Child Abuse and Neglect: Impact, Assessment and Responses that Support Children within their Caregiving System

When: Friday, January 17 - 9:30 AM

Duration: 1 hours 30 minutes

Location: Zoom

Event Details:

This presentation provides an overview of child abuse and neglect, beginning with prevalence data and the extraordinary risks of maltreatment in infancy and early childhood. Factors that increase risk for maltreatment and the consequences of abuse and neglect on brain systems and early child development will be examined. Professional and ethical practices will be identified.

Child maltreatment occurs, and intervention by child protection services is often necessary. Interventions result in both intended and unintended consequences which must be examined. Interventions must acknowledge the importance of children’s attachment relationships, even with parents who have been abusive and neglectful. Evidence-backed interventions for families of young children will be described, which can help reduce the effects of abuse and the unintended effects of child protection intervention. Principles of infant and early childhood mental health, and practice guidelines that center the young child’s experiences, and include the child’s important caregivers, will be offered.

Learning Objectives
· Identify and describe the types of child abuse and neglect and the prevalence data indicating the greater risk to infants and very young children.
· Review reporting requirements.
· Explain the consequences of child abuse and neglect on brain systems and early child development.
· Describe the unintended consequences of intervention and practice guidelines, including evidence-backed interventions, that reduce the complex effects of maltreatment and child welfare system intervention.