ABSTRACT
This chapter presents data on the definitions, incidence, and reporting of broadly defined categories of child abuse and neglect; theoretical perspectives regarding contributing factors. It provides an overview of the casework processes involved in assessing a report of child maltreatment; and treatment of physical abuse. The chapter uses the definitions employed in some recent national reporting and incidence studies, supplemented by current research findings. It notes, however, that a universal set of definitions of child maltreatment does not exist currently in the United States. The chapter describes the federal National Center of Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS) database of state reports and the statistics from the NIS-3 study. It discusses the difficult to say definitively what set of factors "causes" a parent to physically maltreat the child in some way. The chapter addresses the conditions that promote the type of interpersonal violence to prevent or treat child abuse.
