Forensic Dentistry
Introduction Forensic dentistry (forensic odontology) is defined as the study of the face and oral cavity as it pertains to questions of law. Initially the focus was on use of…
Injuries Resulting from Falls
The Medical Workup when Differentiating Falls from Abuse Initial Assessment and Stabilization The initial clinical assessment of the infant or child presenting to the emergency department with the history of…
The Costs of Child Maltreatment
“Ignoring the direct and indirect expenditures associated with attempts to resolve this social problem will not make the task less costly nor will it result in the most efficient practice…
Caring for the Caretakers
Introduction After ten years of work with victims of child abuse, I found myself in a deep clinical depression. I lost interest in food, found no pleasure in gardening, dreaded…
The Essentials of an Effective Child Welfare System
A Brief History of Child Protective Services in the United States The historical underpinnings of child protective services in the United States can be dated to 1874. In 1866 the…
International Issues in Child Maltreatment
Introduction Child abuse and neglect are frequent, perhaps even ordinary, occurrences in most of the world. The World Health Organization estimates that 40 million children under age 15 years around…
The Response of Professional and Other Nonprofit Organizations to Child Maltreatment
Introduction In the United States, the first recorded organizational response to child abuse was made by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Responding to the…
Caring for Foster Children
Introduction UNICEF’s Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes children’s right to the highest attainable standard of health and access to health care services. Foster children, who numbered over…
The Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs When considering sexual abuse prevention, efforts can be directed toward several potential areas of intervention. Referring to the “Four Preconditions Model” proposed by Finkelhor, intervention can…
The Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
Introduction The effects of abuse and neglect can be devastating. No one would disagree that to prevent abuse and neglect from ever occurring is far more preferable than to provide…
