The purpose of this report is to examine the problem of child abuse. The report will define the problem in its various manifestations, the characteristics of abuse, the behaviors exhibited by abused children, what can be done to identify such children and those at risk for becoming victims of abuse, and effective intervention strategies using by members of the counseling and social service professions. The problem is of significance in that, according to Baron and Byrne (2000), a total of 2.7 million cases of child mistreatment - activities that harm children either physically or psychologically - occur each year in the United States. Such maltreatment can involve physical abuse, sexual abuse, physical or emotional neglect, and psychological abuse.
There is more than one type of child abuse and children are often abused in many different ways. Child abuse is a blanket term for four types of child mistreatment: physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect (Baker, 1999). The Child Protective Services Agency in the State of Texas (Legal definitions ofà, 2002) defines child abuse as including acts or omissions by any person leading to mental or emotional injury to a child that results in material and observable impairment in the child's growth, development, or psychological functioning. This definition incorporates recognition of the presence of physical injury, mental or emotional injury, failure to make a reasonable effort to prevent such harm, sexual conduct harmful to the child, compelling a child to participate in sexual conduct or pornographic activities, and allowing a child to use a controlled substance (Legal definitions ofà, 2002).
Child abuse is further defined as a problem that impacts throughout American society and which affects a substantial number of vulnerable children and adolescents. According to Baker (1999), as of 1996 there were more than 3 million reports of alleged cases of child ab...