In their critique of differential response (DR), Hughes and colleagues raise a number of important issues that are central to broader efforts at the Administration on Children, Youth, and Families (ACYF) including the need for greater reliance on evidence-based practice in child welfare, more rigorous evaluation methodologies, and a robust set of…

According to these authors, it is correct to assume that mental health professionals, including psychologists, may not have adequate literature that provides an evidence-informed basis for making decisions about a parent's contact with a child whom he/she has sexually molested. Indeed, there are several sources of information that may negatively…

This editorial discusses two studies in this journal issue that explore mediating functions of coping strategies and social support in long-term outcomes of child abuse and neglect. It is argued that these studies provide empirical evidence of interest to social workers and mental health practitioners by identifying specific factors and strategies…

This editorial comments on a study that compared the self-development of 43 typical preschool children and 155 preschool children who had been maltreated. It found sexually abused, physically abused, and neglected preschool children showed more dissociation than did the typical children. Clinically identifiable dissociation was particularly…

This report, the third annual publication of Iowa Kids Count, proposes that, by building upon effective system of support, and moving decision-making to the family and community level, solutions to the problems confronting today's youth can be found. The first section of this report summarizes the framework paper developed for the Kids Count…

The conference papers included in this monograph discuss topics related to early childhood education. Two keynote addresses by Brian Sutton-Smith are presented along with five sectional presentations by other speakers. The first keynote address, concerning the nature of children's stories: (1) argues that adults use stories to indoctrinate…

This document provides an overview of UNICEF's medium-term strategic plan for the period 2002-2005. Five priorities are detailed to which UNICEF has committed resources: (1) girls' education, completion of a quality primary school education for every girl and boy; (2) early intervention, promotion of integrated early childhood development to…

Based on a study conducted in an intervention program for parents of maltreated children, this book examines the well intended but often ineffective efforts of the child welfare system to prevent maltreatment, as illustrated by the experiences of three parents targeted by the state's child protection agency, and urges more far-reaching policy…

Although Massachusetts ranks in the top 10 percent among states on several key indicators of child well-being, the state's growing incidence of child maltreatment is stark and confounding. This report launches a state call to action aimed at ending child maltreatment through revising and strengthening systems to protect children, providing support…

This report of the Child Welfare League of America calls for a meaningful national strategy to protect and invest in children and their families. The report outlines and documents essential investments, and highlights the costs of deficits and disinvestments in children. Specific actions are proposed to improve the well-being of vulnerable…