ABSTRACT
This chapter talks about how child maltreatment was discovered, why it took so long to recognize child maltreatment, and who discovered it. It explains the different types of child maltreatment. The chapter outlines the provisions that appear in child maltreatment laws and identifies some problems that still remain. It links what people know about child maltreatment to its data sources and presents some coping strategies aimed at fighting child maltreatment. Once a report of child maltreatment is initiated, the child welfare system moves into action. Much like the criminal justice system, the child welfare system is a conglomeration of numerous public and private entities as opposed to a unified model. Explanations for child maltreatment and interpretations of abuser characteristics fall into three popular approaches: intra-individual theories, sociocultural explanations, and the social learning approach. The goal of a Children's Advocacy Center (CAC) is to minimize the trauma child victims undergo and to provide a safe and comfortable atmosphere.
