No parental instinct is as intense and fundamental as protecting one's child from harm. For parents of children with autism, safety risks become magnified because of challenges resulting from fixations with narrow interests, limited situational awareness, and sensory and communication issues. So why should parents expect to do it all alone? We…

Children with disabilities of any kind are not identified in crime statistic systems in the U.S., making it difficult to determine their risk for abuse (Sullivan, 2003). A number of weak and small-scale studies found that children with all types of disabilities are abused more often than children without disabilities. According to researchers,…

Early childhood is a critical time for cognitive, social, and behavioral development. Many states have invested in comprehensive early childhood care and education systems that offer a wide range of supports and services to families from the prenatal period through school entry. Home visiting programs are an important component of state early…

This package is intended as a guide for reference by concerned adults suspecting a child has been physically, sexually, or emotionally abused. Common misconceptions and myths about sexual abuse are debunked, symptoms of at-risk families are described, types of abuse and possible indications are outlined, and neglect is discussed. Legal aspects of…

This article examines issues that child protective agencies might consider when evaluating the impact of risk assessment implementation on service delivery. The paper recommends using qualitative and quantitative measures in a process and an outcome evaluation to determine the degree of model implementation and the impact of implementation on case…

This Massachusetts Kids Count report focuses on child abuse and neglect in the state of Massachusetts and presents recommendations for alleviating stressors contributing to child maltreatment. The report presents incidence information and identifies the impact of child abuse on future risk status. In addition, the report differentiates the 12…

This guidebook is designed to help parents, teachers, day care professionals, nannies, and others in the childcare arena recognize signs of distress in children's drawings. The handbook is intended for those with little or no knowledge of art therapy. Information the book provides is a compilation of indicators that commonly appear in the drawings…

This article examines the legal responsibilities of teachers, counselors, and administrators to report suspected child abuse. It provides a definition of child abuse and neglect as well as practical information on recognizing abuse and reporting it to the appropriate authorities. (DB)

The provision of respite services for families with adolescents who are at risk of abusing or neglecting the young person is discussed, with attention to program design, services to parents, and services to adolescents. Respite programs can provide an important resource for families that lack sufficient supports to deal with the difficult period…

This paper presents research that will assist educators in addressing children's needs in relation to dealing with traumas. It will aid educators and steer them in the proper direction in order to develop programs that address these needs within the school system. Parents and adult caregivers are the primary resources for identifying children at…

Health-related disadvantages of children are discussed. Describes six steps to help children overcome these disadvantages. (BB)

Intended for use in Florida training programs for caregivers of infants and toddlers with disabilities, this guide presents an overview of the Model of Interdisciplinary Training for Children with Handicaps (MITCH); offers a user's guide to the series; and presents specific information for presenting Module 4, which focuses on the impact of a…

This book presents guidance for educators on recognizing and responding to different forms of child maltreatment as well as ideas on the formation of a school reporting protocol and a Child Protection Team. The 11 chapters are: (1) "Why Are Educators So Important in the Lives of Abused and Neglected Children?"; (2) "How Can We…

Noting that adopted and foster children may have suffered early traumatic experiences, often expressed in emotional and behavioral problems that become increasingly problematic as the child approaches adolescence, this book presents strategies to help adoptive and foster parents deal with their youngsters' troubling behavior and to make them feel…

This handbook on preventing child abuse is intended to help families with young children, especially young children who have or are at risk for disabilities, and to help people working with such families. After an introductory section which presents basic definitions, the first chapter presents highlights of the Education of the Handicapped Act…