Understanding and Assessing Child Sexual Maltreatment

The field of child sexual abuse has dramatically changed since Understanding Child Sexual Maltreatment was published in 1990. Considerable developments in child and offender research have emerged. But more significantly, a backlash against child abuse victims, Child Protective Services, and mental health professionals has impacted nearly every aspect of research, diagnosis, and intervention.

Understanding and Assessing Child Sexual Maltreatment, Second Edition updates its comprehensive coverage of child sexual abuse definitions and indicators, interview and questioning techniques, and diagnosis guidelines to include an insightful response to the building social backlash against the so-called "child abuse industry." Distinguished scholar and experienced practitioner Kathleen Coulborn Faller applies twenty-five years of clinical experience and state-of-the-art research to offer authoritative guidance to both novice and experience practitioners.

This Second Edition has been extensively revised to include

• A completely rewritten section on data gathering and analysis
• Updated assessment techniques and instruments
• Detailed coverage of post assessment intervention strategies
• Revised chapters that reflect up-to-date research and practice
• Extensive analysis of the backlash against child abuse cases

Understanding and Assessing Child Sexual Maltreatment, Second Edition presents a wealth of practical information and field-tested tools. Author Kathleen Coulborn Faller uses clear language and numerous case studies to address all aspects of child sexual abuse including: the scope of the problem, professional collaboration, data analysis and diagnosis, and sexual abuse in special contexts.

An essential resource for child protection workers, mental health practitioners, lawyers, and law enforcement personnel, Understanding and Assessing Child Sexual Maltreatment, Second Edition is also an ideal supplementary text for graduate courses in child welfare practice, social work, and psychology.

Kathleen Coulborn Faller, Ph.D., A.C.S.W., D.C.S.W., is Professor of Social Work at the University of Michigan. She is also Director of the Family Assessment Clinic, a multidisciplinary team, Principal Investigator of the Interdisciplinary Child Welfare Training Program, Principal Investigator of the Training Program for Child Welfare Supervisors, and Principal Investigator of the Hasbro Early Assessment Project, all at the University of Michigan.

She is author of Social Work with Abused and Neglected Children (The Free Press, 1981), Child Sexual Abuse: An Interdisciplinary Manual for Diagnosis, Case Management, and Treatment (Columbia University Press, 1988), Understanding Child Maltreatment (Sage Publications, 1990), Child Sexual Abuse: Intervention and Treatment Issues (Department of Health and Human Services, 1993), APSAC Study Guide: Evaluating Children Suspected of Having Been Sexually Abused, (Sage Publications, 1996), and Maltreatment in Early Childhood: Tools for Research-based Intervention (Haworth Press, 2000),and approximately 45 research and practice based articles on child abuse and neglect.

She was a member of the Board of Directors of the American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children for six years and of its Executive Board for five years and is presently a member of the APSAC Advisory Board and Co-chair of the Guidelines Task Forces.