"A beautiful foreword by Eliana Gil and a very helpful preface and introduction by the editor, Lisa Aronson Fontes, elucidate the many ways in which culture is relevant to sexual abuse. They set the personal tone and the fresh scholarly information that characterizes the chapters. The reader is treated to an impressive, state-of-the-art array of ideas on culture that opens new avenues for inquiry. The book also offers a new repertoire of rituals and healing practices, such as 'sitting shiva' to deal with the losses of sexual abuse for the Jewish family, or a version of 'dusmic' (a term coined by Nuyorican poets) strength to empower Puerto Rican clients. . . . From a practical point of view, this book belongs on the office shelf of all individual and family therapists. They will obtain rich guidance about treatment approaches, therapist-client cultural matching, and prevention strategies that are both more humane and more effective because they are culturally attuned and deepen the knowledge of the cultural context of abuse." --Celia Jaes Falicov in Journal of Marriage and Family Therapy (forthcoming issue) "The overall effect of this edited volume reflects a sense of unity and teamwork. The writing is thorough and thought-provoking. It maintains consistency and originality, while presenting individual issues about the influence of unique cultural factors in working with abuse survivors." --Paula T. McWhirter in Contemporary Psychology "This volume of original chapters is an important contribution to understanding the relationship between culture and child sexual abuse. Lisa Aronson Fontes has edited a thought-provoking collection of papers along with an excellent foreword by Eliana Gil. . . . This book has much to recommend it, not only to the clinician to whom it is geared, but also to the researcher, the policy maker, and the wider community concerned with child sexual abusee." --Jill E. Korbin in Child Abuse & Neglect "The book makes an important contribution to cross-cultural awareness and widens the limited knowledge base about child sexual abuse within the cultural groups concerned. . . . The text promotes 'an ecosystemic approach to sexual abuse' that takes into account individual, familial, cultural, and societal factors. Therapists, protective workers, and law enforcers, as well as legal, medical, and school personnel and policymakers should find this book a useful tool." --Fred Seligman in READINGS: A Journal of Reviews and Commentary in Mental Health How can we best prevent and treat sexual abuse in diverse populations? Cultural and linguistic misunderstandings, racism, and even homophobia sometimes lead professionals to mishandle issues of sexual abuse. This volume breaks new ground in suggesting ways in which cultural norms can be used to protect children and promote recovery from sexual abuse. It contains information that can be applied to people from all groups as well as nine solution-focused chapters on sexual abuse in the following specific groups: African Americans, Asian Americans, Anglo Americans, Puerto Ricans, Cambodians, Seventh Day Adventists, Jews, gay men, and lesbian women. Sexual Abuse in Nine North American Cultures is the first major work to address cultural issues in family violence. It is essential reading for advanced students, therapists, protective workers, sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, attorneys, police, educators, and others interested in adults and children who have been sexually abused. "Sexual Abuse in Nine North American Cultures has been masterfully sculpted to give us individual perceptions of cultures by professionals who were influenced by and who currently provide services to families and communities in distress. . . . This volume is provocative, personal, and professional; it is both abstract and concrete. It struggles with how to discuss the diversity within cultures without wavering from its overall goal of providing basic historical premises for diverse cultures. . . . It also provides an uncharacteristic view of culture that reaches beyond race and ethnicity. . . . The contribution of the book is not only in the information it so aptly presents but also in the way it encourages the reader to think and in the assertion that clinicians must enlighten and empower themselves when working cross-culturally, approaching issues of culture with rigorous attention and sensitivity." --from the Foreword by Eliana Gil "By drawing on these resources, clinicians optimize their chances of meeting their stated goal: to be of assistance to families so that the quality of their lives is improved and children are safe and nurtured." --from the Foreword by Eliana Gil ***PRESS RELEASE*** The sexual abuse of children poses surprisingly different problems among different cultural groups, a groundbreaking new book reveals. Sexual abuse should not be treated with "generic" approaches based on the lives of white middle-class European American Christians, according to Dr. Lisa Aronson Fontes, editor of Sexual Abuse in Nine North Amarican Cultures. For example, the book points out that African American mothers tend to believe a daughter's complaint about sexual abuse more readily than white mothers, whereas Asian mothers are more likely to think their daughter is lying. In this volume, Dr. Fontes, Assistant Professor of Family Therapy at Purdue University, assembles nine original chapters by experts who treat sexual abuse in their own cultures. The chapter on Asian Americans says these families reject children's reports of sexual abuse most often because the entire family "loses face" with the disclosure, and the victims' mothers are exceptionally dependent on their menfolk. In one study of 60 Asian American families in which incest was disclosed, only four mothers separated from their perpetrator husbands. Seventh Day Adventists and members of other evangelical religions have "high rates of sexual child abuse," according to another chapter, because these religions stress the "subjugation of women and children to the man of the house." If a girl discloses abuse, evangelical church members may blame her for immodest dress or seductive behavior. She is instructed to forgive her abuser and "talk to God, not outsiders." According to the chapter on Hispanic American families, these families may suffer from a "machismo/marianismo" double standard. A Latina female must be chaste and self-sacrificing like the Virgin Mary, while the code of machismo may prompt a Latino male to consume excessive alcohol and "constantly signal his sexual availability." Young girls who lose their virginity through rape or abuse are sometimes considered "loose" and later revictimized by another family member. The chapter on White Anglo-Saxon Protestants says that victims are often disbelieved because of "denial, isolation, and secrecy" and WASP insistence that "nothing bad ever happens in our family." The WASP tradition of freedom and individualism makes some WASP men believe that satisfying their own needs at the expense of others is a "moral right." And it makes victims feel "responsible for everything that happens to them." Professor Fontes says sexual abuse is tacitly supported by cultures that "idealize innocent female bodies and portray aging female bodies as spoiled or repugnant." But she warns that abuse is found in all U.S. cultures at all social and economic levels. She adds that "every culture has attitudes, beliefs, and practices that seem to put children at risk for sexual abuse, and others that seem to protect them." Sexual Abuse in Nine North American Cultures: Treatment and Prevention is available for $22.95 plus $2 handling charge from Sage Publications, Inc., 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320-2218. NOTE: Dr. Fontes may be reached for interviews at (317) 494-1833.

?Although targeted for adolescents, this book may be helpful with some adult survivors as well. . . . Written in simple, clear, and direct language, this book is ideally suited for its audience. Chapters are short, concise, and informative, with a gentle, casual writing style. This book avoids the use of research, clinical information, or jargon and is neither repetitious nor tedious. The examples peppered throughout the book add to its interest. The book itself is small and pocket-sized and is easily tucked away into a backpack, purse, etc. This may be a very useful little book for both survivors and therapists working with adolescents.? --Coalition Commentary (Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault) "The Survivor's Guide could be either used in planning sessions or actually read in individual therapy, group work, or family work, each of its short chapters stimulating further exploration. Additionally, family members and professionals who work with teenagers could develop more of an understanding of the effects of sexual abuse by reading this book. For teachers, there is a useful Appendix, highlighting the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder on learning in the classroom. Overall, The Survivor's Guide is a useful addition to the resources available for clinical work with children and adolescents who have been sexually abused." --Andy Player in Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry "The contents are well laid out and well thought through. They cover every problem that sexual abuse survivors have presented to me and more. The book is very readable and very calming and reassuring. I think that this is an excellent educational guide for any client who has experienced sexual abuse. Their clinician would do well to have this book at hand, not only to appreciate more the world of the sexual abuse survivor but also to convey quickly and effectively to such a survivor that they appreciate their world." --Thomas Shortall in Counselling Psychology Review "The book provides important and complex information about the impact of sexual assault in a manner and style that appeals to teens and thus would be recommended, read, and used by them. The author knows how to speak 'teen' and translates the complicated dynamics of the impact of sexual abuse into their language." --Beverly James, Children's Advocacy Center, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Sensitive, supportive, and written specifically for adolescent readers, The Survivor's Guide provides detailed information on the common effects of sexual abuse on the survivor, encourages the survivor to seek help--if she hasn't already--and introduces the concept of recovery. This book's format makes it easy to use as a part of an adolescent therapy group, but it works equally well one-to-one. Sharice A. Lee, who has worked with adolescent survivors of sexual abuse for several years in a number of settings, helps the reader to cease blaming herself and let go of the "bad kid" stigma that survivors often keenly feel. Real examples of adolescents' experiences regarding the effects of sexual abuse draw the reader in and help her relate the concepts to her own personal experience. Adolescent survivors who have used the book found the examples invaluable in bringing the concepts to life, making it clear that the survivor is not alone and that there are people who understand what it's like to go through this type of trauma. A vocabulary is also introduced to the reader, enabling her to better communicate her experiences and feelings to others. In addition to group and individual therapy facilitators, The Survivor's Guide is a valuable tool for school counselors and social workers dealing with sexually abused teenage girls. Juvenile corrections and law enforcement personnel also can use this book to reach out to those girls who are not in counseling.

Richard M. Lerner's work presents a powerful and emotive treatise on the crisis facing America's youth. Drawing on a wide range of statistical evidence to support his arguments, he graphically demonstrates the risks of drug and alcohol abuse, unsafe sexual practices, teenage pregnancy, school drop out and academic underachievement, delinquency, crime, and violence facing American youth at historically unprecedented levels. . . . This is an authoritative, well-researched piece of work that takes a refreshing and positive look to the future of action research in collaboration with empowered communities to provide for needs and treasure the community resources that have in the past been paid scant attention. America's Youth in Crisis is both forward thinking and imaginative and will challenge researchers, policymakers, and practitioners faced with the crisis of American youth. --Heather Leitch in Journal of Adolescence "Lerner's work presents a powerful and emotive treatise on the crisis facing America's youth. Drawing on a wide range of statistical evidence to support his arguments he graphically demonstrates the risks of drug and alcohol abuse, unsafe sexual practices, teenage pregnancy, school drop-out and academic under-achievement, deliquency, crime and violence facing American youth at historically unprecedented levels. Lerner calls for a comprehensive and integrated national policy on youth to address these risk factors which he sees as threatening the very fabric of American society. This is an authoritative, well-researched piece of work which takes a refreshing and positive look to the future of action research in collaboration with empowered communities to provide the needs, and treasure the community resources which have in the past been paid scant attention. It is both forward-thinking and imaginative and will challenge researchers, policy-makers and practitioners faced with crisis of American youth." --Heather Leitch in Journal of Adolescence Our nation's youth are at risk for drug and alcohol abuse, unsafe sexual practices, teen pregnancy, academic underachievement, delinquency, and crime and violence. What can be done to prevent these problems from occurring? Outlining a vigorous "call to arms," this volume describes the steps needed to overcome these potential problems by enhancing academic researchers' responsiveness to the needs of the community and encouraging them to apply the results of research findings to community outreach. After reviewing the problems that beset today's youth, Lerner offers a model, developmental contextualism, that provides a theoretical framework for viewing child and adolescent development in relation to specific features of environmental "context" such as family, neighborhood, society, culture, etc. This model is used to describe the problems and the potentials that are associated with the bidirectional relationships between youth and their contexts. Lerner asserts that by altering the context in which youth live, researchers can test the effectiveness of policies and/or programs in creating desired changes in children's and adolescents' behavior and development. Researchers and practitioners interested in child and adolescent development, family studies, child and family policy, and program evaluation will find this thought-provoking book useful in their studies and programs. "Brief and often abstract, the book first describes the crises facing America's children and adolescents... The ideas proposed by Lerner could transform programs for America's youth and revitalize applied research." --Choice "One of the nation's most eminent developmental psychologists has applied his mastery of adolescent research and theory to a new challenge. In America's Youth in Crisis he focuses his attention on solutions, showing how research and outreach come together in successful prevention programs." --Graham B. Spanier, Chancellor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Richard M. Lerner's work presents a powerful and emotive treatise on the crisis facing America's youth. Drawing on a wide range of statistical evidence to support his arguments, he graphically demonstrates the risks of drug and alcohol abuse, unsafe sexual practices, teenage pregnancy, school drop out and academic underachievement, delinquency, crime, and violence facing American youth at historically unprecedented levels. . . . This is an authoritative, well-researched piece of work that takes a refreshing and positive look to the future of action research in collaboration with empowered communities to provide for needs and treasure the community resources that have in the past been paid scant attention. America's Youth in Crisis is both forward thinking and imaginative and will challenge researchers, policymakers, and practitioners faced with the crisis of American youth. --Heather Leitch in Journal of Adolescence "Lerner's work presents a powerful and emotive treatise on the crisis facing America's youth. Drawing on a wide range of statistical evidence to support his arguments he graphically demonstrates the risks of drug and alcohol abuse, unsafe sexual practices, teenage pregnancy, school drop-out and academic under-achievement, deliquency, crime and violence facing American youth at historically unprecedented levels. Lerner calls for a comprehensive and integrated national policy on youth to address these risk factors which he sees as threatening the very fabric of American society. This is an authoritative, well-researched piece of work which takes a refreshing and positive look to the future of action research in collaboration with empowered communities to provide the needs, and treasure the community resources which have in the past been paid scant attention. It is both forward-thinking and imaginative and will challenge researchers, policy-makers and practitioners faced with crisis of American youth." --Heather Leitch in Journal of Adolescence Our nation's youth are at risk for drug and alcohol abuse, unsafe sexual practices, teen pregnancy, academic underachievement, delinquency, and crime and violence. What can be done to prevent these problems from occurring? Outlining a vigorous "call to arms," this volume describes the steps needed to overcome these potential problems by enhancing academic researchers' responsiveness to the needs of the community and encouraging them to apply the results of research findings to community outreach. After reviewing the problems that beset today's youth, Lerner offers a model, developmental contextualism, that provides a theoretical framework for viewing child and adolescent development in relation to specific features of environmental "context" such as family, neighborhood, society, culture, etc. This model is used to describe the problems and the potentials that are associated with the bidirectional relationships between youth and their contexts. Lerner asserts that by altering the context in which youth live, researchers can test the effectiveness of policies and/or programs in creating desired changes in children's and adolescents' behavior and development. Researchers and practitioners interested in child and adolescent development, family studies, child and family policy, and program evaluation will find this thought-provoking book useful in their studies and programs. "Brief and often abstract, the book first describes the crises facing America's children and adolescents... The ideas proposed by Lerner could transform programs for America's youth and revitalize applied research." --Choice "One of the nation's most eminent developmental psychologists has applied his mastery of adolescent research and theory to a new challenge. In America's Youth in Crisis he focuses his attention on solutions, showing how research and outreach come together in successful prevention programs." --Graham B. Spanier, Chancellor, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

A valuable sourcebook for individuals interested in the tragedy of child abuse, Children and Adolescents in Need is a practical legal primer that looks at the complex and varied issues besetting child abuse. --Edelman Children's Court Newsletter, Monterey Park, California The vulnerability of children becomes tragically apparent when they are neglected and abused by those persons most intimately responsible for their well-being. When this occurs, and parents are judged incapable of adequately providing for the critical needs of a child, the responsibility for determining "best interest" falls to the community legal system. In some instances--even before birth--legal principles, statutes, and case law are shaping the decisions that will profoundly affect the lives of these young human beings. With compassion and practicality, Children and Adolescents in Need looks at the complex issues surrounding these decisions and discusses the challenges faced by people involved in providing the resources these special children need to anticipate a future with hope and confidence. The poignant clarity of Children and Adolescents in Need makes it an excellent sourcebook for mental health practitioners, volunteer child advocates, and students in clinical training. Case studies explore the effort required to coordinate multi-disciplinary services to achieve long term positive impact on the "whole" child.

For the beginning case worker or those who wish to know about the relevant issues without necessarily becoming directly involved, this little book provides a useful introduction. --Child & Family Behavior Therapy "The language is conversational, the style directive, addressing the reader personally and the instructions are explicit and stepwise. Following detailed preparation for the interview, there are good suggestions on how to help the child begin talking about any sexual abuse which she might have experienced. Avoidance of leading questions, with examples, is repeatedly advocated." --Danya Glaser in ACPP Review & Newsletter Taking a comprehensive look at a complex task, How to Interview Sexual Abuse Victims is an excellent introduction to the process of interviewing children and includes a special segment on the appropriate use of anatomical dolls. Marcia Morgan, cocreator of the dolls, walks the reader through an interview from beginning to end and provides information on how to create an environment intended to minimize the child's trauma as well as enhance the amount, quality, and validity of information obtained. The book examines problems professionals might encounter with young children and material on preinterview preparation. In addition, there are sections included that provide training exercises, a glossary, an annotated bibliography, and a listing of audiovisual resources. Based on the author's many years of experience, as well as case law, How to Interview Sexual Abuse Victims is ideally designed for use by professionals including police, social service workers, and prosecutors. "Overall, this brief book is a worthwhile contribution to the literature on the interviewing of child witnesses. . . . Those who use, or who are considering using, dolls should ensure that they are familiar with this book's contents." --Ray Bull, review in Expert Evidence: The International Digest of Human Behaviour Science and Law "Highly recommended." --Family Violence & Sexual Assault Bulletin Book Club

A valuable sourcebook for individuals interested in the tragedy of child abuse, Children and Adolescents in Need is a practical legal primer that looks at the complex and varied issues besetting child abuse. --Edelman Children's Court Newsletter, Monterey Park, California The vulnerability of children becomes tragically apparent when they are neglected and abused by those persons most intimately responsible for their well-being. When this occurs, and parents are judged incapable of adequately providing for the critical needs of a child, the responsibility for determining "best interest" falls to the community legal system. In some instances--even before birth--legal principles, statutes, and case law are shaping the decisions that will profoundly affect the lives of these young human beings. With compassion and practicality, Children and Adolescents in Need looks at the complex issues surrounding these decisions and discusses the challenges faced by people involved in providing the resources these special children need to anticipate a future with hope and confidence. The poignant clarity of Children and Adolescents in Need makes it an excellent sourcebook for mental health practitioners, volunteer child advocates, and students in clinical training. Case studies explore the effort required to coordinate multi-disciplinary services to achieve long term positive impact on the "whole" child.

For the beginning case worker or those who wish to know about the relevant issues without necessarily becoming directly involved, this little book provides a useful introduction. --Child & Family Behavior Therapy "The language is conversational, the style directive, addressing the reader personally and the instructions are explicit and stepwise. Following detailed preparation for the interview, there are good suggestions on how to help the child begin talking about any sexual abuse which she might have experienced. Avoidance of leading questions, with examples, is repeatedly advocated." --Danya Glaser in ACPP Review & Newsletter Taking a comprehensive look at a complex task, How to Interview Sexual Abuse Victims is an excellent introduction to the process of interviewing children and includes a special segment on the appropriate use of anatomical dolls. Marcia Morgan, cocreator of the dolls, walks the reader through an interview from beginning to end and provides information on how to create an environment intended to minimize the child's trauma as well as enhance the amount, quality, and validity of information obtained. The book examines problems professionals might encounter with young children and material on preinterview preparation. In addition, there are sections included that provide training exercises, a glossary, an annotated bibliography, and a listing of audiovisual resources. Based on the author's many years of experience, as well as case law, How to Interview Sexual Abuse Victims is ideally designed for use by professionals including police, social service workers, and prosecutors. "Overall, this brief book is a worthwhile contribution to the literature on the interviewing of child witnesses. . . . Those who use, or who are considering using, dolls should ensure that they are familiar with this book's contents." --Ray Bull, review in Expert Evidence: The International Digest of Human Behaviour Science and Law "Highly recommended." --Family Violence & Sexual Assault Bulletin Book Club

"Although the book is about murder. Heide does not limit herself to purely individual or family-based analysis. She is interested in connecting all the factors which lead to these tragic situations, in good and bad parenting and in social reform. It is this breadth of analysis which makes the book so readable and so useful." --Judith Bevan in ACCO Child Psychology & Psychiatry Review "This book is a compassionate examination of adolescent patricide offenders (APO's) in the United States of America. It could be commended to anyone interested in how children are initiated into society." --Joanna Adler, University of Kent at Canterbury Kathleen Heide's sensitive and important account of family life gone wrong examines the shocking phenomenon of adolescents who kill their parents. Using actual case studies and a careful analysis of FBI data, Kathleen M. Heide discusses the motivations and backgrounds of these troubled adolescents, and what emerges is a tragic portrait--the adolescent murderer is almost always a terrified victim of severe child abuse, neglect, and dysfunctional parenting who kills out of desperation. Drawing upon her skill and experience as a scholar, clinician, and expert witness, Heide asserts that a combination of five interconnected problems creates the conditions for parricide: The youth is raised in a chemically dependent or otherwise dysfunctional family; the child is severely abused sexually, physically, and/or verbally; violence in the child's family escalates; the youth becomes increasingly vulnerable to stressors in the home environment; and the child has ready access to a firearm. Why Kids Kill Parents begins with a foreword by notable criminologist Hans Toch, and concludes with an examination of types of intervention that are effective in treating severely abused children who kill their parents. Heide proposes ways in which the media and the educational system can prevent child abuse and parricide by fostering functional families and mitigating the effects of dysfunctional ones. Why Kids Kill Parents is essential reading for all those who care about the nurturing of children and families in today's society, as well as professionals in juvenile justice, criminology, law, mental health, education, and youth advocacy. "Heide's book offers an integrative understanding of both the dysfunctional family and child who kills. Of particular interest to clinicians is the chapter on assessment. This volume is the most comprehensive resource found on children who kill." --Youth Violence "The resolution of such questions as `What is a just response to a parricide by an abused child?' is a societal one. Our society permits divergent ideas (and data) to surface and to compete for adoption. In such a system a scientist and clinician such as Kathleen Heide can play a precious role. The work summarized in Why Kids Kill Parents is a testament to this role. It is also a credit to its author, who cares about ameliorating suffering and reducing despair." --from the Foreword by Hans Toch "Why Kids Kill Parents contains a goldmine of material for diverse theoretical and practical applications, from aggression theory and legal analysis to specific, practical suggestions for therapy. Kathleen Heide has produced a valuable resource that, I hope and expect, will become a model for similar investigations and serve as a foundation for rational policy development." --Carolyn Rebecca Block, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Women & Criminal Justice Vol. 6 No. 2 1995 "I have read Dr. Heide's book, Why Kids Kill Parents, and believe it is the best available book on the topic. . . . Unlike the other books on this topic, Why Kids Kill Parents indicates a comprehensive knowledge of the prior literature and of the frequency and pattern of juvenile homicide. No other book covers etiology and treatment. Dr. Heide is a scientist, advocate, and clinician, and her book reflects all these perspectives." --William Willbanks, Florida International University "In an unprecedented fashion, Kathleen Heide offers comprehensive definitions of childhood maltreatment that delineate the nature and scope of various types of abuse and neglect, which the adolescent parricide offender endures in a family where violence is all too common an experience. . . . This book is a must-read for all professionals who are involved in the care of and in contact with children and adolescents." --Susan Crimmins, MSW, Clinical Social Worker and Researcher, Journal of Contemporary Criminal Justice Vol. 9 No. 2 1993 "It is easy to see why this book has captured a commendable degree of media attention. It is well-written, fascinating in fact, so it is extremely interesting to read. Underlying this is a crucial observation, that Kathleen Heide's work has been well-received within legal, clinical, and other professional circles--that it has affected and is likely to have further implications for the way that adolescent parricide offenders are handled by the courts." --Patricia Van Voorhis, Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati

This well-written book covers both practical aspects of investigation and the theoretical underpinnings. Starting with ideas for team building, the volume offers concrete guidance about the most effective structures available to teams. . . . This volume will be of interest to those wishing to start a team and also to existing team members who want assistance with optimizing team development. --Virginia Child Protection Newsletter "Highly recommended." --Family Violence & Sexual Assault Bulletin Book Club As child abuse investigation and intervention evolved throughout the past decade, it has become clear that no single discipline or agency can meet the needs of abused children and their families. This practical, timely, and accessibly written book focuses on how to develop, operate, and maintain effective investigative teams. It examines how law enforcement officers, child protection workers, prosecutors, medical professionals, and mental health clinicians can form coordinated investigative teams for fact finding, child protection, and criminal prosecution. The authors devote a series of chapters to investigative interviewing, investigative protocol, preparing for the child interview, the child interview process, corroborating interviews, and interviewing the suspect. Other chapters include discussion on building teams, and the roles and responsibilities of the team members (child protective services, law enforcement, prosecutors, mental health representative, and child welfare agency counsel). The book concludes with two important chapters on the team decision-making process and decision making in complex environments. A must read for all professionals and those in training who are, or will be, involved in child sexual abuse investigations.

This courageous and powerful book is a first step in addressing the secrecy, distress, anger, and fear surrounding female sexual abuse of children. Refuting the rationales for our lack of attention to the problem and contradicting some commonly held beliefs about sexual abuse, it combines accounts from survivors with input from professionals working with both survivors and abusers.
Part I presents contributions from professionals who discuss aspects of female sexual abuse ranging from impact and treatment issues for victims of childhood sexual abuse by female perpetrators to the paradox of women who sexually abuse children. The second part is devoted to survivors--it presents stories from both men and women, then provides self-help guidelines for both. The book concludes with a valuable section on resources which includes a review of the existing literature on female child molestation as well as a listing of pertinent books and help organizations.
FEMALE SEXUAL ABUSE OF CHILDREN also addresses the controversial issue of current statistics that show that female sexual abuse is very rare and the question of whether it is being underreported due to fear from survivors that they will not be believed or supported. Regardless of the true magnitude of this problem, secrecy or denial about any aspect of child abuse must be avoided. Whatever future studies may show about this problem, it will not diminish this book's importance in taking the step of exploring this issue.

University of the Pacific, Stockton, California Although a vigorous battle has been waged to bring child sexual abuse to the forefront in our society, other forces have been at work to suppress recognition of child abuse and to discredit the allegations of young victims. In The Backlash, editor John E. B. Myers has gathered the expertise of major figures in the field to present a timely and thoughtful presentation of the backlash against child protection. Beginning with a historical and sociological perspective of the issue, The Backlash provides the reader with a thorough sampling of perspectives that include county CPS administration, state-level CPS administration, Victims of Child Abuse Laws (VOCAL), the experience of backlash in Europe, and a survey of backlash literature. This book is important for everyone concerned with child protection. Recommendations made by the authors will be of special interest to practitioners, agency administrators, researchers, prosecutors, law enforcement personnel, and policy makers. "This remarkable book 'a report from the front,' offers views from all sides." --Virginia Child Protection Newsletter "Myers presents a thoughtful analysis of the backlash against child protection, especially by those trying to convince the world that most allegations of child sexual abuse are false." --The Women's Advocate "This is a provocative book. Child protection has become a highly political issue and this is a very political book. All of these concerned with child protection issues will gain something from reading the material presented here, although reactions are likely to differ sharply. In many ways this is also a timely book, but its true significance will become apparent only with the benefit of hindsight, when child protection practices, and our understanding of the issues involved, have moved on from the present state of turmoil and confusion." --Neil Frude in Legal & Criminological

A welcome addition to the plethora of books providing insight into the effects of sexual abuse on women, this volume examines the relationship between sexual experiences and psychosexual functioniong through the lifespan. Using structural equation modeling, the authors aim to provide a comprehensive synthesis of sexual functioning in women. The research emphasis is most welcome in a field notoriously lacking in theoretical constructs: the use of structural equation models does not always simplify this complex topic, but will no doubt prove to be a useful development to the study of outcome variables following sexual abuse. There are considerable methodological advancements provided by Gail Wyatt and her colleagues' approach to interviewing women about their sexual experiences, both abusive and consensual. Most notably, guidelines and strategies are offered which are helpful when considering the design of such research, and also for clinical practice with adult women survivors of sexual abuse. The focus on AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and their links to sexual abuse are also useful additions to previous work done in the survivor" field. I would recommend this book, with one caveat: the structural equation models are not for the faint hearted."

Overwhelming life experiences, such as physical and sexual abuse during childhood, have the potential to obliterate internal representations of a loving God. In this book the author explores the inter-relationship between severity of childhood traumatization and mental representations of God through a comprehensive review of psychodynamic literature and quantitative research methodology. The research findings of a study with forty seven women demonstrate the complexity of this subject and illustrate how the empirical truth of quantitative findings may or may not resonate with the metaphorical truth of psychodynamic models of traumatization. The author discusses the significance of these findings for clinicians and faith communities.

With summaries, review questions and suggested projects with each chapter and a broad and balanced view of the field, Child Maltreatment makes a splendid text for courses in child abuse.

In the battle against family sexual abuse, most studies and research findings have examined the problem on a national level--but what about the studies that have been done at the local level? With contributions from practitioners and researchers, Family Sexual Abuse deftly explores the results of eleven research projects covering such issues as sibling incest, the background of sexual offenders, effects of sexual abuse on children, effects of offender removal from the home, effects of reunification, and the prognosis for incest offenders after treatment. While large, national studies provide information on major trends in family sexual abuse, this five-year look at Minnesota studies reflects the real impact of interventions in the context of local practitioners dealing with local problems. As such, these studies clearly demonstrate the significant contributions small studies and specific program evaluations can make to both research and practice in the field of family sexual abuse. Family Sexual Abuse is a resource no practitioner or researcher in this field can afford to be without. "This book, in contrast to most studies and research findings in the field of family sexual abuse, which examine the problem on a national level, presents the findings of 11 frontline enquiries conducted by practitioners and researchers under the auspices of the Family Sexual Abuse Project (FSAP) in Minnesota in the period 1985-1990. It is precisely this focus on the application of current knowledge (and the lack of it) interacting with changing social policy at a local level which provides this book with its distinctive contribution." --Journal of the British Association for Counselling "In comparison to most edited volumes, these articles are consistently well-written. . . . This volume is worthwhile because these articles do not pretend to tell a simple story. In his conclusion, Michael Patton argues that the composite findings weave a 'mosaic of enormous complexity,' and in doing so, these articles raise many questions and encourage much thought." --Journal of Marriage and the Family "This is an extremely useful book for practitioners in the field of child sexual abuse, with the bonus of practical advice for both researchers and practitioners on how to study the problems of child sexual abuse." --Child Abuse Review "The spirit in which this book is written is the essence of a positive approach to research dissemination. It aims to report on and share with a wide audience the findings of eleven small-scale research studies undertaken in the state of Minnesota between 1985 and 1990. The book's appeal lies in its focus on wider application of knowledge to local policy and practice in the field of child protection. A major feature of the work is the spirit of collaboration and openness to peer review in which the work was undertaken. . . .The book's rather dry title undervalues its rich and varied content. . . .Each chapter stands on its own or the book can be read as a whole. Its strength is in the variety of material, methodologies, and issues presented. . . .Of particular interest to the reader is the study which investigates the extent of abuse among American Indian families. The work was set up within an ethically sensitive framework and it provides an excellent model for the development of an anti-racist research methodology. Other chapters focus on the provocative issues of abuse indicators, intergenerational and sibling abuse. The accounts provide a clear, unambiguous account of work undertaken and they raise important, if uncomfortable, questions about each of the areas under discussion. . . .There are five main strengths of this book. First, it challenges older and newer myths about the extent and nature of sexual abuse; second, it makes a considered analysis of the effects of abuse from a range of perspectives; third, it adds to our understanding of the reasons why men and women sexually abuse their children; fourth, it evaluates a range of treatment models, and finally, it clearly states issues for policy, practice, and further research. The book also raises important issues in relation to methodology, namely the need to triangulate methods and to have specialist training for researchers involved in this area of research so that the voice of survivors can be heard and attended to. The book will be of interest to a wide audience. It merits extensive readership and debate. It should be able to achieve both, not least because of its accessible and thought-provoking style." --British Journal of Social Work "This book breaks new ground by investigating the impact of sexual abuse interventions at the local level. This five-year look at 11 independent research projects in Minnesota encompasses the spectrum of issues, including the identification and effects of sexual abuse, sibling incest, the effects of family reunification, and the treatment of sexual offenders and abuse survivors. A significant contribution to the field . . ." --Child Welfare

This collection of prose and therapeutic insights creates a powerful commentary on incest, rape, abuse, and the recovery process.
Women and men share their personal experiences of childhood abuse and walk with the reader along the path toward wellness. They reflect each stage of healing with a clarity that, while often painful, is also hopeful.
Addressing various aspects of abuse, including ritualistic abuse, multiple personality disorder, and partnering as well as providing a therapist's insights on the stages of healing, "Triumph Over Darkness" helps readers to understand recovery as a predictable process and see that healing is possible.

When a child has been sexually abused, where should a parent or guardian turn for treatment? What legal issues are involved when sexual abuse occurs? What impact does child sexual abuse have on family functioning? These are questions all parents, guardians, or counselors encounter during the initial stages of child sexual abuse. Child Sexual Abuse offers a wealth of information on available treatment programs, the impact of sexual abuse on the family, and other factors associated with abuse and treatment outcomes. This volume is based on the results of the Tufts study--that until now have not been readily available--describing the background of the study, the research framework, and the selection of the treatment sample. The authors then examine the nature of child sexual abuse, its initial effects, the myth of the mother as "accomplice," and the affects of abuse (18 months after disclosure). A final section presents conclusions and recommendations associated with the research, and appendixes detail the statistical test results. Researchers and practitioners will benefit from the important issues and information contained in Child Sexual Abuse. "This study was a pathbreaking one on the road to understanding the immediate impact of sexual abuse. It is a great welcome to have it available. It is indispensable to any researcher wishing to understand how sexual abuse affects children." --David Finkelhor, University of New Hampshire "The research described in the book is outstanding in its breadth and accessibility. . . . Readers will find this book to be immensely interesting and useful, whether they are researchers or clinicians." --Kathleen A. Kendall-Tackett, University of New Hampshire "This book is worth reading." --Issues in Child Abuse Accusations "Offers a concise description of the development of child abuse theory, as well as interesting data on the ''kinds of children who are sexually abused, the nature and effects of the abuse, and the effects of crisis intervention.'' . . . There is a wealth of information succinctly presented." --Readings: A Journal of Reviews and Commentary in Mental Health "An impressive initial study in the field of child sexual abuse." --Archives of Sexual Behavior "The research in this book addresses the information needs of practitioners. Topics covered include: whether to remove a sexually abused child from the home where the abuse took place; whether intense psychotherapeutic treatment is needed for the victim or family; and whether to intervene at all (for the best interest of a child). The authors of this book referred to many experts in the field to compile the empirical research. This book is arranged in a manner which makes these findings easily accessible to the reader, whether the individual creates policies of frequently treats child sexual abuse cases. . . . for readers interested, the appendix gives complete statistical test results. Child Sexual Abuse is excellent for anyone working in this field or who is interested in gathering information about child sexual abuse. The trauma and impact sexual abuse has upon a child and the family is well addressed." --Family Violence & Sexual Assault Bulletin "It contains a wealth of information about . . . the nature and effects of abuse. . . . This book is a useful data base." --Child Abuse Review

"Practical Program Evaluation offers a step-by-step analysis of successful program evaluation. Although the case illustrations and examples are gathered from child abuse prevention programs, the basic methods described can be applied to any program evaluation." --The Chronicle of Philanthropy "Quite useful as a 'how to' manual. For those unfamiliar with the topic, it does an excellent job of 'demystifying' evaluation by providing the information in an easy-to-read manner. For those accustomed to evaluation, it is useful to have a book with information specifically for child abuse and neglect prevention programs. The book's greatest asset is the rich resource information it provides. . . . The book is an excellent resource guide for all programs wanting to conduct their own evaluations. . . . The appendices and resource lists are a must for anyone conducting evaluations of child abuse and neglect prevention programs. --The Advisor: American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children "Written for students and professionals whether evaluators familiar with research design and methods or child abuse prevention staff who need a guide to programme evaluation research. . . . A valuable overview and resource." --Journal of the Institute of Health Education How can one design a successful program evaluation? What research designs should be considered? What types of data collection instruments are available? And, what steps are involved in analyzing the data collected? From the start of a program evaluation to analyzing the final data, Practical Program Evaluation offers a convenient, step-by-step manual for evaluating any program. Beginning with an overview and discussion on three distinct models of evaluation (Input, Process, and Group or Client Level Outcomes), the authors continue by presenting basic, yet concise instructions on how to perform specialized evaluation procedures. Topics related to choosing samples, selecting research designs, constructing data collection instruments, scheduling data collection, training data collectors, and analyzing findings are all thoroughly covered. And, while examples and case illustrations are taken from child abuse prevention programs, the techniques described here can be easily applied to any program evaluation. For the evaluator familiar with research design and method--but not an expert in child welfare--this impressive manual provides strategies and resources specific to program evaluation. For students of child abuse prevention and program staffers, this informative guide offers an easy-to-follow roadmap to the often complex process of program evaluation research.

It happens. Male children and adolescents are sexually abused, sexually misused, and involved with adults, peers, and siblings in ways that inhibit the development of normal sexuality. In Males at Risk, the authors examine why sexual abuse occurs, how prevalent the problem is among male populations, and offer suggestions for clinicians working with sexually abused children. The authors examine environmental factors which may contribute to child sexual abuse, explore the long-term impact on child victims, the differences between male and female child victims, the role of perpetrators, and evaluation, assessment, and treatment issues. Finally, the authors provide step-by-step case guidelines for clinicians involved in treating abused male children. "Clinicians will welcome this long overdue resource. . . . Refreshingly, clinicians are encouraged both to evaluate individual differences in determining the meaning of the abuse itself and to attend to the full range of emotional, sexual, and interpersonal spheres of functioning." --Readings: A Journal of Reviews and Commentary in Mental Health "This book is filled with useful information on a subject often left unaddressed. I recommend this book to clinicians who treat males who have been sexually abused and to anyone else concerned with this subject." --Family Violence Bulletin "An excellent sourcebook for those dealing with the rehabilitation of abused male children and, possibly, male abusers. . . . Males at Risk is a sensitive but heavy look at sexual abuse of the male child, following through treatment/therapy to recovery." --Paediatric Nursing "Males at Risk is a welcome addition to the relatively small existing literature which addresses the difficulties faced by abused males. . . . An important early source for those wishing to develop services for adult males abused as children, particularly in respect of addressing potential perpetration dangers." --Community Care "This book is well written and well documented. . . . A book that all practitioners, researchers, and instructors in the area of child sexual abuse will want to have on their shelves. It will prove a valuable addition to their collections." --Journal of Marriage and the Family "[The authors] describe the many possible areas in which persons can be psychologically damaged by abuse, the possible therapeutic techniques available for treatment, the available tests and inventories for assessing the victim's functioning, prioritization of problem areas, and development of a treatment plan...will certainly be useful for practitioners dealing with sexual abuse victims of either sex. The book is quite good." --Contemporary Sociology "An excellent book. It provides a thoughtful discussion of what is known about sexual abuse of males and gives detailed information about assessment techniques and treatment strategies. I recommend it to anyone who works with male incest victims." --Issues in Child Abuse Accusations "An intelligent and worthwhile effort on the part of the authors to bring together several scarce and often conflicting sources of information. It offers a practical and meaningful source of information for clinicians and researchers who are seeking a comprehensive perspective on sexual molestation as it applies to males. It further serves to identify boys and men as victims in need of special attention in the process of assessment and intervention. For clinicians who treat sexually abused boys and/or adult male survivors of childhood sexual abuse, this book should be an important resource." --Journal of Interpersonal Violence "In this scholarly but readable text geared towards the professional, the emphasis is upon the young male at risk, the manner in which potentially hazardous situations arise, and what to do about it." --Child and Family Behavior Therapy "An important addition to the treating therapist's library. . .will help therapists help violated children heal." --Contemporary Psychology "I heartily recommend this book, not simply to therapists who specialize in treating ongoing child abuse survivors, but to all clinicians who work with males. This book reminds therapists to stay alert for the signs of abuse, provides a framework to assess for abuse, and offers a complete model to treat when abuse is discovered." --Resource Reviews "Thanks to Bolton, Morris, and MacEacheron for a document that will serve helpers of every stripe well. More important, it will serve the children." --The Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Review "Highly recommended." --Family Violence & Sexual Assault Bulletin Book Club

Drawing on the latest research on memory and traumatic experience, Susan Clancy, an expert in experimental psychopathology, demonstrates that children describe abuse and molestation encounters in ways that don't fit the conventional trauma model. In fact, the most common feeling reported is not fear but "confusion."

Clancy calls for an honest look at sexual abuse and its aftermath, and argues that the reactions of society and the healing professions--however well meaning--actually shackle the victims of abuse in chains of guilt, secrecy, and shame. Pathbreaking and controversial, "The Trauma Myth" radically reshapes our understanding of sexual abuse and its consequences.

Two-time Olympic gold medalist Kayla Harrison has always been a fighter--yet as a young teen, no one knew she was also a victim. Combining Kayla's powerful story of sexual abuse by her judo coach with science-based information from two renowned therapists, this unique book provides critical guidance for parents and professionals. Learn how to spot the signs that a child or teen is being groomed, why kids stay silent about their trauma, how they struggle with self-blame and the brutal betrayal of a trusted authority figure, and exactly what kind of help they need to recover. No one is more qualified than Kayla and her expert coauthors to explain the impact of child sexual abuse--and what you can do to keep kids safe.

For the busy frontline practitioner with little time to plan ahead, this hands-on guide presents imaginative and unique methods to engage families and caregivers throughout the process of assessing vulnerable children. Setting the context for each area of assessment, including strengths and resilience, risk and needs and the child's lived experience, the book then describes a series of activities or creative techniques to engage young people and their caregivers within this area. It outlines the materials required, aims of the exercise and method. It includes 'handy hints' based upon practical experience, making it a quick go-to guide for every day practice. It encourages practitioners to focus on building safety into relationships and to adapt their approach to take into account the impact of trauma and abuse on an individual's capacity to engage and to communicate verbally.

The high profile reporting of child sexual abuse carried out by Jimmy Savile over decades has had far reaching-consequences, raising public awareness and concern, yet we continue to uncover new cases of institutional abuse which have been taking place under the radar for years. This book distils the learning from 80+ public inquiries relating to Savile as well as related cases of institutional abuse and analyses the key findings. It examines what we now know about offending within organisations and institutions, and how organisational failures can enable abusers. Each chapter also outlines solutions, offering perspectives for individuals and organisations on what practical action they can take to minimise risk in the settings in which they work. The book includes chapters specifically dedicated to the NHS, sports organisations and schools, and is necessary reading for professionals with responsibility for safeguarding in any setting.

Twelve year old Danielle has been excluded from a special school and her former foster family can no longer cope. She arrives as an emergency placement at the home of foster carer Angela, who soon suspects that there is more to the young girl's disruptive behaviour than meets the eye. Can Angela's specialist training unlock the horrors of Danielle's past and help her start a brave new life?

The Girl With Two Lives is the fourth book from well loved foster carer and Sunday Times bestselling author Angela Hart. Another true story from the experienced and bestselling foster carer – sharing the tale of one of the many children she has fostered over the years. A story of the difference that quiet care, a watchful eye and sympathetic ear can make to those children whose upbringing has been less fortunate than others.