CAN SOCIAL NETWORKS INSULATE PARENTS FROM ABUSING THEIR CHILDREN?
Primary prevention that focuses on remediation of parent issues, instead of prevention that hinges upon increasing children’s knowledge of abuse symptoms or their abilities to report abuse, is a necessary component of reducing maltreatment rates. This session will explore characteristics of familial and social relationships (social networks) that might insulate parents from abusing their children. Discussion will begin with social network characteristics identified by the presenter in her empirical research and interviews with parents of various cultural backgrounds involved with the Texas child protective services. Attendees can discuss these research findings, as well as their own ideas, and then talk about how such ideas could help their own communities work more effectively with at-risk parents. The research findings presented in this session can inform local, state, and national public policymakers, protection agencies, intervention agency staff, and other community players about
