Examines the basic tenets of a l983 Texas law permitting videotaped interviews of child victims of abuse to be admissible in civil and criminal proceedings. Discusses how the law is being implemented and how it protects legal rights of child victims, alleged perpetrators, and society at large. (Author/NH)

It is important for school administrators and teachers to recognize the signs and symptoms of child abuse--physical, sexual, and emotional. Principals need to promote the awareness of child abuse with the faculty, and promptly report all cases to the appropriate agencies. References, lists of films and videocassettes, and information sources are…

Provides a cost effectiveness analysis specifically applied to a child abuse and neglect treatment program, describing the limitations of an economic analysis and suggesting methods to combat these limitations. (MP)

Staff of the Sexual Abuse Treatment Program of the Baltimore City Department of Social Services concluded that the objective of family reconstitution was not appropriate to the entire client population being served. Family characteristics are reported that present obstacles to the goal of reunification of sexually abusive families. (Author/RH)

Argues that some institutional abuse of children is caused by frustrated attempts to treat children who are not treatable due to their extensively damaging life experiences. Suggests that first, the existence of such children should be recognized, and second, that some minimal care facilities should be adapted for housing them. (Author/GC)

Investigates the roles and problems of siblings of incest victims, describes the dynamics of the incestuous family, and identifies some behavior problems of children whose siblings were incest victims. Data from two siblings' lives are presented to illustrate points. (Author/DB)

This editorial reviews and comments on three recent studies: two on assessment issues or areas of diagnostic difficulty for pediatricians concerned with child abuse and neglect, and one on the long-term effects of childhood abuse and experiences of early attachment. (DB)

Sees it as essential that school counselors have understanding of roles they must play when they suspect child abuse. Asserts that counselors can help make turmoil that follows a report more bearable if they understand their roles. Considers roles of informant, counselor to the victim or perpetrator, employee, liaison with others, court witness,…

Recommends that counselors familiarize themselves with symptoms of sexual abuse survivors to assist such clients with disclosure. Notes need for counselors to have special sensitivity to provide safe environment in which survivors can examine the impact of abuse on their lives, explore their feelings, and resolve the trauma. Recommends eclectic…

Notes that some children emerge from traumatic, abusive experience with a resilience that enables them to survive and to cope with the stress. Contends that these resilient adolescents provide an untapped resource for peer counseling programs. Describes peer counseling and discusses skill development, training, and personal growth associated with…

Responds to previous article by Fincham, Beach, Moore, and Diener (this issue) on child sexual abuse. Focuses on importance of recognizing that attempts to reduce probability of false claims of child abuse would result in increasing probability of missing true claims of child abuse. Offers hypothesis-testing framework as useful heuristic for…

Proposed is a system of flexible options for the mandated reporting of child abuse and neglect, to improve compliance with and reduce burdens on the child protective system. Potential benefits and drawbacks of the plan, which would identify and train "registered reporters" and offer the option of explicit deferred investigation, are…

The law enforcement perspective concerning the credibility and truthfulness of allegations of ritual child sexual abuse is discussed. The differences in levels of proof needed by parents, therapists, social workers, and police are described. (BRM)

Five models of children's rights are described, with special emphasis on a model supporting the position that children's rights are a necessary condition for national development. The need to offer legislative protection for children and enable them to practice making responsible choices is discussed. (JDD)

Maintains that investigations of abuse of children in group care settings rely heavily on ex post facto interviewing of children and staff. Describes the role of the child advocate, or ombudsmen, in guaranteeing children's rights in the treatment center. Discusses indices of plausibility as the basis for reliable inferences in the absence of…