Comment on Cross, Fine, Jones, and Walsh (2012): We Are Now on the Same Page

Abstract

Role conflict has been an issue in the intervention of child abuse cases since the beginning of the alliance drawn between the legal and mental health professions. In child abuse cases, clearly defined roles will prevent an attack on the process, thereby providing successful interventions to protect children. The child advocacy center concept is one of the best ways to meld the two professional functions into a cohesive approach to those interventions.

Keywords:

• child advocacy center
• multidisciplinary team
• role conflict
• child abuse intervention
• interview
• therapeutic role
• child abuse assessment
• child abuse evidence

Notes

1. The extended interview is getting more press and must be seriously considered in cases of abuse in which children are reluctant to talk about what happened to them.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Seth L. Goldstein

Seth L. Goldstein, Esq., is a California attorney in private practice handling child abuse cases in the civil, family law and juvenile courts. He also represents mental health professionals in licensing and discipline matters. He was also a law enforcement officer, serving as a co-chairman of an early multidisciplinary team. He is the author of The Sexual Exploitation of Children: A Practical Guide to Assessment, Investigation and Intervention (2nd ed., CRC Press, 1999).