuse of women

is a man’s problem and should be partly tackled by men helping other

men.

After six months of study, a group of volunteers began working out

of private homes. They have counseled 20 men and talked to about 100

others by phone since July, 1977.

Now, through the help of $80,000 in private donations, Emerge has

opened an office in Boston at 25 Huntington Avenue. Charges for coun-

seling are based on a man’s hourly income, but members say they won’t

turn anyone away. Literature on domestic violence is available, and the

Emerge staff hopes to set up a 24-hour hot line.

42



PART I\f—Selected Resources

Child Abuse

National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect

U.S. Children’s Bureau

Administration for Children, Youth and

Families

Office of Human Development Services

Washington, D.C. 20201

Information,

Numerous

Publications

National Committee for Prevention of

Child Abuse

Publishing Department, Suite 510

1 1 1 East Wacker Drive

Chicago, Illinois 60601

Information,

Numerous

Publications

Parents Anonymous, General Headquarters

2810 Artesia Boulevard

Redondo Beach, California 90278

Information,

Model Program

Parents Anonymous

125 State Street

Augusta, Maine 04330

Diocesan Funded

PA program

Local Catholic Charities Office Programs vary

Battered Women

House of Ruth

459 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20001

Women’s Shelter

Project Green Hope

448 East 1 19th Street

New York, New York 10035

Shelter for battered

women/exoffenders

St. Joseph’s House

2101 Portland Avenue, South

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55404

Women’s Shelter

Social Ministries Office

Diocese of Steubenville

422 Washington Street, Box 969

Steubenville, Ohio 43952

Information,

Counseling,

Referral

U.S. Civil Rights Commission

Office of Publications Management

Room 700, 1 121 Vermont Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20425

Consultation on

Battered Women, a

Publication

43



Family Violence

Office of Domestic Social Development Information

U.S. Catholic Conference

1312 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20005

Local Catholic Charities Office Varied Resources

Subcommittee on Domestic and International

Scientific Planning, Analysis & Cooperation
Committee on Science and Technology

U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515

Hearings-95th Congress

Research into Violent

Behavior, Domestic

Violence. February

14-16, 1979

United Church of Christ Information

Commission for Racial Justice

297 Park Avenue South

New York, New York 10070

National Clergy Council on Alcoholism Information/

and Drug Related Problems Counseling

3112 Seventh Street, N.E.

Washington, D.C. 20017

EMERGE
25 Huntington Avenue

Boston, Massachusetts

Wife Abusers

Counseling for

Batterers,

Information

Sibling Abuse

Fr. Denis J. Madden, Ph.D.

Institute of Psychiatry

and Human Behavior

645 West Redwood Street

Baltimore, Maryland 21201

Information,

Counseling

Program

Bibliographies

Violence in the Home: An Annotated Bibliography. Available from

National Institute of Mental Health, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville,

Maryland 20852.

Child Neglect: An Annotated Bibliography; Parenting: An Annotated

Bibliography; and A Selected Annotated Bibliography on Black Families.
Available from the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare,

Washington, D.C. 20201.

44