Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T15:35:03.892Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A Review of Cumulative Harm: A Comparison of International Child Protection Practices

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 January 2018

India Bryce
India Bryce*
Affiliation:
School of Linguistics, Adult and Specialist Education, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
*
address for correspondence: India R. Bryce, Faculty of Business, Education, Law and Arts, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia. E-mail: india.bryce@usq.edu.au
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This article explores the prevalence of cumulative harm as a subtle and pervasive harm type, often dismissed or ignored in child protection assessment and reporting practices. The author examines a range of trends and research that identifies current gaps in the legislative response to cumulative harm identification and intervention. Through analysis of the current practices informing child protection in Australia, it is clear that there is movement towards a more holistic understanding of harm and the impacts of long-term maltreatment. However, a nationwide level of consistent practice has not yet been achieved, which places cumulative harm and reoccurring maltreatment on an equal footing with episodic maltreatment, particularly in relation to notification and reporting. Internationally, although variations are evident, just as they are in national framework, there is an inclusive impetus towards early intervention as a means of addressing harm prior to the onset of cumulative impact. There is a growing emphasis on children's wellbeing, development and universal right to quality of life and fair treatment.

Keywords

cumulative harmchronic maltreatmentabuseneglectlegislation
Type
Review
Information
Children Australia , Volume 43 , Issue 1 , March 2018 , pp. 23 - 31
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allen, J. (2002). Traumatic relationships and serious mental disorders. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons.Google Scholar
Baglivio, M. T., Epps, N., Swartz, K., Huq, M. S., Sheer, A., & Hardt, N. S. (2014). The prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACE) in the lives of juvenile offenders. Journal of Juvenile Justice, 3 (2), 1.Google Scholar
Bath, H. (2014). The accumulating evidence for cumulative harm. Developing Practice: The Child, Youth and Family Work Journal, April (38), 6.Google Scholar
Broadley, K. (2014). Equipping child protection practitioners to intervene to protect children from cumulative harm: Legislation and policy in Victoria, Australia. Australian Journal of Social Issues, 49 (3), 265–284.Google Scholar
Bromfield, L. M., & Higgins, D. J. (2005). Chronic and isolated maltreatment in a child protection sample. Family Matters, (70), 38–45.Google Scholar
Bromfield, L. M., & Holzer, P. J. (2008). A national approach for child protection: Project report. A report to the Community and Disability Services Ministers' Advisory Council (CDSMAC). Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies.Google Scholar
Bromfield, L., & Miller, R. (2012). Specialist practice resource: Cumulative harm (2nd ed.). Melbourne: Victorian Government Department of Human Services.Google Scholar
Bromfield, L., Gillingham, P., & Higgins, D. (2007). Cumulative harm and chronic child maltreatment. Developing Practice, 19 (Winter/Spring), 34–42.Google Scholar
Brown, J., Cohen, P., Johnson, J. G., & Smailes, E. M. (1999). Childhood abuse and neglect: Specificity of effects on adolescent and young adult depression and suicidality. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 38 (12), 1490–1496.Google Scholar
Council of Australian Governments. (2009). Protecting children is everyone's business: National framework for protecting Australia's children 2009–2020. Canberra: FaHCSIA. Retrieved from http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/our-responsibilities/families-and-children/publications-articles/protecting-children-is-everyones-business.Google Scholar
De Bellis, M. D., Keshaven, M. S., Clark, D. B., Caseey, B. J., Giedd, J. B., Boring, A. M., . . . Ryan, N. D. (1999). Developmental traumatology Part 2: Brain development. Biological Psychiatry, 45, 1271–1284.Google Scholar
Ethien, L., Lemelin, J. P., & Lacharite, C. (2004). A longitudinal study of the effects of chronic maltreatment on children's behavioral and emotional problems. Child Abuse & Neglect, 28, 1265–1278.Google Scholar
Felitti, V. J., Anda, R. F., Nordenberg, D., Williamson, D. F., Spitz, A. M., Edwards, V., & Koss, M. P. (1998). Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction in many of the leading causes of death in adults. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 14 (4), 245–258.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Follette, V. M., Polusny, M. M., & Milbeck, K. (1994). Mental health and law enforcement professionals: Trauma history, psychological symptoms, and impact of providing services to child sexual abuse survivors. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 25 (3), 275.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frederico, M. M., Jackson, A. L., & Black, C. M. (2008). Understanding the impact of abuse and neglect on children and young people referred to a therapeutic program. Journal of Family Studies, 14 (2–3), 342–361.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frederico, M., Jackson, A., & Jones, S. (2006). Child death group analysis: Effective responses to chronic neglect. Melbourne: Office of the Child Safety Commissioner, Victorian Child Death Review Committee.Google Scholar
Gilbert, N., Parton, N., & Skivenes, M. (Eds.). (2011). Child protection systems: International trends and orientations. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gilmore, D. (2010). Chronic child neglect: Building knowledge, fostering hope. Policy & Practice, 68 (3), 12–13.Google Scholar
Higgins, D. J. (2004). Differentiating between child maltreatment experiences. Family Matters, (69), 50.Google Scholar
Kaplan, C., Schene, P., DePanfilis, D., & Gilmore, D. (2009). Introduction: Shining light on chronic neglect. Protecting Children, 24 (1), 1–8.Google Scholar
Lamont, A. (2010). Effects of child abuse and neglect for children and adolescents and adults. Retrieved 1 May, 2015 from http://www.aifs.gov.au/nch/pubs/sheets/rs20/rs20.pdf.Google Scholar
Mcnutt, L. A., Carlson, B. E., Persaud, M., & Postmus, J. (2002). Cumulative abuse experiences, physical health and health behaviors. Annals of Epidemiology, 12 (2), 123–130.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McQueen, D., Itzin, C., Kennedy, R., Sinason, V., & Maxted, F. (2009). Psychoanalytic psychotherapy after child abuse. The treatment of adults and children who have experienced sexual abuse, violence, and neglect in childhood. London: Karnac Books Ltd.Google Scholar
Miller, R. (2007). Cumulative harm: A conceptual overview. Melbourne, Victoria: Victorian Government.Google Scholar
Miller-Perrin, C., & Perrin, R. (2007). Child maltreatment: An introduction. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Munro, E. (2002). Expertise in child protection work: Effective child protection practice. London: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Nadan, Y., Spilsbury, J. C., & Korbin, J. E. (2015). Culture and context in understanding child maltreatment: Contributions of intersectionality and neighborhood-based research. Child Abuse and Neglect, 41, 40–48.Google Scholar
Nader, K. (2008). Understanding and assessing trauma in children and adolescents. New York, NY: Routledge.Google Scholar
O'Halloran, B. (2011). Select committee on child protection: Final report. Tasmania: Government of Tasmania.Google Scholar
O'Donnell, M., Scott, D., & Stanley, F. (2008). Child abuse and neglect – is it time for a public health approach? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 32 (4), 325–330.Google Scholar
Osborn, A., & Delfabbro, P. (2006). National comparative study of children and young people with high support needs in Australian out of home care. Retrieved 14 May, 2015 from http://www.socialstyrelsen.se/NR/rdonlyres/830F1DAF-4647-4909-938D-12236A3ADA8B/0/FinalGOVTreportprofilestudy_2.pdf.Google Scholar
Parton, N., & Berridge, D. (2011). Child protection in England. In Gilbert, N., Parton, N., & Skivenes, M. (Eds.), Child protection systems: International trends and orientations (pp. 60–87). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Perry, B. (2006). Applying principles of neurodevelopment to clinical work with maltreated and traumatized children. In Wedd, B. (Ed.), Working with traumatized youth (pp. 27–52). New York: Guildford Press.Google Scholar
Poso, T. (2011). Combatting child abuse in Finland: From family to child centered orientation. In Gilbert, N., Parton, N., & Skivenes, M. (Eds.), Child protection systems: International trends and orientations (pp. 112–130). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Queensland Child Protection Commission of Inquiry. (2013). Taking responsibility: A roadmap for queensland child protection. Queensland: Queensland Government.Google Scholar
Queensland Government. (2011). Child protection act 1999. Queensland: Queensland Government.Google Scholar
Queensland Government. (2013). The Queensland government response to the Queensland child protection commission of inquiry final report. Queensland: Queensland Government.Google Scholar
Ryan, T., Coroner for Queensland, October 9. (2015). Inquest into the death of a 13 year old girl (P). Brisbane, Queensland: Office of the State Coroner.Google Scholar
Sachs-Ericsson, N., Cromer, K., Hernandez, A., & Kendall-Tackett, K. (2009). A review of childhood abuse, health, and pain-related problems: The role of psychiatric-disorders and current life stress. Journal of Trauma and Dissociation, 10 (2), 170–188.Google Scholar
Scott, D. (2006). Research Article 1: Towards a public health model of child protection in Australia. Communities, Children and Families Australia, 1 (1), 9.Google Scholar
Shonkoff, J., & Phillips, D. (Eds.). (2001). From neurons to neighbourhoods: The science of early childhood development. Washington DC: National Academy Press.Google Scholar
Victoria Government, Department of Human Services. (2007). Cumulative harm: A conceptual overview. Melbourne, Victoria: Victorian Government.Google Scholar
Victorian Government. (2005). Victorian children, youth & families act. Melbourne, Victoria: Victorian Government.Google Scholar
Western Australian Government - Executive Director, Policy and Learning Directorate. (2012). Policy on neglect. Retrieved 21 May, 2015 from http://www.dcp.wa.gov.au/Resources/Documents/Policies%20and%20Frameworks/Neglect-PolicyOnNeglect.pd.Google Scholar
Widom, C., DuMont, K., & Czaja, S. (2007). A prospective investigation of major depressive disorder and comorbidity in abused and neglected children grown up. Archives of General Psychiatry, 64 (1), 49–56.Google Scholar
Wood, J. (2008). Report of the Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW. NSW: Special Commission of Inquiry into Child Protection Services in NSW.Google Scholar