【Aims】 This study was conducted To clarify the current situation relating to cooperation between schools and staff at child guidance centers/municipal offices in dealing with child abuse cases, and to gather basic data for examining issues in promoting future cooperation and collaboration between related off-site agencies and specialists.
【Method】 A self-administered questionnaire survey was carried out among 200 staff members who work at child guidance centers or municipal offices in the Kanto area of Japan and who deal with child abuse cases. Anonymous questionnaires were distributed and collected by post; questionnaires were mailed on 17 January 2016 and the collection deadline was 31 March 2016. Survey content concerned participant characteristics, experience in cooperating with schools regarding child abuse cases and the specific contents of cooperation, implementation of the Council for Countermeasures for Children Requiring Aid (individual case meetings), expectations of the roles that schools fulfil in dealing with child abuse and their current situation, and the necessity for cooperation with schools and the perception of burden.
【Results】 The following four points became clear:
1. Staff, who deal with child abuse cases at child guidance centers or municipal offices work daily with schools.
2. Cooperation between staff, who deal with child abuse cases at child guidance centers or municipal offices go beyond just the reporting and uncovering of situations: they divide roles based on support plans, report and evaluate support processes, and share new information while collaborating with health, welfare, and educational institutions.
3. Staff, who deal with child abuse cases at child guidance centers or municipal offices had some differences in the type of school they cooperate, the type of abuse, the specific content of collaboration, and the actual condition of cooperating schools.
4. Seven categories were extracted regarding difficulties in cooperating with schools: hesitation toward cooperation on the side of schools; an absence of initiative toward cooperation on the side of schools; differences among schools in ability and awareness in dealing with child abuse; an increase in complicated cases; inadequacy of cooperation structure; a lack of mutual understanding concerning support policy and the roles of collaborators; and a shortage of manpower.
【Conclusions】 To promote cooperation and collaboration between related off-site agencies and specialists, the Council for Countermeasures for Children Requiring Aid (especially individual case meetings) should be better utilized; manpower from specialists in related agencies should be secured, and teacher training for dealing with child abuse should be enhanced.
