Combatting Child Abuse: International Perspectives and Trends (Child Welfare (Oxford Univ Pr))

The problem of child abuse has become increasingly evident in North America and Western Europe. Many countries are now struggling with issues involving the definition of child maltreatment, reporting requirements, processes for responding to reports, substantiation rates, and services to abused children and their families. This book illustrates alternative approaches to dealing with these problems by examining and comparing the designs of child abuse systems in nine countries: the US, English, Canada, Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Belgium, and Sweden. Through a comparative study of the designs of child abuse reporting systems in nine countries including the United States, England, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Belgium, and Sweden, Combatting Child Abuse sheds light on common problems and policy responses currently emerging in efforts to reduce child abuse. By analyzing the philosophy, structure, and operation of these reporting systems and their outcomes, Neil Gilbert illuminates alternative perspectives on how the problem of child abuse is defined and introduces an expanded view of policy options designed to protect children. The maltreatment, misuse, and neglect of children are recognized as a serious social problem in the United States.