The Encyclopedia of Child Abuse (Facts on File Library of Health and Living) - Hardcover

This resource on child abuse contains more than 400 entries discussing the characteristics and causes of abuse, its impact on children, various types of abuse, treatments for both the abused and the abuser, and other social and legal issues surrounding the topic. The previous edition was published in 2000. The introduction is a must-read for anyone unfamiliar with this area of study, since it provides background and context. Among the new entries in this edition are Adults abused as children, effects of; Bullying; and Clergy, sexual abuse by. Other entries, such as Fetal alcohol syndrome, Foster care, and Sexual trafficking, have been extensively rewritten. In the preface, the authors outline their scope of coverage, including what they describe as child abuse and neglect from an international perspective. However, this is not the case; beyond the U.S., few countries outside of Europe and eastern Asia are described. Much of the information on these coutnries comes from the Country Reports on Human Right Practices or other U.S. State Department documents. Concise bibliographies containing landmark studies and more recent articles, a detailed index, and excellent cross-references are among the strong points of this encyclopedia. Also valuable are the revised and added appendixes. These include contact information for federal, state, and nonprofit organizations on child abuse, in addition to other resources. A new appendix, State-by-State Grounds for Involuntary Termination of Parental Rights, 2005, is very clear and concise, much like the rest of the text, although it lacks the citations to state statutes found in the entries. State Definitions of Abuse and Neglect is also new. This encyclopedia is suitable for public and academic libraries because of its readability and thorough coverage of issues and topics related to child abuse. The added and revised entries and the updated references make replacing the second edition worthwhile. If a more international scope is needed, it can be supplemented with Combatting Child Abuse: International Perspectives and Trends (Oxford, 1997). Mastel, Kristen

"...a comprehensive survey of child abuse that will be of use in high-school, public, and academic libraries as well as professional collections..." - Booklist "The broad selection and thorough, concise coverage of terms make this volume an excellent addition to programs that focus on child welfare, education, and social concerns." - Choice"