Objective: Studies examining psychological trauma or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in ethnoracial or sexual minority groups are relatively few. The "Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology" recently published 4 articles (Balsam, Lehavot, Beadnall, & Circo, 2010; Harrington, Crowther, & Shipherd, 2010; Lester, Resick, Young-Xu, & Artz,…

This paper identifies themes of the Second African Conference on Child Abuse (1993), notes the importance of the breakdown of family structure, and stresses the importance of prevention. Prerequisites for prevention programs in developing countries are considered and development of a macro campaign and local micro efforts is urged. Examples of…

An informal review of early (1960s) materials publicizing the problems of child abuse led the author to suggest three resolutions for the future: (1) elimination of fragmented social services; (2) increased public recognition of the importance of children; and (3) expenditure of more money and effort on preventive family services. (DB)

Efforts to revolutionize the child welfare system must consider social trends and forces. Encouraging trends that child welfare reformers might be able to harness include biotechnology, availability of medical care, gender equality, awareness of parenting skills, and service sector growth. Discouraging trends include increasing rate of divorce and…

The first and central issue in children's services is the extent to which government may limit or supplant parental action in the control, nurture, and direction of children. Three major governmental approaches include prohibiting behavior; prescribing behavior; and taking direct protective action. There are two legal issues related to prevention…

This commentary discusses the decline in sexual abuse, citing research that indicates differences in self-reported sexual abuse across age-cohorts in a population-based sample of Australian adults. Similar declines in Ireland and the United States are also noted. The usefulness of self-report surveys for examining trends in child victimization is…

This review of cultural attitudes and case studies proposes that the incidence of sexual abuse of male and female children by women is underestimated and that the changing roles of men and women in Western societies may lead to an increase in such abuse. (Author/DB)

This essay reviews the last two decades in the field of child abuse and neglect and notes progress in societal attitudes. It urges making the case against hitting children and suggests the use of scientific evidence, personal testimony, and demonstration of "a better way." Major issues of language and the setting of standards in caregiving are…

An Australian psychiatrist reviews the history of child abuse, especially trends in the last 20 years. Issues addressed include a lack of standards for the diagnosis of maltreatment, lack of knowledge concerning effective prevention, high rates of worker burnout and turnover, and decision making by unqualified workers. (DB)

This keynote address reviews previous efforts at developing a research policy agenda for child abuse and neglect, reviews medical research directions in child sexual abuse, suggests the author's views of potential research areas, and suggests a policy infrastructure to further implementation of the conference's proposals. (DB)

U.S. society has come to be a world where offenses are constantly being redefined and thinkers deny that there is any absolute truth. How this has happened, its effects, and what can be done about it are explored. The effects of postmodern relativism are nowhere more evident than in education. Many are working to be sure that American schools show…

The status of American children is worse today than it has been at any time in the past 50 years. One in every five children in the United States lives in poverty. The incidence of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse has increased dramatically. Many children are physiologically and emotionally damaged or dying from the primary or secondary…

This paper examines the role that public policy and practice play in supporting the efforts of natural, adoptive, and foster families who have children and youth with disabilities in keeping their families intact. Obstacles and barriers to implementing the philosophy of permanence planning, especially for children and youth with disabilities, are…

This paper outlines developments in child protection from an international point of view and offers a perspective into the twenty-first century. The paper focuses on management of intrafamilial child maltreatment (identification, treatment, government intervention, primary prevention); and management of extrafamilial child maltreatment through…