Written from a criminal justice perspective, the report on child abuse intervention provides a model system that emphasizes prompt medical treatment for the child and due process for both parents and children. The authors recommend that court action take the form of a civil proceeding whenever possible. Part I provides a framework for the…

Discusses responses of, as well as treatments for, the victim, the offender, and the family involved with incestuous abuse, and contends that nonaccusatory but firm intervention is preferable to prosecution in achieving primary prevention and rehabilitation. (BR)

Presents and critiques descriptive and demographic data, theories of etiology, and effects of sexual abuse on the child's development. A two-level framework is presented that delineates seven role functions which will promote an effective response on the part of school psychologists. (Author/KS)

Changes across time were compared for 31 abused and high risk children and for two comparison groups. Residential treatment was associated with restored physical development, slightly depressed motor ability, maintained mental functioning, and significantly improved mother-baby interaction scores. Socioeconomic status had a greater effect than…

This article is designed to help school psychologists: (1) identify victims of child abuse; (2) interview a victim and the victim's parents; (3) know who to notify when sexual abuse is suspected; and (4) identify suggested intervention and treatment approaches that are appropriate in the practice of school psychology. (Author/PN)

This study evaluated a sexual abuse prevention program ("Who Do You Tell?") for elementary grade students with 117 program participants and 114 students in a wait-list control condition. Program participants increased their knowledge of both "inappropriate touch" and "appropriate touch," more than control group children. Age also differentiated…

This study, with 60 medical students and 15 pediatricians, found that a delay in seeking medical attention and an explanation for the presenting injuries that was discrepant from the physical findings impacted the identification and reporting of child abuse. Positive correlations were found between identification and reporting of abuse. (CR)

A study of 293 child abuse reports was conducted to determine if the age of the abused child affected caseworker attention. It was found that younger children received more overall services and caseworker activity and that the substantiated cases of younger children were more likely to be kept open for continuing caseworker involvement. (CR)

This article examines three motives for research into Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy child abuse, which are to enhance treatment, to understand the psychopathology of perpetrators, and to find interventions to prevent its occurrence. It argues that only the first justification is valid and proposes that research energy be directed toward…

Discusses the multiple determinants of abusive treatment of children in terms of factors inside and outside the family. Also describes intervention models, including child-focused, early childhood, later childhood, parent-focused, and sociocultural interventions. (RJC)

Reviews the child abuse cases in India under categories based on different forms of child abuse, marital issues involved, parent child interactions, social and psychological characteristics, trends associated with the abused children, and remedial measures. Concludes with an emphasis on the need for empirical data on the extent and nature of child…

Discusses the legal context of child protective services that provides the framework for all inquiries and knowledge-building in the field. From this foundation, analyzes the definition of a child protective services case, describes who is served by the system, evaluates current system functioning, and identifies outcome measures. Makes…

Analysis of records of dependency and criminal filings in 833 substantiated intrafamilial child abuse and neglect cases in 3 U.S. cities indicated that legal intervention was rare, with dependency filings and prosecutions in just 21% and 4% of the sample, respectively, although treatment plans and out-of-home placements occurred more frequently.…

A typology of physically abusive parents was developed based upon personality characteristics measured by the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire. Cluster analysis revealed five distinct patterns, with differences among clusters in age, education, number of children, number of parents involved in abuse, and other variables. Possible treatment…

This investigation of 172 families at risk for child maltreatment examined whether entry-level family functioning and problems had an impact on length of time in treatment and the improvement or deterioration of family functioning over time. Significant differences were found among families either situationally stressed, chronically stressed,…