ABSTRACT
Assessing cases of child sexual abuse with very young children is difficult, because children 18 to 36 months of age cannot talk very well about what has happened to them. This chapter integrates information about basic child development and research on early memory, normal and abnormal sexual behavior, and the characteristics of young abused children into a format for assessment that is developmentally appropriate. Suggestions for changes in interview style to accommodate the status of young children are also offered. Finally, a procedure for court-ordered reunification is outlined for use when abuse has not been proved, but the child's age and status make him or her vulnerable to possible future abuse.
