BookJack C. Westman.
Summary: This thought-provoking volume defines child abuse and neglect as a public health crisis, both in terms of injuries and mental health problems and as a link to poverty and other negative social outcomes. The author identifies key factors contributing to this situation—in particular juvenile ageism, the pervasive othering of children and youth—coupled with the assumption of parental competence until severe abuse or neglect proves otherwise. The book’s practical answers to these complex issues involve recognizing and balancing the rights of parents and children, and responding to the diverse needs of new, competent, and dysfunctional families. To this end, a comprehensive prevention model is outlined, featuring primary, secondary, and tertiary interventions.
Contents:
Introduction
How are children in the United States doing?
Child abuse and neglect in the United States
Child sexual abuse
Juvenile ageism
Dynamics of juvenile ageism
Categories of juvenile ageism
The impact of juvenile ageism on individuals
The devaluation of parenthood
The rights and needs of newborn babies and young children
The rights of parents
Overcoming our crisis-recoil response
The parent-society contract
What should we do?
Barriers to change and hope for the future.