ABSTRACT
Maltreatment of adolescents is a major problem that has long-lasting effects on the victims yet has received relatively little attention from researchers and practitioners (Hoekstra, 1984; Olsen & Holmes, 1986). Many factors contribute to this lack of attention including definitional problems, confusion between normal developmental changes and acting-out behavior of the adolescent, and lack of appropriate treatment programs. This chapter focuses on skills training and environmental treatment approaches to working with violence in families with adolescent children. The chapter begins by defining adolescent maltreatment and discussing the prevalence and incidence of adolescent maltreatment. Treatment programs for adolescent victims and their families, including skills-training programs, social support interventions, and intensive in-home treatment programs are presented. Finally, the chapter concludes with a discussion of some of the barriers to effective implementation of these programs.
