Understanding Abusive Families: An Ecological Approach to Theory and Practice - Hardcover

"A well-written, carefully edited book that offers a new way of conceptualizing child abuse. It is a book well suited for college courses, training programs, and practicing clinicians and should be required reading for politicians and policy makers." (Psychiatric Services) "In an accessible style that incorporates clinical vignettes to illustrate concepts, these authors have made an important and lasting contribution to our understanding of child abuse. Understanding Abusive Families will be an important addition to the libraries of all who are interested in understanding child maltreatment and in protecting the most vulnerable members of society?our children." (Dante Cicchetti, Ph.D., University of Rochester, Mt. Hope Family Center) "Understanding Abusive Families presents a useful overview of the child abuse problem and a cogent plea to stop doing business as usual. If we heeded this plea as a nation, we could begin to help children get beyond the scars of abuse." (Anne Cohn Donnelly, executive director, National Committee to Prevent Child Abuse) "A comprehensive, well-documented, and clarifying study of an important issue. Offers thoughtful recommAndations for both prevention and intervention. Anyone interested in vulnerable children and adolescents will find something of use in this volume." (Donald Cohen, director, Yale University Child Study Center, and Jean Adnopoz, associate clinical professor, Yale University Child Study Center) "An invaluable resource. Provides an important view of families within a broader context--within the real world in which they live. This comprehensive perspective can help improve our ability to protect children, support families, and prevent child maltreatment." (Deanne Tilton Durfee, executive director, Los Angeles County Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect)

An up-to-date analysis of the factors contributing to abuse This newly revised edition of a classic in the field of child abuse and neglect presents effective guidelines for prevention, protection, and rehabilitation. Compelling and compassionate, this book explores why and how families become abusive. It then offers both the wisdom and specific clinical interventions that will aid in the understanding of abuser and victim. Understanding Abusive Families offers cutting-edge information and prescriptions for change reagrding: the patterns of incidence and prevalence the community context of child abuse and the issue of social support psychological and sexual maltreatment child abuse in institutional families the special issues involved in adolescent maltreatment