Thirty-five maltreated children (mean age 36 months) who received treatment in a therapeutic day program had significantly higher developmental scores in five areas -- fine motor, cognitive, gross motor, social/emotional, and language -- than did maltreated children not receiving the treatment. (Author/DB)

Peer abuse in the form of bullying is now recognised as an endemic feature of school life and in terms of impact, outcomes and intervention requirements can be equated with other forms of child abuse. It is argued in the light of data presented here that the parallels between peer abuse and more generally accepted forms of child abuse must be…

This fact sheet uses a question-and-answer format to summarize information on the sexual abuse of people with mental retardation. Questions and answers address the following topics: what sexual abuse is; the incidence of sexual abuse of people with mental retardation; why sexual abuse is so common among people with mental retardation; effects of…

This fact sheet uses a question-and-answer format to summarize what is known about shaken baby syndrome, brain damage resulting from forceful shaking of an infant or young child. Questions and answers address the following topics: what shaken baby syndrome is and other names for the condition; the diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome; the incidence…

This study investigated the effectiveness of the process of mediation in child protection (CP) and the essential aspects which may contribute to developing more effective working relationships with child welfare families. The study focused on neutrality, one of the primary aspects of CP mediation. Interviews were conducted with 17 adult family…

This paper begins by reviewing literature relevant to the history of children of battered women and difficulties in defining domestic violence. Major attempts to explain the behavioral profile of children of battered women include issues related to family characteristics and patterns; effects of family violence on children; links between marital…

Treatment of a child-abusing mother that used parent skill training and videotape feedback eliminated the physical abuse and provided a more appropriate relationship. (Author/SS)

This paper reviews 126 articles published between 1989 and 1994 to investigate the underrepresentation of males in research in the area of physical maltreatment. The problem of underrepresentation was more severe in studies on characteristics of abusive parents and in articles that addressed issues of child abuse prevention and treatment. (CR)

Interviews were conducted with 38 representatives of child protective services in Wales to investigate the balance of prevention, investigation, and treatment in child protection services. Results found that the agencies focused on investigation and ignored treatment services. Recommendations for future child protection services are provided. (CR)

Examines whether sexually abused children can benefit from learning knowledge and skills thought to assist in preventing or escaping sexual abuse. A personal safety program was taught to 13 previously abused children and 13 children with no abuse history. After program participation, both groups of children (ages 3-7) demonstrated significant…

An approach to the treatment of child abuse used in a British clinic involves interventions that block or change destructive family interaction patterns. Real life stress situations are recreated in a multifamily group so that families can find new, nonviolent solutions to everyday problems. (MSE)

This editorial comments on a study showing an association between low parental empathy and high risk for child abuse behaviors in mothers, and urges studies that link maternal emotionality and empathic responsiveness with treatment programs. (DB)

Studied the impact of a group treatment approach in addressing parental aggression. Twenty-nine aggressive parents were treated with a standardized group treatment over the course of 13 weeks. Results indicated that parents, after treatment, reported improvements in their relationships with their children along with less anger. (RJM)

This study assessed the effectiveness of a broad-based psychotherapeutic intervention with about half of a group of 72 children sexually abused at a residential school for the deaf. Findings indicated a powerful treatment effect, with boys and girls differing in the specific areas of improvement following therapy. (Author/DB)

Mothers at risk for child maltreatment who completed a Seattle (Washington) clinic-based parenting program were compared with mothers who dropped out, revealing that dropouts were more likely to be teenaged and African American and to have received low scores on the Home Observation for Measurement of the Environment scale. (Author/DB)