Parenting Children and Youth Who Have Experienced Abuse or Neglect

Children and youth who have been abused or neglected need safe, stable, and nurturing relationships and environments to recover from the trauma they've experienced. If you are parenting a child or youth with a history of abuse or neglect, you might have questions about the impacts and how you can help your child heal. This factsheet is intended to help parents (birth, foster, and adoptive) and other caregivers better understand the challenges of caring for a child or youth who has experienced maltreatment and learn about available resources for support.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Child abuse and neglect and its effects

How can I help my child or youth heal?

Developing caring discipline techniques

Where can I find support?

Conclusion

We also recommend the following Information Gateway publications:

• Long-Term Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect
  (Factsheets)
• What Is Child Abuse and Neglect? Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms
  (Factsheets)
• Parenting a Child Who Has Been Sexually Abused: A Guide for Foster and Adoptive Parents
  (Factsheets for Families)