Child Abuse and Family Social Support: The Practice of Resolutions Approach.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Child abuse is a devastating problem, and effective interventions are needed. Interventions incorporating social support have been found to be more effective in reducing parental abuse than those that do not. The resolutions approach (RA) emphasizes collaborating with the family's social network. The present study aims to examine the role of social networks in RA.

METHODS

This report presents the cases of two families (children aged 8-18) who are alleged to have committed child abuse. A mixed-method study was conducted. Qualitative data based on in-depth interviews, and quantitative data obtained by repeated assessments following a single-case design were integrated. Incidents of child abuse were assessed before treatment, at the end of treatment, and at follow-up, using the Conflict Tactics Scales. An idiosyncratic measurement was administered every fortnight during the intervention.

RESULTS

In both families, members acknowledged the value of involving their social network and reported decreased incidents of child abuse. One family succeeded in involving the network, and in this family, aggressive behavior stopped soon after RA started. Results were maintained during follow-up. In the other family, aggression stopped after the baseline period, according to the parents, but not according to their youngest child.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the involvement of social support is prescribed through the intervention protocol, several challenges hamper its realization. Recommendations are formulated for how to involve social network members in the context of family therapy when child safety is at risk. RA might be a valuable intervention to stop child abuse, but it needs further research.