Home > Treatment for Abused and Neglected Children: Infancy to Age 18 > Treatment for Abused and Neglected Children: Infancy to Age 18: Preface

Treatment for Abused and Neglected Children: Infancy to Age 18

Author(s):   U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Urquiza, A. J., Winn, C.

Year Published:  1994

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You are in section: Table of Contents Attribution Preface Acknowledgments Introduction 1 - Child Development and… 2 - Consequences of Abuse and… 3 - Assessment of Child… 4 - Therapy 5 - Treatment Issues for… 6 - Case Management Conclusion Notes Glossary of Terms Selected Bibliography Other Resources

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Preface

The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was signed into law in 1974. Since that time, the Federal Government has served as a catalyst to mobilize society's social service, mental health, medical, educational, legal, and law enforcement resources to address the challenges in the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect. In 1977, in one of its early efforts to achieve this goal, the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect (NCCAN) developed 21 manuals (the User Manual Series) to provide guidance to professionals involved in the child protection system and to enhance community collaboration and the quality of services provided to children and families. Some manuals described professional roles and responsibilities in the prevention, identification, and treatment of child maltreatment. Other manuals in the series addressed special topics, for example, adolescent abuse and neglect.

Our understanding of the complex problems of child abuse and neglect has increased dramatically since the user manuals were developed. This increased knowledge has improved our ability to intervene effectively in the lives of troubled families. Likewise, we have a better grasp of what we can do to prevent child abuse and neglect from occurring. Further, our knowledge of the unique roles key professionals can play in child protection has been more clearly defined, and a great deal has been learned about how to enhance coordination and collaboration of community agencies and professionals. Finally, we are facing today new and more serious problems in families who maltreat their children. For example, there is a significant percentage of families known to Child Protective Services (CPS) who are experiencing substance abuse problems; the first reference to drug-exposed infants appeared in literature in 1985.

Because our knowledge base has increased significantly and the state of the art of practice has improved considerably, NCCAN has updated the User Manual Series by revising many of the existing manuals and creating new manuals that address current innovations, concerns, and issues in the prevention and treatment of child maltreatment.

This manual is intended to serve as an orientation to the issues surrounding the treatment of sexually abused, physically abused, and neglected children. It is intended to primarily assist:

• Beginning therapists (or therapists unfamiliar with child maltreatment) who are interested in acquiring a greater understanding of treatment issues related specifically to child maltreatment.
  
  
• Individuals (e.g., social workers, probation counselors, law enforcement officials, health care professionals) who may not be involved in therapy with abused children, but who desire a greater understanding of therapeutic issues and processes.
  
  
• Therapists providing services to maltreated children, who wish to improve their skills, knowledge, and abilities in conducting therapy.

Additional information on the treatment of child sexual abuse and child neglect is available in two other manuals in this series, Child Sexual Abuse: Intervention and Treatment Issues and The Role of Mental Health Professionals in the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect.

It is important to note that this manual does not substitute for formal training in providing psychotherapy for abused and neglected children.

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You are in section: Table of Contents Attribution Preface Acknowledgments Introduction 1 - Child Development and… 2 - Consequences of Abuse and… 3 - Assessment of Child… 4 - Therapy 5 - Treatment Issues for… 6 - Case Management Conclusion Notes Glossary of Terms Selected Bibliography Other Resources

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This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway.

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Updated on March 1, 2010