Child Abuse Prevention & Treatment Act with a Summary of State Laws

Child abuse and neglect is a significant social concern. Children who experience abuse and/or neglect are more likely to have developmental delays and impaired language or cognitive skills; be identified as "problem" children; be arrested for delinquency, adult criminality, and violent criminal behaviour; experience depression, anxiety, or other mental health problems as adults; engage in more health-risk behaviours as adults; and have poorer health outcomes as adults. This book discusses the issues and scope of child abuse and neglect; the response of the CPS agencies, the identified risk factors for poor child and family outcomes among all children in families investigated for abuse or neglect, as well as a detailed description of the current programs and activities authorised under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CAPTA) and their funding.