Understanding Child Abuse and Neglect

  The most comprehensive overview of child abuse and neglect available.  The author, a former child protection worker, both teaches and practices in the field.  Provides real-life case vignettes drawn from the author's own experiences.  Covers all types of maltreatment including maltreatment, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and emotional abuse. Chapters are reorganized for a more logical progression from neglect to physical and sexual abuse.

Table of Contents:
Each chapter ends with oSummary,o oExploration Questions,o oActivities for Applied Learning,o oSuggested Readings,o and oReferences.o Preface. 1.The Maltreatment of Children from a Historical Perspective. Children as Property. Child Labor. Sexual Values, Attitudes, and Exploitation. The Incest Taboo. Recent History of Helping the Abused and Neglected Child. Child Protection Today. 2.The Family: Roles, Responsibilities, and Rights. The Definition and Function of the Family. The Family as a System. Rituals. Minority Family Systems. Family Problems and Dysfunction. The Family and Child Maltreatment. 3.Maltreatment and the Developing Child. Developmental Stages. Developmental Differences. 4.The Neglect of Children. Neglect Defined. Causes of Neglect. Problems in Intervention. Neglected Children. Neglectful Parents. 5.The Physical Abuse of Children. Causes of Physical Abuse. Psychopathological Categories. The Abused Child. Abusive Parents. Domestic Violence and Other Abuse Within the Family. 6.The Sexual Abuse of Children. Two Groups Approaches to Child Sexual Abuse. Definition of Child Sexual Abuse. Types of Sexual Abuse. The Progression of Sexual Abuse. Incidence of Sexual Abuse. Profile of the Abused Child. Degree of Trauma. Profile of the Perpetrator. 7.Incest: Familial Abuse. Incest as a Problem Today. Who Is to Blame? Father-Daughter Incest. Father-Son Incest. Mother-Daughter Incest. Mother-Son Incest. Brother-Sister Incest. Homosexual Sibling Incest. Incest with Uncles, Grandfathers, and Cousins. Why Incest Stops. 8.Extrafamilial Sexual Abuse, Misuse, and Exploitation. Sexual Abuse Outside the Family. Sexual Misuse and Exploitation. 9.The Emotional and Psychological Maltreatment of Children. Emotional and Psychological Maltreatment Defined. 10.Intervention: Reporting and Investigation. Culturally Sensitive Intervention. The Intervention Process. Assessing Aspects of Risk. 11.Intervention: Case Management and Roles of Other Professionals. Case Management Considerations. Other Professionals Involved in the Intervention Process. 12.The Legal Response to Child Abuse and Neglect. The Legal Rights of Parents and Children. Types of Court Intervention. Juvenile Court. Advantages and Disadvantages of Juvenile Court. Criminal Court. The Media and the Court. 13.Treatment: Physical Abuse and Neglect. Preparing to Provide Treatment. Providing Treatment. Treatment of Physically Abusive Families. Family-Centered Services. Treatment of the Child. Treatment of the Parents. Other Family Treatment. Treatment of the Siblings. Treatment of Neglectful Families. 14.Treatment: Sexual Abuse. Issues Surrounding Treatment. Assumptions about Treatment of the Sexually Abusive Family. Treatment Models. Treatment Methods. Treatment of Specific Family Members. 15.Foster Care as a Therapeutic Tool. Problems with Foster Care. Alternatives to Foster Care. Therapeutic Potential in Foster Care. The Role and Importance of the Natural Parents. The Role of Foster Pa