A Study for Church Intervention and Case Management with Sexually Abusive Families: A Model for Black Urban Churches
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Authors
Thurman, Kathleen M.
Issue Date
1988
Type
Thesis
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
The problem of child sexual abuse affects all segments of society and touches the social and spiritual institutions of every community. As a spiritual institution, the church must address this issue. Within the Black community, the church is a viable agent of social change, and it is appropriate that a model of intervention with sexually abusive families be mediated out of this institution. Professionals in child protection, law enforcement, etc., were interviewed to assess their willingness to work with the Black church. to meet the needs of these children and their families. Black pastors were interviewed regarding their experience with sexually abusive families and the need for a formalized model of intervention and interaction with child protective agencies. It was found that most professionals in this field saw a gap in services to Black families, which the church could fill. All felt that the church could facilitate change in these families, fulfilling vital practical and spiritual functions. Pastors were unanimous that the church must be involved in this area, and some had already established informal intervention models. All but one saw the need for a more formalized model of intervention. A vital concern was that social service agencies have not looked upon the Black church as a valid resource, and the quality of the church/social service system relationship appeared dependent upon the personal relationship that the pastor had with individuals within the system. A model was established to effectively network the church and the child protection system. An important suggestion for further research concerns the relationship between child sexual abuse and substance abuse.