Child Abuse and Neglect The School's Response

School professionals have a unique opportunity--and responsibility--to identify and respond to child abuse and neglect. This book provides a succinct review of current knowledge on child maltreatment and links it specifically to practical applications in the schools. Information and strategies are outlined to help school practitioners and other personnel identify signs of abuse, respond sensitively and effectively to student disclosures, and make critically important reporting decisions. Treatment options are discussed in depth, including guidelines for offering school-based clinical services and/or making referrals to outside providers. Other topics covered include consulting with teachers and parents, planning and implementing victimization prevention programs, and coping with "compassion fatigue." The book is illustrated throughout with clearly written, relevant case examples. Special features include reproducible overhead transparency masters for use in in-service training.

Connie Burrows Horton, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and a certified school psychologist, and currently is Director of Counseling and Consultation Services at Illinois Wesleyan University. She earned her master's degree in Counseling at California State University, Fullerton and her doctorate in educational psychology in the school psychology program at the University of Texas, Austin. Throughout her career, Dr. Horton has been involved in the field of child abuse through research, practice, and training roles in a variety of practice and academic settings.

Tracy K. Cruise, PhD, is Assistant Professor of Psychology at Western Illinois University (WIU). She received her master's degree in clinical psychology and her doctorate in school psychology from Illinois State University. She teaches and supervises child psychotherapy for both the school psychology and clinical/community mental health graduate programs at WIU. Her research and clinical experience focus on the consequences and mediators of child maltreatment and how such experiences may affect the lives of individuals and families.