ABSTRACT

This chapter serves as an introduction to the many roles of health care professionals in the assessment, care, and treatment of child victimization. It concentrates on those professionals caring for the physical health of victims of child abuse and neglect, although there are many similarities between child maltreatment and other family violence victims. In reviewing the health impact of maltreatment and the historical contributions of health care professionals, it discusses the roles that 134health care disciplines play in clinical care, training, research, and advocacy and their interaction with the community's child welfare, legal, and criminal justice systems. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1–800-HAWORTH. E-mail address: <docdelivery@haworthpress.com > Website: <https://www.HaworthPress.com > © 2003 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.]