The second edition of this successful handbook, edited by well-known
experts in this field, includes core questions in the field of child
abuse and neglect. It addresses major challenges in child maltreatment
work, starting with "What is child abuse and neglect?" and then examines
why maltreatment occurs and what are its consequences. The handbook also
addresses prevention, intervention, investigation, treatment as well as
civil and criminal legal perspectives. It comprehensively studies the
issue from the perspective of a broader, international and
cross-cultural human experience. Apart from a thorough revision of
existing chapters, this edition includes many new chapters covering
recent developments in this area and other issues not covered in the
first edition. There is more focus on substance abuse, psychological
abuse, and on social and community involvement and public health
provisions in the prevention of child maltreatment. The handbook
examines what is known now and more importantly what remains to be
researched in the coming decades to help abused and neglected children,
their families and their communities, thereby taking the field forward.