Publisher's Synopsis
Recent reports issued by the U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect highlighted the scope of the problem of abuse and neglect in the United States; according to the 1995 report, five children die every day from child abuse. However, research from the Centers for Disease Control suggests that these statistics for fatal child abuse are likely lower than the actual incidence due to misclassification of many child deaths.
Historically, psychologists have been active in several aspects of the national agenda for protection of children, but probably none more so than the contribution of new knowledge through research. However, prior to 1991, there was no organized group of professionals who were designated to evaluate the state of our psychological knowledge base in child abuse and neglect, and to identify existing gaps in knowledge. The American Psychological Association (APA) Coordinating Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect grew out of just such a need.
This supplement's articles are based on comprehensive reports of the Coordinating Committee and its working groups. These reports provide a synthesis of the current empirical research and knowledge base on prevention of maltreatment; treatment of the children who have been abused or neglected, as well as the perpetrators; legal issues related to child abuse and neglect; and recommendations for the education and training of psychologists.
More specifically, major discussions include: the positive and negative aspects of reporting child abuse; the emotional effects of legal involvement; children as witnesses and the accuracy of their testimony; preparing children for the legal process; the roles of psychologists; and specific ways in which the APA can promote the education of both the public and mental health practitioners. The articles in this supplement provide an overview of the state of our knowledge about prevention, treatment, and legal issues, but also remind us that there is a great need for more research.
